Building on a hillside in Duarte: the local rules

Each rule below links to the section of the Duarte Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Duarte's code says

Duarte code What Duarte's code adds
Soils or geology report	Steeper slopes need a full soil investigation and report, with a deep soil test by a geologist or soil engineer. Applies: Hillside fills steeper than 2 feet horizontal to 1 vertical, or cuts steeper than 1.5 feet to 1; the City Engineer must accept the report. § 19.46.070 · code text Slopes steeper than specified may be approved if verified by a full soil investigation and report, including a deep soil test made by a geologist or soil engineer, and the report and recommendations are acceptable to the City Engineer.
Grading and retaining walls	No steeper than 2 feet horizontal to 1 foot vertical. Applies: Graded or cut embankments next to a publicly maintained right-of-way. § 19.46.070 · code text Graded or cut embankment adjacent to a publicly maintained right-of-way shall not exceed a slope ratio greater than two feet horizontal to one foot vertical. Fill slopes no steeper than 2 feet horizontal to 1 foot vertical. Applies: Hillside grading; steeper slopes only with an approved soil investigation and report. § 19.46.070 · code text No fill slope shall exceed two-feet horizontal to one-foot vertical, and no cut slope shall exceed a slope of one-and-one-half feet horizontal to one-foot vertical. Cut slopes no steeper than 1.5 feet horizontal to 1 foot vertical. Applies: Hillside grading; steeper slopes only with an approved soil investigation and report. § 19.46.070 · code text No fill slope shall exceed two-feet horizontal to one-foot vertical, and no cut slope shall exceed a slope of one-and-one-half feet horizontal to one-foot vertical. 8-foot-wide concrete-paved benches at vertical intervals of no more than 30 feet. Applies: Cuts or fills deeper than 30 feet. § 19.46.070 · code text Whenever the depth of a cut and/or a fill exceeds 30 feet, eight-foot-wide benches paved in concrete shall be installed at not more than 30-foot vertical intervals. Cuts no higher than 12 feet from toe to top, exposed or retained by walls, unless the Review Authority approves. Applies: House sites and new construction on hillsides. § 19.46.070 · code text Maximum vertical height of cuts, exposed or retained by walls, from toe to top, shall not exceed 12 feet, unless approved by the responsible Review Authority. Fills no higher than 12 feet from toe to top, exposed or retained by walls, unless the Review Authority approves. Applies: House sites and new construction on hillsides. § 19.46.070 · code text Maximum vertical height of fills, exposed or retained by walls, from toe to top, shall not exceed 12 feet, unless approved by the responsible Review Authority. Retaining walls no higher than 10 feet. Applies: Walls for front, side and rear slopes approved by the City Engineer; on side and rear lines only where grades differ 6 feet or less. § 19.46.070 · code text The height of any such wall shall not exceed ten feet.

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What extra rules apply to a hillside lot in Duarte?

Duarte's code: No steeper than 2 feet horizontal to 1 foot vertical. (Graded or cut embankments next to a publicly maintained right-of-way.) (§ 19.46.070); Fill slopes no steeper than 2 feet horizontal to 1 foot vertical. (Hillside grading; steeper slopes only with an approved soil investigation and report.) (§ 19.46.070).

Building on a hillside in Duarte

What Duarte's code says

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