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San Luis Obispo County · Building on your lot

Grading and erosion control in San Luis Obispo County

San Luis Obispo County's own rules on grading and erosion control, with the code text for every value.

Ask about grading and erosion control in San Luis Obispo County See coverage

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

What San Luis Obispo County's code says

San Luis Obispo County code What San Luis Obispo County's code adds
Steepest cut or fill slope
  • Cut faces and fill surfaces may be no steeper than 2 horizontal to 1 vertical (2:1).
    Applies: Steeper only with a retaining wall or an approved slope stability study.
    § 22.52.150 · code text
    No excavation shall be made with a cut face steeper in slope than two horizontal to one vertical
Grading without a permit
  • No permit for up to 1,000 square feet disturbed and up to 50 cubic yards of cut plus fill.
    Applies: Digging for wells and water pipe maintenance, not road work, on natural slopes up to 20%, with erosion control.
    § 22.52.070 · code text
    Excavations for wells and water pipeline maintenance (not to include grading for road work), disturbing an area that does not exceed an aggregate area of 1,000 square feet or exceed a total grading amount (cut plus fill) of 50 cubic yards.
  • No grading permit for digs below finished grade for tanks, vaults, basements, walls, pools or footings under a building permit.
    Applies: Fill made with the dug-out material is not exempt; no exemption in geologic study or flood hazard areas.
    § 22.52.070 · code text
    The excavation of materials below finished grade for tanks, vaults, basements, retaining walls, swimming pools, or footings of a building or structure, where such excavations are authorized under the provisions of a valid building permit.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

What are the grading rules in San Luis Obispo County?

San Luis Obispo County's code: No permit for up to 1,000 square feet disturbed and up to 50 cubic yards of cut plus fill. (Digging for wells and water pipe maintenance, not road work, on natural slopes up to 20%, with erosion control.) (§ 22.52.070); Cut faces and fill surfaces may be no steeper than 2 horizontal to 1 vertical (2:1). (Steeper only with a retaining wall or an approved slope stability study.) (§ 22.52.150).

General information, not legal advice.

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