Grading Permits

The most common activities requiring a Grading Permit include the following: 

  • Cuts exceeding 5 feet in height.
  • Fills exceeding 3 feet in height.
  • Fill or excavation greater than 250 cubic yards. 
  • Grading within a floodplain
  • Grading within or adjacent to a drainage course or wetland
  • Soil or vegetation disturbances exceeding 10,000 square feet.
  • Structural retaining walls exceeding 4 feet in total height, as measured from bottom of footing to the top of the wall and/or supporting a surcharge. 

Additional restrictions apply in the Tahoe Basin area and a Grading Permit would be required for these additional activities:

  • Fill or excavation greater than 3 cubic yards or disturbing greater than 200 square feet.
  • Soil or vegetation disturbances exceeding 1,000 square feet. 

Be aware that grading and soil disturbance in the Tahoe Basin is prohibited from October 15 through May 1.

The preceding list is not exhaustive, so please refer to the full text of the ordinance language for further information. 

 

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