Anyone excavating, grading, installing onsite storm drainage or constructing retaining walls within the City of San Jose is required to obtain a "Notice of Exemption" or "Grading Permit".  The excavation and grading ordinance is intended to establish uniform standards to safeguard life, limb, property, water quality and natural resources, and to promote the public welfare by regulating grading.

The purpose of the grading program is to ensure that private property is graded so that it will drain properly, not impact adjacent properties and not create erosion problems. Improper grading can result in localized flooding, landslides, and differential settlement. These problems not only affect the graded property, but can also impact adjacent properties. To ensure that grading operations do not impact the local creeks and storm drainage systems during the winter months, any grading occurring between October 1st and April 30 requires an approved erosion control plan.

• Application
• Grading and Drainage Submittal Instructions
• Stormwater Regulations Handout
• Shoring Design Instructions 
• Permit Fee Schedule
• Erosion Control Fee Criteria

Mitigation Monitoring and Report Program: Grading at any site that requires an environmental impact report, or a mitigated negative declaration must adopt mitigation measures.  Learn more at the MMRP webpage.

Additional Grading, Stormwater and Erosion Control resources are available on our Applications, Instructions and Resources page.

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