Drainage and terracing.

San José Municipal Code § 17.04.420

in effect

17.04.420 - Drainage and terracing. A. General. Unless otherwise indicated on the approved grading plan, drainage facilities and terracing shall conform to the provisions of this section. B. Terrace. Terraces at least six feet in width shall be constructed on all slopes having a maximum height of thirty feet or more and shall be established at not more than thirty-foot vertical intervals to control surface drainage and debris. Suitable access shall be provided to permit proper cleaning and maintenance. Swales or ditches on terraces shall have a minimum gradient of two and one-half percent along the ditch and five percent toward the ditch and must be paved with reinforced concrete not less than three inches in thickness or an approved equal paving. A single run of swale or ditch shall not collect runoff from a tributary area exceeding forty thousand square feet (projected) without discharging into a downdrain. C. Subsurface Drainage. Cut and fill slopes shall be provided with subsurface drainage as necessary for stability. D. Disposal. All drainage facilities shall be designed to carry waters to the nearest practicable drainageway approved by the director and/or other appropriate jurisdiction as a safe place to deposit such waters. If drainage facilities discharge onto natural ground, riprap or other erosion control and energy dissipating devices may be required. At least one percent gradient from building pads toward approved drainage facilities shall be required. (Prior code § 8127; 17.04.280; Ord. 21719.)

Source: City of San José, Municipal Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ca/san_jose/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT17BUCO_CH17.04BUCO_PT6EXGR_17.04.420DRTEFetched: 11/1/2026