October 15 Winterization Requirement!
Onsite Pre-Grade Inspections Form(PDF, 738KB)
LAKE TAHOE REGION WINTERIZATION REQUIREMENTS
El Dorado County Building Department and Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) inspects all construction sites to determine compliance with these winterization requirements. This is a courtesy notice provided to you so you have time to prepare for this inspection. Please be advised that the following conditions apply to all projects under construction, as stated in the Standard Conditions of Approval and the TRPA Code of Ordinances.
All construction sites must be winterized between October 15 and May 1*. We will be conducting on-site winterization inspections the first two weeks in October. Corrections will require a follow-up site inspection, conducted after 48 hours to verify completion. A failed winterization inspection after October 15th will result in a $144.00 re-inspection fee.
All construction sites must meet the following winterization requirements:
- Grading is PROHIBITED on all construction sites between October 15 and May 1*
- Install and maintain effective temporary sediment control devices (fiber rolls, silt fence), with extra attention paid to areas where water may concentrate or pond. Temporary BMPs must not be located where they may interfere with snow removal operations.
- Install and maintain effective temporary fencing for the protection of vegetation.
- Stabilize disturbed and bare soil areas with erosion control blankets or by applying a thin layer (no more than 1 inch thick) of organic mulch (wood chips, pine needles) with the following guidance:
- No organic mulch within 5 feet of any structure. Inorganic mulch (gravel) is acceptable in this area.
- Apply organic mulch sparingly on no more than 50% of bare soil in the project area. Patches of organic mulch should be applied to areas where there is a higher risk of erosion.
- Before the start of grading season (May 1), all organic mulch needs to be removed from within 30 feet of all structures. Needles and leaves that fall after the spring removal period can accumulate on the ground as long as they are not within 5 feet of any structure and do not create a fire hazard.
- For all cut and fill slopes, install permanent (rock riprap, retaining walls, vegetation) or temporary (erosion control blankets, hydro mulch with tackifier) stabilization measures.
- Cleanup and remove all on-site construction debris and spoil piles.
- With approval, stockpiles may remain on-site over the winter; however, they must be covered with a durable material or plastic sheeting and have full perimeter containment using either a filter fabric fence or staked/weighted fiber rolls. Store stockpiles away from sensitive or erosion-prone areas.
For active construction sites where work will continue between October 15 and May 1, the following requirements are also mandatory:
- Driveways, parking areas and material storage areas shall be hard plowable surfaces.
- Parking of vehicles and storage of building materials shall be restricted to paved areas.
- Sweep daily to recover sediment that has been tracked off the construction site.
Thank you for your cooperation.
If you have any questions, please contact El Dorado County Building at (530)621-5315