Only if your lot is inside the city’s Hillside Overlay map and the slope rises at least 1 foot for every 4 feet across. Gentler slopes and lots outside the mapped areas are not subject to these standards. The city record does not yet confirm final adoption.
What the city is deciding
Murrieta is updating its rules for building and grading (moving or reshaping soil) on hillsides. Council approved an amended version on September 15. The October 6 agenda called for the second reading and adoption of Ordinance 638-26, the final step.
Where and who it affects
Both conditions must be met: the land is inside the Hillside Overlay map, and the slope is at least 1 foot of rise for every 4 feet across. Slope rising 1 foot for every 2 feet or more is called excessive, and development there is prohibited. Slope comes from the city’s contour data. In a specific plan area, the map says to consult that plan’s own hillside rules.
What it could mean for your property
- Undeveloped parts of a hillside lot: a Hillside Development Plan Permit is still required.
- Already developed parts: work of 50 cubic yards of soil or less, such as flatwork, pools or spas, is exempt from that permit. Staff compare 50 cubic yards to the dirt from one swimming pool. Larger grading needs a grading permit unless the City Engineer finds it exempt, and hillside design standards still apply.
- Accessory structures: 1,000 square feet or more need a Hillside Development Permit.
- Retaining walls: in front or street side setbacks, limited to 3 feet; terraced walls to 6 feet.
- Proof of past work: grading permits, building permits and approved grading plans show land was legally developed. Crops, grazing, orchards and agricultural fencing do not.
The documents give no permit fee and do not name the shaded neighborhoods.
Questions to ask before you buy or build
- Is this parcel inside the Hillside Overlay map, and what is its slope in the city’s data?
- Which parts of the lot were legally developed, and what permits prove it?
- Does a specific plan govern this lot?
What happens next
As of October 7, the city record does not confirm whether the October 6 adoption passed. Staff say the ordinance takes effect 30 days after adoption. The text sets a December 31, 2028 expiration for its main sections,; staff describe it as time to work out a more permanent solution.