Section 31 Ditches & Culverts
Unofficial copy. It may be out of date. Not legal or zoning advice. Zoning rules change, and only the city or county can say for sure what is allowed on a property. Confirm with the city or county planning department before you buy, sign or build.
The official Elsinore code is at https://www.elsinoreut.com/land-use-ordinances/.
Text pulled 2026-10-19 from this source.
Tables (like use tables) may not copy cleanly, so check any table against the official code.
Confirm anything here with Elsinore planning before you rely on it.
DITCHES AND CULVERTS
PURPOSE: THE PURPOSE OF THIS ORDINANCE IS TO PREVENT FLOODING, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROPERTY DAMAGE, AND EROSION ALONG THE EASEMENTS AND ROADS OF THE TOWN OF ELSINORE WHILE STILL ALLOWING FOR THE USAGE OF WATER SHARES FOR IRRIGATING AND STORM WATER COLLECTION.
DEFINITIONS:
DITCH: A NARROW CHANNEL DUG IN THE GROUND, TYPICALLY USED FOR DRAINAGE ALONGSIDE A ROAD OR THE EDGE OF A FIELD OR IRRIGATION OF PROPERTY
CULVERT: A TUNNEL OR PIPE CARRYING A STREAM OR OPEN DRAIN UNDER A ROAD OR RAILROAD
PROVISIONS:
A.
ALL DITCHES THAT RUN BETWEEN THE PUBLIC ROAD AND PRIVATE PROPERTY ARE NOT
ALLOWED TO BE REMOVED OR FILLED IN.
B.
CITIZENS MAY CLEAR AND MAINTAIN ANY DITCH THAT LINES ANY SIDE OF THEIR PROPERTY,
THOUGH IT IS NOT REQUIRED, IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
C.
ANY DITCH THAT IS USED BY A WATERSHARE OWNER WILL BE CLEARED AND MAINTAINED BY
THE WATERSHARE OWNER
D.
THE ELSINORE BENCH IRRIGATION COMPANY, THE ELSINORE CANAL COMPANY, AND RICHFIELD
CANAL COMPANY MAY CLEAR AND MAINTAIN DITCHES AS NEEDED
E.
ELSINORE TOWN HAS THE RIGHT TO CLEAR AND MAINTAIN ANY PUBLIC DITCH
REQUIREMENTS:
A.
ALL CULVERTS AND PIPES NEED TO BE APPROVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION BEFORE
THEY ARE INSTALLED
B.
ALL CULVERT AND PIPE WIDTHS AND LENGTHS NEED TO BE APPROVED BY THE PLANNING
COMMISSION
C.
PERMISSION IS NEEDED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO LINE A PUBLIC DITCH WITH ROCKS
OR CONCRETE
VIOLATIONS:
A.
ANY CULVERT OR PIPE THAT IS INSTALLED WITHOUT PERMISSION WILL BE REMOVED AT OWNERS
EXPENSE
B.
ANY DITCH THAT IS FILLED IN WITHOUT PERMISSION WILL BE DUG AGAIN AT THE SAME PLACE
AND DEPTH AS THE PREVIOUS DITCH, AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE.
C.
INTENTIONALLY ALLOWING DEBRIS, GARBAGE, TIRES, CHEMICALS, ETC. TO BE PLACED IN A
PUBLIC DITCH IS ILLEGAL. ALL STATE FEES AND ILLEGAL MATERIAL WILL BE PAID BY OR REMOVED
AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE.
D.
IRRIGATION USERS WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR ANY DAMAGE CAUSED BY FLOODING
DURING THEIR WATER TURN OR TAILWATER IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THEIR WATER TURN.
SECTION 31, DITCHES AND CULVERTS – PAGE 1