Chapter 17.21
PERMITS

Sections:

17.21.010    Permits.

17.21.020    Availability of Permit and Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan at Site.

17.21.030    Unpermitted Grading.

17.21.040    Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan.

17.21.060    Notification to Start Grading.

17.21.010 Permits.

A.    A person shall not perform any grading without first obtaining a grading permit to do so from the City Engineer. A separate permit shall be obtained for each site.

B.    Exceptions. Exemption from the permit requirements of this section shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in any manner in violation of the provisions of this chapter or any other laws or ordinances of this jurisdiction. Approvals from other agencies may be required. A grading permit shall not be required for the following:

1.    An excavation which:

a.    Is less than three (3) feet in depth, or

b.    Does not create a cut slope greater than five (5) feet in height and steeper than five (5) horizontal to one (1) vertical (twenty percent (20%) slope), or

c.    Does not exceed fifty (50) cubic yards;

2.    A fill not intended to support structures and which does not obstruct a drainage course if such fill:

a.    Is placed on natural grade that has a slope not steeper than five (5) horizontal to one (1) vertical and is less than one (1) foot deep, or

b.    Is less than three (3) feet in depth at its deepest point, measured vertically upward from natural grade to the surface of the fill, and does not exceed fifty (50) cubic yards, or

c.    Does not exceed twenty (20) cubic yards on any one (1) lot;

3.    An excavation below finish grade for basements and footings of a building, retaining wall, or other structure authorized by a valid building permit or trench excavations for the purpose of installing underground utilities. This shall not exempt any fill made with the material from such excavation or exempt any excavation having an unsupported height greater than five (5) feet after the completion of the structure;

4.    Grading within property dedicated or used for cemetery purposes where such grading is more than one hundred (100) feet from the property line and is not intended to support structures. No permit shall be required for the excavation or filling of graves at any location within such property;

5.    Mining, quarrying, excavating, processing and stockpiling of rock, sand, gravel, aggregate, or clay, where established and provided for by law; provided, that such operations do not affect the lateral support in, increase the stresses in, or pressure upon, any adjacent or contiguous property;

6.    With prior approval in writing by the City Engineer, grading in an isolated, self-contained area if the City Engineer finds that the grading operations cannot result in danger to private or public property;

7.    The depositing of rubbish or other materials at any refuse-disposal facility operated under a permit granted according to the solid waste provisions of this code;

8.    An excavation or fill in connection with the making of an earth fill dam, reservoir or levee when the quality of such work is regulated by other laws, statutes or ordinances;

9.    An excavation, fill and/or measures approved by the Soil Conservation District or cooperative agency of the Department of Agriculture;

10.    An excavation or fill for a road or slope purposes and shown on plans that are approved by the Director of Public Works as being necessary for the support, construction or maintenance of a public road;

11.    Exploratory excavations under the direction of geotechnical engineers or engineering geologists exclusive of grading associated with accessing the exploratory excavation location; and

12.    Grading for an oil and/or gas drilling site which is located in an existing oil field as designated by the State Division of Oil and Gas and is one thousand (1,000) feet from a public highway and five hundred (500) feet from the nearest residence. The proposed grading must not result in the deposition of silt and debris onto downstream property or storm drain facilities. Permits will not be issued for parcels of land with an average slope of ten percent (10%) or greater unless the proposed grading complies with the provisions of the Hillside Development Ordinance, Chapter 17.80 of this code. (Permits for less than one hundred (100) cubic yards are exempt from this requirement.) (Ord. 00-3, 2/8/00; Ord. 08-13 § 2, 8/26/08)

17.21.020 Availability of Permit and Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan at Site.

No person shall perform any grading for which a permit is required under this chapter unless a copy of the grading permit and approved grading plan with a stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) is in the possession of a responsible person and available at the site. (Ord. 99-1, 2/9/99; Ord. 99-16, 9/28/99)

17.21.030 Unpermitted Grading.

A person shall not use, occupy, or maintain any site containing unpermitted grading. For the purposes of this code, “unpermitted grading” shall be defined as any grading that was performed at any point in time, without the required permit(s) having first been obtained from the City Engineer. (Ord. 08-13 § 2, 8/26/08)

17.21.040 Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan.

A stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) must be prepared and a copy available for review at the project site at all times. All measures outlined in the stormwater pollution prevention plan must be implemented throughout the duration of the construction phase of the project. The SWPPP should include all the best management practices on the construction site. (Ord. 00-3, 2/8/00)

17.21.060 Notification to Start Grading.

Grading work cannot start until the City of Santa Clarita has been officially notified of the pregrading meeting at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance. (Ord. 00-3, 2/8/00)