Chapter 17.23
PERMIT APPLICATION

Sections:

17.23.010    Grading Permit Requirements.

17.23.020    Permit Limitations and Conditions.

17.23.030    Denial of Permit.

17.23.010 Grading Permit Requirements.

A.    Application. To obtain a grading permit, the applicant shall first file an application in writing on a form furnished for that purpose. Every such application shall:

1.    Describe the land on which the proposed work is to be performed by lot, block, tract and by a street address or by similar description sufficient to readily identify and definitely locate the site;

2.    State the name and address of: the owner of said land; the person who is to perform the work; and, the field engineer if such work is to be performed as engineered grading;

3.    Be accompanied by plans, specifications and calculations as may be required by subsection (B) of this section;

4.    State the volume of the material to be handled;

5.    Be signed by the applicant or his authorized agent, who may be required to submit evidence of such authority; and

6.    Give such other information as reasonably may be required by the City Engineer.

B.    Plans and Specifications. With each application for a grading permit and when required by the City Engineer for enforcement of any provisions of this code, three (3) sets of plans and specifications shall be submitted. Except as waived by the City Engineer for small and unimportant work, the plans shall be prepared and signed by a civil engineer and shall show the following:

1.    A vicinity sketch or other means of adequately indicating the site location;

2.    Boundary lines of the property on which the work is to be performed;

3.    Each lot or parcel of land into which the site is proposed to be divided;

4.    All of the proposed uses of the site, and if the site is to be divided, the proposed use of each lot or parcel of land;

5.    Location of any existing buildings or structures on the property where the work is to be performed, and the location of any buildings or structures on adjacent land which are within forty (40) feet of the property line;

6.    Accurate contours showing the topography of the existing ground and all existing and proposed public improvements and utilities adjacent to the site;

7.    Elevations, location, proposed pads, extent and slope of all proposed grading shown by contours, cross sections or other means and location of any rock disposal areas, buttress fills or other special features, if such are proposed to be included in the work;

8.    A statement of the quantities of material to be excavated and/or filled and the amount of such material to be imported to, or exported from, the site;

9.    A statement of the estimated starting and completion dates for work covered by the permit;

10.    A statement signed by the owner acknowledging that a field engineer, geotechnical engineer and engineering geologist, when appropriate, will be employed to perform the services required by this code, whenever approval of the plans and issuance of the permit are to based on the condition that such professional persons be so employed. These acknowledgments shall be on a form furnished by the City Engineer;

11.    The recommendations in the soil engineering and engineering geology reports shall be incorporated in the grading plans;

12.    Detailed plans of all drainage devices, walls, cribbing or other protective devices to be constructed in connection with, or as a part of, the proposed work, together with a map showing the drainage area and estimated runoff of the area served by any drains. Suitable access shall be provided to permit proper cleaning and maintenance;

13.    Plans, pad dimensions, maximum horizontal straight slope dimensions and slope heights must comply with the Hillside Development Ordinance, Chapter 17.80, where applicable. All necessary commission, council or staff reviews pursuant to this chapter must be obtained prior to issuance of permit;

14.    A drainage plan for that portion of a lot or parcel to be utilized as a building site (building pad) including elevations of floors with respect to finish site grade and locations of proposed stoops, slabs and fences that may affect drainage;

15.    Stormwater provisions are required to be shown on the plan;

16.    The dates of the soils engineering and/or engineering geology (geotechnical) reports together with the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the firms or individuals who are in charge of preparing the reports;

17.    A landscape and irrigation plan subject to approval by the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department shall be incorporated into the plan for all slopes requiring landscaping;

18.    Any additional plans, drawings or calculations deemed necessary by the City Engineer to show conformance of the proposed work with the requirements of this code or related ordinances.

C.    Fees. Grading permit and plan-checking fees shall be as most recently established per Ordinance 90-17 and Resolution 90-130 of the City.

D.    Engineering Geological Reports. The City Engineer may require an engineering geological investigation and report, based on the most recent grading plan. The report is to be less than one (1) year old at the date of application. The engineering geological report shall include an adequate description of the geology of the site and conclusions and recommendations regarding the effect of geologic condition on the proposed development.

E.    Soil Reports. The City Engineer may require a soils investigation and report based on the most recent grading plan; this report to be less than one year old. Such reports shall include data regarding the nature, distribution and strength of existing soils; recommendations for grading procedures; and design criteria for corrective measures, if required.

F.    Review of Reports. All reports shall conform with the requirements of the City building code and shall be subject to review by the City Engineer. Supplemental reports and data may be required as he may deem necessary. Recommendations for grading procedures and design criteria for corrective measures, if required.

G.    Pre-Plan Check Site Inspection. When the City Engineer finds that a visual inspection of the site is necessary to establish drainage requirements for the protection of property, existing buildings or the proposed construction, a site inspection shall be made prior to plan check of grading plans. The fee for such inspection shall be as most recently established per Ordinance 90-17 and Resolution 90-130 of the City.

H.    Hydrology and Hydraulic Study. A hydrology and hydraulic study may be required. If required, the study shall conform to the design requirements of the Los Angeles County Flood Control District and shall show all charts, formulas and data used for the preparation of the study. The report shall be prepared under the supervision of a licensed civil engineer whose seal shall be stamped on the title sheet of the report.

I.    Seismic Hazard Zone Study. Properties within, but not limited to, the seismic hazard zone shall be evaluated for potential seismically induced liquefaction, soil instability and earthquake-induced landslides during the course of an investigation. Properties not within the zone may be required to perform a similar investigation at the City Engineer’s request. All findings shall be reported to the City to the satisfaction of the City Engineer. The guidelines for evaluation and mitigation of liquefaction and/or seismically induced landslide hazards are stated in the Special Provision 117, published by the State of California Department of Conservation, Division of Mines and Geology.

J.    Additional plan check fees shall be assessed for projects that exceed three (3) plan checks. (Ord. 00-3, 2/8/00; Ord. 01-5, 2/27/01; Ord. 08-13 § 2, 8/26/08)

17.23.020 Permit Limitations and Conditions.

A.    General Conditions. The issuance of a grading permit shall constitute an authorization to do only that work which is described or illustrated on the application for the permit, or on the grading plans and specifications approved by the City Engineer. Grading plan approval shall only be valid for one (1) year from the date of approval.

B.    Jurisdictions of Other Agencies. Permits issued under the provision of this code shall not relieve the owner of the responsibility for securing permits or licenses that may be required from other departments or divisions of the government agencies.

C.    Conditions of Approval. In granting any permit under this code, the City Engineer may attach such conditions as may be reasonably necessary to prevent creation of a nuisance or hazard to public or private property. Such conditions may include, but shall not be limited to:

1.    Improvement of any existing grading to bring it up to the standards of this code;

2.    Requirements for fencing of excavations or fills which would otherwise be hazardous.

D.    Modification of Approved Plans. Any modifications of, or changes in, the approved grading plan must be approved by the City Engineer prior to implementation in the field. Modifications which affect basic tract design or land use must have the approval of the appropriate control agency.

E.    Special Permits, Agricultural or Road Grading. Where the grading proposed is solely for the purpose of preparing land for agricultural purposes or for the construction of a roadway to be used as access for maintaining the use of the land at the time of the permit, the City Engineer may issue a special permit therefor, and modify the requirements of this chapter when he finds:

1.    The site of the proposed work has an area of not less than ten (10) acres;

2.    The work will be reasonably safe for the intended use and will not result in a hazard to adjoining property or existing structures; and

3.    Adequate provision will be made for drainage and erosion control. (Ord. 08-13 § 2, 8/26/08)

17.23.030 Denial of Permit.

A.    Hazards. The City Engineer shall not issue a grading permit in any case where he finds that the work, as proposed by the applicant, is likely to adversely affect the stability of adjoining property or result in the deposition of debris on any public way or interfere with any existing drainage course, or be in an area determined to be subject to geological hazard under the provisions of the City building code.

    If it can be shown to the satisfaction of the City Engineer that the hazard can be essentially eliminated by the construction of retaining structures, buttress fills, drainage devices or by other means, the City Engineer may issue the permit with the condition that such work be performed.

B.    Land Use. The City Engineer shall not issue a grading permit for work on the site unless the proposed uses shown on the grading plan for the site will comply with the provisions of this title. (Ord. 00-3, 2/8/00)