Chapter 16.52
GRADING INSPECTION
Sections:
16.52.010 Initial inspection by City Engineer.
16.52.020 Required inspections – Generally.
16.52.030 Excavation and fill inspection.
16.52.040 Concrete or gunite drainage device inspection.
16.52.050 Other drainage devices.
16.52.065 Parking lot construction inspection.
16.52.070 Rough grade inspection.
16.52.090 Erosion control facilities.
16.52.100 Notification of noncompliance.
16.52.110 Special inspections.
16.52.120 Stopping and correction of work.
16.52.130 Completion of work – Final reports.
16.52.140 Completion of work – Notification of completion.
16.52.010 Initial inspection by City Engineer.
A. Prior to the approval of any building or grading plans and specifications, the City Engineer may inspect the site to determine that the plans and specifications are current and reflect existing conditions.
B. Before permit issuance, but prior to any grading, brushing or clearing, there shall be a preconstruction meeting held at a location specified by the Engineering Services Inspector. Prior to placement of curb and gutter or placement of pavement base material, there shall be a prepaving meeting held on the site. The permittee, or his agent, shall notify the Development Services Engineering Inspector at least five working days prior to the meetings and shall be responsible for notifying all principals responsible for grading or paving related operations. (Ord. 518, 1999; Ord. 345, 1991)
16.52.020 Required inspections – Generally.
The inspections set out in this division are to be required of the items of work listed, at the stage or time indicated and are generally performed by the City Inspector. The engineer of work and the soils engineer are responsible for periodic inspections from time to time as required to fulfill their responsibilities. The permittee shall notify the City Engineer at least 48 hours ahead of the time the work will be ready. (Ord. 705 § 2, 2010; Ord. 345, 1991)
16.52.030 Excavation and fill inspection.
Excavation and fill inspections are required as follows:
A. Canyon Cleanout. After all brush and unsuitable material has been removed and an acceptable base has been exposed, but before any fill is placed;
B. Toe Bench and Key. After the natural ground or bedrock is exposed and prepared to receive fill, but before fill is placed;
C. Over-Excavation. After the area has been excavated but before fill is placed;
D. Excavation. After the excavation is started, but before the vertical depth of the excavation exceeds 10 feet, and every 10-foot interval thereafter;
E. Fill. After the fill has started, but before the vertical height of the fill exceeds 10 feet and every 10-foot interval thereafter. (Ord. 345, 1991)
16.52.040 Concrete or gunite drainage device inspection.
Concrete or gunite drainage device inspection is required as follows:
A. Alley gutter and/or concrete swale:
1. Subgrade. After subgrade is prepared and required reinforcement placed,
2. Concrete. During concrete placement;
B. Curb and gutter (private property):
1. Subgrade. After subgrade is made, forms in place, with required reinforcement,
2. Concrete. During concrete placement;
C. Terrace drains, down drains, brow ditches, and all other paved drainage devices:
1. Subgrade. After grade is made but prior to placement of welded wire mesh or reinforcing steel,
2. Reinforcement. After thickness-control wire and reinforcing steel or welded wire are in place,
3. Concrete. During concrete or gunite placement. (Ord. 345, 1991)
16.52.050 Other drainage devices.
Inspections are required on drainage devices, other than concrete and gunite, as follows:
A. Subdrains.
1. After excavation but prior to placement of filter material and pipe. The subdrain pipe and filter material shall be on site for inspection;
2. After filter material and subdrain have been placed but prior to covering with backfill;
B. Storm Drains and Inlets.
1. After placement of storm drains but prior to covering with backfill. The engineer of work shall provide written certification indicating precise conformance to line and grade on any storm drain being placed flatter than one percent grade;
2. After placement of inlet forms but prior to placement of concrete. The engineer of work shall provide written certification indicating precise conformance to line and grade of all structures;
C. Earth Swales.
1. Prior to rough grading approval, storage of combustible materials, or lumber drop; and
2. Prior to final grading approval. (Ord. 705 § 2, 2010; Ord. 345, 1991)
16.52.060 Paving inspection.
Paving inspection is required as follows:
A. Subgrade. Inspection is required after subgrade has been established, tested and approved by the soils engineer, or his qualified representative. The soils engineer must leave a field memo or compaction test results on site. The engineer of work shall provide written certification indicating precise conformance to line and grade;
B. Base. After base course has been placed, tested, and approved by the soils engineer, or his qualified representative, but prior to prime coat and asphalt placement. The soils engineer may leave a field memo on-site to provide compaction test results. Material invoices may be required;
C. Asphalt Concrete.
1. During asphalt lay-down, to verify compliance with plans and specifications. Continuous inspection shall be provided by an approved testing agency, retained by the owner or soils engineer of record, or its qualified representative. Material invoices may be required,
2. Prior to application of the seal coat, the paved surface shall be water-tested to reveal any irregularities and shall be patched where required. Material invoices may be required after placement of the seal coat. (Ord. 345, 1991)
16.52.065 Parking lot construction inspection.
A. Subgrade. Inspection is required after subgrade has been established and prior to base placement. The soils engineer shall provide written documentation that the subgrade compaction meets the project requirements. The engineer of work shall provide written documentation that the subgrade drains as intended, per the approved plans.
B. Base. Inspection is required after the base material is placed and grade is established, and prior to asphalt concrete placement. The soils engineer shall provide written documentation that the base compaction meets the project requirements.
C. Final Surfacing. Inspection is required for the final surfacing operation. Compaction testing of the asphalt concrete mat is required during placement. Asphalt concrete mat compaction test results shall be included in the final project compaction report. Portland cement concrete pavement may be sampled and tested at the direction of the City Engineer. The engineer of work shall certify the site was graded and improved in accordance to the approved plans and approved construction change orders developed during the course of construction. (Ord. 497, 1998)
16.52.070 Rough grade inspection.
Rough grade inspection is required as follows:
This inspection must be called for by application to the Development Services counter at the completion of rough grading. The engineer of work must submit written certification attesting to precise conformance to line and grade and proper excavation and preparation of all areas ready to receive concrete structures to be built under the grading permit. Under normal circumstances, all subdrains and slope drains shall be in place and approved as a condition for rough grading approval. The soils engineer must submit a final soils report certifying the grading along with successful compaction test results. These reports must be submitted to the Development Services counter along with all required development fees prior to rough grade approval and building permit issuance. (Ord. 518, 1999; Ord. 345, 1991)
16.52.080 Final inspection.
Application shall be made when all work, including installation of all drainage structures, irrigation, slope planting and other protective devices, has been completed and all written professional approvals, certifications and the required reports have been submitted to the Development Services counter, approved by the City Engineer, and all applicable fees paid. (Ord. 518, 1999; Ord. 345, 1991)
16.52.090 Erosion control facilities.
Erosion control facilities inspection is required as follows:
A. After excavation of desilting basins but prior to fill placement, prefabricated devices are to be available on-site for inspection;
B. After fill placement for desilting basins but prior to placement of concrete or other nonerosive materials;
C. After installation of an erosion control system in accordance with an approved erosion control plan and the requirements of the City Engineer. (Ord. 345, 1991)
16.52.100 Notification of noncompliance.
If, in the course of fulfilling their responsibility under this division, the engineer of work, the soils engineer, the engineering geologist, or the testing agency finds that the work is not being performed in accordance with approved plans, specifications or this division, the discrepancies shall be reported immediately in writing to the grading contractor, the owner and the City Engineer. Recommendations for corrective measures shall be submitted for approval by the City Engineer. (Ord. 345, 1991)
16.52.110 Special inspections.
The City Engineer may establish special inspection requirements in accordance with the City Building Code, amended, for special cases involving retaining walls, grading or paving related operations. Special cases may apply to work where, in the opinion of the City Engineer, it is necessary to supplement the resources or expertise available for inspection. (Ord. 705 § 2, 2010; Ord. 345, 1991)
16.52.120 Stopping and correction of work.
Reference is made to the permit requirements section of this code.
A. The provisions of PMC 13.09.120 shall apply to all grading work. Whenever the City Engineer determines that any work does not comply with the terms of a permit, or this division, or that the soil or other conditions are not as stated on the permit, or that work is being done improperly or in a hazardous manner, he may order the work stopped by notice in writing served on any persons engaged in doing or causing such work to be done, and any such persons shall forthwith stop such work until authorized by the City Engineer to proceed with the work.
B. Whenever any work on which inspections are required is covered or concealed by additional work without first having been inspected, the City Engineer may require that such work be exposed for examination. The work of exposing and recovering shall not be subject to any expense by the City.
C. If the inspector finds the soil or other conditions not as stated in the approved plans and geotechnical reports, or in additional information which was required for issuance of the grading permit, he may issue a stop work order until approval is obtained for a revised grading plan which will conform to the conditions.
D. Work may resume and the stop order shall be rescinded upon the City Engineer’s determination that conditions have changed, corrections have been made, or the causes or actions which require a stop order have been acceptably remedied or alleviated to his satisfaction. (Ord. 775 § 8, 2015)
16.52.130 Completion of work – Final reports.
A. Upon completion of the rough grading work and prior to issuance of a building permit, the City Engineer will require:
1. A written statement by the engineer of work certifying the grading as being in precise conformance with the approved grading plan and which specifically states the following items were performed under his supervision, and are shown correctly on the record drawings:
a. Staking of line and grade for all engineered drainage devices and retaining walls;
b. Staking of property corners for proper building and slope location;
c. Location of permanent walls or structures on property corners or property lines;
d. Location and slope ratio of all manufactured slopes; and
e. Construction of earthen berms and positive building pad drainage in accordance with this division.
2. A final soils engineering report prepared by the soils engineer, including type of field testing performed, suitability of utility trench and retaining wall backfill, summaries of field and laboratory tests and other substantiating data, and comments on any changes made during grading and their effect on the recommendations made in the soils engineering investigation report. Each field density test shall be identified, located on a plan or map, the elevation of test, and the test method of obtaining the in-place density described in either ASTM D1556-78 or the approved equal shall be so noted. The soils engineer shall provide written approval as to the adequacy of the site for the intended use, as affected by soils engineering factors, and a statement of compliance to finish grade. Such report may consist of a series of reports at various stages of construction.
3. A geologic report prepared by the engineering geologist, including a final description of the geology of the site, including any new information disclosed during the grading, and the effect of same on recommendations incorporated in the approved grading plan. The geologist shall provide written approval as to the adequacy of the site for the intended use as affected by geologic factors, a statement of compliance to finish grade, and when required by the City Engineer, shall submit an as-built geologic map.
B. Upon the final completion of the work under the grading permit, but prior to the release of grading securities or issuance of a certificate of use and occupancy, the City Engineer will require:
1. A red-lined copy of the approved grading plan, signed and dated by the engineer of work, which shall include original and as-graded ground surface elevations, pad elevations, slope ratios, and elevations and locations of all surface and subsurface drainage facilities, location and scaled sections of all buttress/stabilization fills, subdrains, and general location and depth of all areas of removal of unsuitable soil;
2. Supplemental soils and geologic reports for all work done subsequent to rough grade approval; and
3. Submittal of fully executed agreements for the maintenance of private roads, drainage systems, and structural post-construction BMPs. (Ord. 775 § 9, 2015)
16.52.140 Completion of work – Notification of completion.
The permit holder or his agent shall notify the City Engineer when the grading operation is ready for final inspection. Final approval shall not be given until all work, including installation of all drainage facilities and their protective devices, and all erosion control measures, has been completed in accordance with the final approved grading plan and the required reports and statements of compliance have been submitted to the Engineering Services counter, approved by the City Engineer, and all applicable fees paid. (Ord. 345, 1991)