Chapter 17.83
PERMIT APPLICATION

Sections:

17.83.010    Grading Application and Permit Requirements.

17.83.020    Permit Limitations and Conditions.

17.83.030    Denial of Permit.

17.83.010 Grading Application and 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.    Grading Designation. Grading which is intended to support structures, or in excess of five thousand (5,000) cubic yards of material, or grading the City Engineer determines exhibits special conditions or unusual hazards, shall be designated as “engineered grading” and shall conform with subsection (D) of this section, entitled “Engineered Grading Requirements.” All engineered grading shall be performed in accordance with an approved grading plan and specifications prepared by a civil engineer unless otherwise required by the City Engineer.

Grading other than “engineered grading” shall be designated “regular grading” and shall conform with subsection (C) of this section, entitled “Regular Grading Requirements.”

C.    Regular Grading Requirements. An application for a regular grading permit shall be accompanied by two (2) sets of plans with sufficient clarity to indicate the nature and extent of the work. The plans shall include the location of the work, the name of the owner, and the name of the person who prepared the plan. The plan shall also include the following information:

1.    General vicinity of the proposed site;

2.    Limits and depth of cut and fill;

3.    Locations of any buildings or structures where work is to be performed and the location of any buildings or structures within fifteen (15) feet of the proposed grading;

4.    Contours, flow areas, elevations, or slopes, which define existing and proposed drainage patterns;

5.    Stormwater provisions as required by this code;

6.    Location of all existing and proposed utilities, drainage facilities, and recorded public and private easements and restricted use areas; and

7.    Location of all special flood hazard areas as designated and adopted by Chapter 10.06 (Floodplain Management).

D.    Engineered Grading Requirements. An application for a permit for engineered grading shall be accompanied by two (2) sets of plans and specifications, and supporting data consisting of a geotechnical report and engineering geology report.

Specifications shall contain information covering the construction and material requirements. Plans shall be drawn to scale upon paper or cloth and shall be of sufficient clarity to indicate the nature and extent of the work proposed and shall show in detail that the proposed work will conform to the provisions of this code and all relevant laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations. The first sheet of the plan shall depict the location of the proposed work, the name and address of the owner, and the person who prepared the plans.

The plans shall include, or be accompanied, by the following information:

1.    General vicinity of the proposed site;

2.    Property limits and accurate contours of the existing ground and details of terrain and area drainage;

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

4.    Limiting dimensions, elevations, or finish contours to be achieved by the grading, proposed drainage channels, and related construction;

5.    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;

6.    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 or that may be affected by the proposed grading operations;

7.    Recommendations in the geotechnical report and the engineering geology report shall be incorporated into the grading plans or specifications. When approved by the City Engineer, specific recommendations contained in the geotechnical report and the engineering geology report, that are applicable to the grading, may be included by reference;

8.    The dates of the geotechnical and engineering geology reports together with the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the firms or individuals who prepared the reports;

9.    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;

10.    A statement of the quantities of material to be excavated and/or filled. Earthwork quantities shall include quantities for geotechnical and geological remediation. In addition, a statement of the quantities of material to be imported or exported from the site;

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

12.    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, when the City Engineer requires that such professional persons be so employed. These acknowledgments shall be on a form furnished by the City Engineer;

13.    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;

14.    Plans, pad dimensions, maximum horizontal straight slope dimensions and slope heights must comply with Section 17.51.020 (Hillside Development), where applicable. All necessary Commission, Council or staff reviews pursuant to this chapter must be obtained prior to issuance of permit;

15.    A drainage plan for those portions of property 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;

16.    Stormwater provisions required by this code;

17.    Location and type of any private disposal sewage disposal system, including the location of the expansion area;

18.    Location of existing and proposed utilities, drainage facilities, and recorded public and private easements;

19.    Location of all special flood hazard areas as designated and adopted by Chapter 10.06 (Floodplain Management);

20.    The location of any oak trees or other protected trees or shrubs;

21.    A landscape and irrigation plan subject to approval by the landscape maintenance district and/or Planning Division shall be incorporated into the plan for all slopes requiring landscaping; and

22.    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.

E.    Fees. Grading permit and plan-checking fees shall be in accordance with the current fee schedule approved by the Council.

F.    Geotechnical and Engineering Geology Reports. The geotechnical report required by subsection (D) of this section shall include data regarding the nature, distribution, and strength of existing soils; conclusions and recommendations for grading procedures and design criteria for corrective measures, including buttress fills, when necessary; and an opinion of the adequacy for the intended use of sites to be developed by the proposed grading, as affected by geotechnical factors, including the stability of slopes. 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 the City Engineer may deem necessary. Recommendations included in the reports and approved by the City Engineer shall be incorporated into the grading plan or specifications.

The engineering geology report required by subsection (D) of this section shall include an adequate description of the geology of the site, conclusions and recommendations regarding the effect of geologic conditions on the proposed development, and an opinion on the adequacy for the intended use of the sites to be developed by the proposed grading, as affected by geologic factors. The engineering geology report shall include a geologic map and cross sections and utilize the most recent grading plan as a base. 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 the City Engineer may deem necessary. Recommendations included in the reports and approved by the City Engineer shall be incorporated into the grading plan or specifications.

Exception: A geotechnical or engineering geology report is not required if the City Engineer determines that the nature of the work applied for is such that a report is not necessary.

G.    Liquefaction Study. For sites with mapped maximum considered earthquake spectral response accelerations at short periods (Ss) greater than 0.5g as determined by the City Building Code, a study for liquefaction potential of the site shall be provided, and the recommendations incorporated in the plans. A liquefaction study will be required when the proposed work is a “Project” as defined in California Public Resources Code Section 2693, and is located in an area designated as a “Seismic Hazard Zone,” as defined in Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations Section 3722 on Seismic Hazard Zone Maps issued by the State Geologist under Public Resources Code Section 2696.

Exception: A liquefaction study is not required if the City Engineer determines from established local data that the liquefaction potential at the grading location is low.

H.    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 in accordance with the current fee schedule approved by Council.

I.    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.

J.    Additional plan check fees may be assessed as outlined in the current fee schedule approved by the Council. (Ord. 13-8 § 4 (Exh. A), 6/11/13)

17.83.020 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 six (6) months 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 City and other 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 they find:

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. 13-8 § 4 (Exh. A), 6/11/13)

17.83.030 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 code. (Ord. 13-8 § 4 (Exh. A), 6/11/13)