Chapter 14.19.244
Standards

Sections:

14.19.244.010    Grading Standards.

14.19.244.010 Grading Standards.

All grading shall be subject to the standards contained in the California Building Code and in Appendix J of said code and the following additional standards:

A. Cuts and Fills. All fills shall be compacted according to the recommendations of the soils report if a soils report has been prepared. The compaction test method and the required relative compaction shall be indicated on the plans and/or in the specifications.

The slope of cut or fill surfaces shall not be steeper than two to one, except as specifically approved by the Building Official, City Engineer, or Director of Public Works.

B. Drainage and Terracing. Unless otherwise specifically approved by the Building Official or the City Engineer, drainage facilities and terracing shall conform to the grading regulations of Appendix J of the California Building Code.

C. Setbacks. The tops and toes of cut and fill slopes shall be set back from existing or proposed property lines and existing or proposed structures as far as necessary to avoid impacting the neighboring properties, and to provide for adequate foundation support, required swales, berms and drainage facilities, contour grading, and applicable subdivision or zoning requirements.

The minimum setbacks shall be in accordance with Appendix J of the California Building Code; however, the setbacks shown are minimum requirements and may be increased by the Building Official or City Engineer when it is determined that such additional requirement is necessary for stability of the site, for safety, or to prevent future damage from water, soil, or debris.

D. Erosion Control Measures. All grading shall be subject to erosion control measures as required by the Building Official, the City Engineer, or the Director of Public Works, as appropriate. Erosion control measure shall include the following:

1. Filter Materials. Filter materials shall be provided to prevent any debris and dirt from the construction activity from flowing into the City storm drain system;

2. Disturbed Areas. The faces of cut and fill slopes which accept overland or sheet flow or any cut or fill slope of erodible material over three feet in height shall have approved erosion control installed immediately following rough or finished grading between October 1st and April 30th. Slopes graded between April 30th and October 1st shall have erosion control installed no later than October 1st. The Building Official, the City Engineer, or the Director of Public Works, as appropriate, may require that moneys be deposited to ensure that the erosion control measures are installed by October 1st. An approved erosion control plan or ESC plan may include effective planting or other erosion control devices and may require maintenance in a manner satisfactory to the City by means of contracts, deed restrictions, or other instruments approved by the City;

3. Other Devices. Check dams, sedimentation basins, cribbing, riprap, hydroseeding, or other devices or methods to control erosion and sediments shall be employed when necessary to provide safety and protect water quality;

4. Exceptions. Where cut and fill slopes are not subject to erosion due to the erosion-resistant character of the materials, the requirement for protection specified under subsections D.(2) and (3) of this section may be deleted by the City Engineer.

E. All grading shall be subject to appropriate post-construction erosion and sediment control measures as described in a post-construction erosion and sediment control plan (PC plan) acceptable to the City as more fully set forth in Section 14.19.242.020.A(7).

F. Dust and Debris Control Measures. It shall be the responsibility of any person who engages in any grading to take adequate measures to prevent windblown debris, including, but not limited to, cardboard, paper, soil, and any other construction materials capable of being carried by the wind, from being blown off the construction site.

G. Developments in Hillside Areas. Grading related to hillside development shall be subject to the following standards:

1. The grading design shall use rounded or contoured graded slopes to provide a more naturalized appearance to graded areas;

2. Grading on slopes of 25 percent or greater shall be prohibited unless specifically approved by the Director of Community Development and the City Engineer;

3. Cut and fill slopes may be required to be landscaped and irrigated. The plans for the landscaping and irrigation of all required landscaped areas shall be subject to the approval of the Director of Community Development;

4. Drainage ditches shall be made of concrete, unless specifically authorized by the Building Official, City Engineer or the Director of Public Works, and shall conform to the standards established by the appropriate official;

5. Retaining walls shall be used to minimize the height of cut and fill slopes. The design, height, and appearance of the retaining walls shall conform to the standards established by the Building Official or City Engineer, as appropriate;

6. Fire access roads and firebreaks shall conform to the standards approved by the Fire Chief;

7. Compliance with the provisions of the Hillside Development Guidelines as adopted by resolution of the City Council.

H. Designated Routes. Any grading application where the design volume of either the export or import of earth material exceeds 5,000 cubic yards shall include proposed travel routes for the transport of equipment and materials. For such approvals, the City Engineer, in consultation with the City Traffic Engineer, shall review, determine, and designate those routes which will be allowable for trucks or other equipment of the applicant or its contractors or subcontractors, agents, or employees doing work under the grading permit, traveling between the construction site and/or the excavation, landfill, or quarry sites. The use of these designated routes shall be a requirement of such a grading permit. The use of routes other than the designated routes by the applicant or its contractors or subcontractors, agents, or employees doing work under such a grading approval shall be cause for the City Engineer or the Director of Public Works to revoke or suspend the grading approval.

I. Water Obstruction. No person shall do or permit to be done any grading which may obstruct, impede, or interfere with the natural flow of storm waters, whether such waters are unconfined upon the surface of the land or confined within land depressions, natural drainage ways, unimproved channels, watercourses, improved ditches, channels or conduits, in such a manner as to cause flooding where it would not otherwise occur, aggravate any existing flooding condition or cause accelerated erosion except where said grading is in accordance with all applicable laws, including, but not limited to, the provisions of this division.

J. Levee Work. No person shall excavate or remove any material from or otherwise alter any levee adjacent to any river, creek, bay, or local drainage control channel without prior approval of the governmental agency or agencies responsible for the operation and/or maintenance of the levee.

K. Division Not Retroactive. The provisions of this division shall not apply to grading activities for which all previously necessary permits and approvals were obtained prior to the effective date of this chapter.

L. Enforcement of Division. In addition to the provisions set forth at Sections 14.19.240.040 and 14.19.242.060 through 14.19.242.090, the enforcement of this division shall be governed by Sections 14.26.050.010 through 14.26.050.210. This division may be enforced by the Building Official, the Director of Public Works, or the City Engineer, as appropriate.

M. Repeal of Conflicting Ordinances. All ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.

(Ord. 1985, Amended, 07/25/2023; Ord. 1800, Amended, 05/13/2008; Ord. 1720, Amended, 09/13/2004; Ord. 1558, §16, 1996; Ord. 1555, §11, 1996; Ord. 1540, §3, 1995)