§ 14.05.210. Grading inspection and supervision.

A.

Engineered or Regular Grading. All grading involving a fill intended to support structures, or the development of more than 1 lot or parcel of land, or in excess of 5,000 cubic yards of material, or in excess of 1,000 cubic yards of material if the site has an average natural slope of 10 percent or greater, or grading where the building official determines special conditions or unusual hazards exist, shall be performed under the supervision of a civil engineer and shall be designated "engineered grading." Grading other than engineered grading shall be designated "regular grading."

B.

Regular Grading Requirements. The building official upon notification from the permittee shall inspect the grading at the following stages of the work and shall either approve the portion then completed or shall notify the permittee wherein it fails to comply with the requirements of this chapter:

1.

Initial. When the site has been cleared of unapproved fills and vegetation and scarified, benched or otherwise prepared and before any fill is in place.

2.

Rough. When rough grading has been completed and approximate final elevations have been established; drainage terraces, swales and other drainage devices graded ready for paving; berms installed at the top of slopes; and temporary erosion-control measures installed, if required.

3.

Final. When grading has been completed; all drainage devices and permanent erosion control facilities installed; slope planting established; and irrigation systems installed.

C.

Engineered Grading Requirements. On every engineered grading site, the civil engineer shall supervise the grading operations and coordinate site inspection and testing to assure compliance of the work with the approved grading plans, the recommendation of the soils engineer and geologist, and the requirements of this chapter. The civil engineer shall submit periodic progress reports as required by the building official, and shall verify in writing the satisfactory completion of the various stages of the work. The verification for that portion of the work concerning the preparation of the existing ground surface and placing and compaction of fills shall be made by the soils engineer for the approved soils testing agency. The building official may require sufficient inspections by the geologist to assure that all geological conditions have been adequately considered and recommended corrective measures incorporated in the work.

1.

All necessary reports, compaction data, and soils engineering or engineering/geological recommendations made during the grading operation shall be submitted to the building official by the civil engineer. The civil engineer shall also prepare revised plans and as-graded grading plans upon completion of the work. The grading contractor shall submit in a form prescribed by the building official a statement of compliance with the as-built plan.

2.

The soils engineer shall do, among other work, the professional inspection and approval of the preparation of the ground to receive fills, test for required compaction, and stability of all finish slopes, and the design of buttress fills, where required, incorporating data supplied by the engineering geologist.

3.

The engineering geologist shall do, among other work, professional inspection and written approval of the adequacy of natural ground for receiving fills and the stability of cut slopes with respect to geological matters, and the need for subdrains or other groundwater drainage devices; and shall report all findings to the soils engineer and the civil engineer for engineering analysis.

4.

The building official shall inspect the project expeditiously at the scheduled stages of the work and more frequently if necessary to determine that adequate control is being exercised by the responsible professionals. The building official shall notify the RWQCB and LACFCD of any significant change in conditions from the erosion and sedimentation control design plan or where such plan is not achieving anticipated levels of performance. The RWQCB and LACFCD shall be permitted the opportunity for review. The building official may consult with either or both agencies to resolve any erosion-control problems.

D.

Notification of Noncompliance. If, in the course of fulfilling their responsibilities under this chapter, the civil engineer, the soils engineer, the engineering geologist or the testing agency finds that the work is not being done in conformance with this chapter or the approved grading plans, the discrepancies shall be reported immediately in writing to the person in charge of the grading work, and to the building official. Recommendations for corrective measures, if necessary, shall be submitted to the building official.

E.

Transfer of Responsibility for Approval. If the civil engineer, the soils engineer, the engineering geologist, the grading contractor or the testing agency of record are changed during the course of the work, the work shall be stopped unless:

1.

The property owner submits a letter of notification verifying the change of the responsible professional, with a copy so noted, to be sent to the prior responsible professional; and

2.

The new responsible professional assumes all responsibility as of a specified date; and provides written verification that he or she has reviewed all prior reports and plans, specified by date and title, and work performed by the prior responsible professional; concurs with findings, conclusions and recommendations; and is satisfied with the work performed. Any changes in the approved plans must be approved by the building official.

F.

Plans for engineered grading and engineered slopes shall be submitted for approval to the director of planning and development and to the city's building official. Landscaping approved by the director of planning and permitting shall be installed on such graded slopes and provisions shall be made in such grading to accommodate the planting and maintenance of such landscaping.

(Ord. 7127 § 5 (part), 2007: Ord. 6974 § 2, 2004; Ord. 6483 § 2 (part), 1992)