On-Site or Early Grading (Option)

Grading

On site grading of any kind requires a Building Permit. An Early Grading permit is for on-site grading only and may not be used to obtain wall permits. A Final Grading permit allows for grading and can also be used to submit for retaining and screen walls (since it includes a Zoning review). You may want to talk to the Engineering division at the Building Department to decide which permit is best for you. The plans are essentially the same, they just have a different review steps.

A building permit for on-site grading is only for private property. Any work in the right of way or drainage facilities requires an off-site permit with bonds posted for those improvements.

In order for the Civil step to be approved, a plan must be approved by Public Works. For those projects that require a Drainage Study and Off-site Permit, a plan may be submitted prior to the off-site permit approval. We call that Early Grading or "at risk grading". To Public Works this means a grading plan approval prior to off-sites permit approval.

See the on-site Grading Submittal Guide for our requirements. The plan is submitted under the Drainage Study record number. Once approved, the plan can also be used to approve the Civil step of building permits for either type of grading permit.

Use the attached Grading Submittal Form and the On-site Options. Don’t make a submittal unless you have a building permit application number to reference.

The grading review turn around varies depending on whether it includes the legal documents for a Grading Agreement. With the agreement the turn around is roughly 2 weeks. If the bond is posted on the off-site permit, or off-sites are already built it takes about 1 week. Any corrections needed will delay the process.

Staff will sign off on the plans and building permit once all the reviews are complete and we can confirm that the plans are consistent. The plans will be imaged under the Drainage Study record and the electronic plans for the building permit.

A refund may be issued upon written request once the off-site permit is issued. The steps for this process are outlined on the Grading Submittal Guide.

Grading Submittal Sheet On-Site Grading Options Early Grading Agreement