(A) Generally. Each geotechnical report shall be prepared in accordance with this section and generally accepted soil engineering practices. Each geotechnical report shall be approved by the City Engineer. The Building Official may also require a soil engineering report or additional information related to the building structure in accordance with the Building Code. Recommendations contained in the approved reports shall be incorporated into the grading plans and shall become conditions of the grading permit.
(B) Soil engineering report. Unless waived by the City Engineer, a soil engineering report shall be prepared and submitted for any grading permit application associated with any residential, commercial, industrial or similar development project. The soil engineering report shall include information and data regarding the nature, distribution and physical and chemical properties of existing soils, conclusions as to the adequacy of the site for the proposed grading, recommendations for general and corrective grading procedures, detailed information for the location of recommended stabilization fills or buttress fills, foundation and pavement design criteria and shall provide other recommendations as determined necessary by the City Engineer.
(C) Engineering geology report. An engineering geology report shall be prepared and submitted for any grading permit application associated with any development on a hillside site where geologic conditions are determined by the City Engineer to have a substantial effect on existing and/or future site stability. This requirement may be extended to other sites as required by the City Engineer. The engineering geology report shall include a comprehensive description of the site topography and geology including, where necessary: a geologic map; an opinion as to the adequacy of the proposed development from an engineering geologic standpoint; an opinion as to the extent known or as reasonably should be known how instability on adjacent properties may adversely effect the project; a description of the field investigation and findings; conclusions regarding the effect of geologic conditions on the proposed project; and specific recommendations for modifications to the grading plans, corrective grading and/or special techniques and systems to facilitate a safe and stable development. The engineering geology report shall also provide other recommendations as necessary for the project grading and development. The engineering geology report may be combined with the soil engineering report.
(D) Seismicity report. Unless waived by the City Engineer, a seismicity report may be required for any grading permit application associated with any residential, commercial, industrial or similar development project. A seismicity report shall be required as a condition of development for all essential facilities, as defined in the Building Code, or as determined by the City Engineer, Building Official or Planning Director. Additionally, grading permit applications for sites containing earthquake-sensitive earth materials and/or sites that are located on or near potentially active or active faults are required to submit a seismicity report as a condition for issuance of a grading permit. The report shall be prepared by an engineering geologist, a geophysicist or a civil engineer with expertise in earthquake technology and its application to buildings or other civil engineering works. The scope of the report shall be commensurate with the proposed development and shall reflect the latest available and accepted technological recommendations related to seismicity. The minimum acceptable pseudostatic slope stability factor of safety shall be 1.1 and the minimum acceptable surficial stability factor of safety shall be 1.5. The seismicity report may be combined with the soil and engineering geology reports.
(Ord. 3378 § 5 (part), 2023; Ord. 2568 § 1, 2002.)