Section J103.2 of Appendix J of the 2022 Edition of the California Building Code, is hereby amended to read as follows:
J103.2 Exemptions. A grading permit shall not be required for the following:
1. Grading in an isolated, self-contained area, provided there is no danger to the public and that such grading will not adversely affect adjoining properties.
2. Excavation for construction of a structure permitted under this code where the excavation is limited to within the volume of the proposed structure, except when the structure is located on a hillside site. For the purposes of this exemption, a hillside site is one where the existing grade is twenty percent or greater; and which may be adversely affected by drainage and/or stability conditions within or from outside the site, or which may cause an adverse effect on the adjacent property.
3. Cemetery graves.
4. Refuse disposal sites controlled by other regulations.
5. Excavations for wells, or trenches for utilities.
6. Mining, quarrying, excavating, processing or stockpiling rock, sand, gravel, aggregate or clay controlled by other regulations, provided such operations do not affect the lateral support of, or significantly increase stresses in, soil on adjoining properties.
7. Exploratory excavations performed under the direction of a registered design professional. Exploratory excavations must not create a hazardous condition to adjacent properties or the public and must be restored to existing conditions.
8. An excavation that does not exceed 50 cubic yards of soil (38.3 m3) and complies with one of the following conditions:
a. is less than 2 feet (0.6 m) in depth.
b. does not create a cut slope greater than 5 feet (1.5 m) measured vertically upward from the cut surface to the surface of the natural grade and is not steeper than 2 units horizontal to 1 unit vertical (50 percent slope).
9. A fill not intended to support a structure, that does not obstruct a drainage course and complies with one of the following conditions:
a. is less than 1 foot (0.3 m) in depth and is placed on natural terrain with a slope flatter than 5 units horizontal to 1 unit vertical (20 percent slope).
b. is less than 3 feet (0.9 m) in depth at its deepest point measured vertically upward from natural grade to the surface of the fill, does not exceed 50 cubic yards, and creates a fill slope no steeper than 2 units horizontal to 1 unit vertical (50 percent slope).
c. is less than 5 feet (1.5 m) in depth at its deepest point measured vertically upward from natural grade to the surface of the fill, does not exceed 20 cubic yards, and creates a fill slope no steeper than 2 units horizontal to 1 unit vertical (50 percent slope)
Exemption from the permit requirements of this appendix shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in any manner in violation of the provisions of this code or any other laws or ordinances of this jurisdiction.
(Ord. 3316 § 1 (part), 2022).