(A) Intent and scope of requirements. Compliance with the grading regulations set forth herein shall be required as follows.
(1) Intent. Grading regulations are established to control the excavation and filling of land, to assure adequate drainage away from structures and to a natural or established drainage course, and to assure protection of trees on sites where grading is to take place. The regulations set forth herein also establish procedures and requirements for grading permits, inspection of finished grading operations, and penalties for violation of the grading regulations.
(2) Scope of application. A permit shall be required in all instances where grading, excavating, filling, stockpiling, or other alteration to the land are proposed. Filling shall include the dumping of soil, sand, clay, gravel, or other material on a site. However, where minor alterations to the land which do not affect the storm drainage pattern are proposed, a grading permit shall not be required.
(B) Grading plan.
(1) Grading plan. In the event that a grading permit is required, the applicant shall first submit a grading plan for review and approval by the City Engineer and/or Director of Public Services. Grading plans may be submitted in conjunction with a site plan review, or may be submitted as a separate plan. The plans shall be prepared by a registered land surveyor or civil engineer.
(2) Grading plan standards. At a minimum, grading plans shall show grade elevations adjacent to existing and proposed structures and at the nearest side of structures on adjacent properties, and sufficient existing and proposed elevations on the site to be altered and on as much of the adjacent property as is necessary to establish the proposed surface water drainage pattern. If excavation or filling is proposed, the amount of material to be excavated or filled shall be indicated on the grading plan. All elevations shall be based on U.S.G.S. datum. Elevations and location of bench marks used for determining elevations shall be shown on the plan.
(3) Subdivision grading plans. For any proposed subdivision, a grading plan prepared by a registered land surveyor or civil engineer shall be submitted with the preliminary subdivision plan. The grading plan shall show the topography of the area to be platted, the existing drainage pattern, and the
proposed surface water drainage pattern. Drainage easements shall be provided across private property where necessary for handling surface drainage from adjacent properties.
(C) Grading standards.
(1) Slope away from buildings. All buildings and structures shall be constructed at an elevation which provides a sloping grade away from the building or structure, thereby causing surface water to drain away from the walls of the building to a natural or established drainage course. Unless insufficient space exists on a site, a minimum 5% slope away from all sides of a building or structure shall be provided for a minimum distance of ten feet.
(2) Runoff onto adjacent properties. New grades shall not be established that would permit an increase in the runoff of surface water onto adjacent properties, except through established drainage courses.
(D) Review, inspection, and approval procedures.
(1) Grading plans shall be reviewed by the City Engineer and/or Director of Public Services. In the event that the grading plan is submitted in conjunction with a site plan submission, the Planning Commission shall review the grading plan as a part of normal site plan review. The Building Official shall issue a grading permit after the determination has been made that the requirements set forth herein and in other applicable ordinances have been complied with.
(2) For residential properties, compliance with a grading plan and permit shall be verified by the Building Official after visual on-site inspection. The City Engineer and/or Director of Public Services shall be responsible for verifying compliance with grading plans and permits for nonresidential uses. Before final inspection and issuance of a certificate of occupancy, the rough grading must be completed; final grading shall be completed within six months after a certificate of occupancy has been issued.
(Ord. 92-005, passed 2-17-92) Penalty, see § 154.999