§ 13.24.050. Grading permit requirements.

A grading permit is required in any of the following cases, unless the project qualifies for an exemption or constitutes agricultural grading as set forth in Section 13.24.040:

1.

Fifty (50) Cubic Yards. The amount of material, measured cumulatively (adding together all proposed earthwork) for any of the above mentioned activities exceeds fifty (50) cubic yards.

2.

Work in a Watercourse. The amount of material, measured cumulatively (adding together all proposed earthwork) for any of the above mentioned operations exceeds twenty (20) cubic yards and involves altering or obstructing a drainage way or watercourse.

3.

Removal of Vegetation. Projects which would involve more than one acre of vegetation removal on a site.

4.

Temporary Stockpile. Soil stockpiled upon a land area for future site development or for temporary storage as set forth in Section 13.24.080.

Vegetation removal is calculated based on the total area of a site which will lack soil cover (i.e. "bare soil") at any given time. Areas subject to previous vegetation removal are not included in this calculation where permanent revegetation has already achieved a minimum of seventy (70) percent coverage.

All projects subject to a grading permit must submit an erosion and sediment control plan which includes the rationale used for selecting BMPs. The erosion and sediment control plan may be substituted by a SWPPP if the project requires one. The erosion and sediment control plan must require operators of construction sites to minimize the discharge of pollutants to the MS4 through the installation, implementation or maintenance of BMPs consistent with the California Storm Water Quality Association (CASQA) BMP Handbook or equivalent.

Note: The grading thresholds specified in subsections 1 and 2 above are to be measured cumulatively for each project. A project may not be broken down into smaller components with the intention of avoiding a grading permit. Activities progressing towards a common endeavor are considered a single project.

(Ord. No. 660, § 2(Exh. A), 2-25-2014)