§ 25-33. Soils report.

Unless otherwise specified herein, a preliminary soils report, prepared by a civil engineer registered in the State of California, shall be required for every division of land for which a tract map or a parcel map is required. The public works director may waive the requirement for such a report if, due to reports on file, or his knowledge of the existing soil conditions and qualities within the land to be divided, he finds that such a preliminary report is not necessary. If the number of lots or parcels involved in the division is small, or if their development is to be deferred, the public works director may also defer the requirement for a soils report until such time as grading or building permits are requested on the lots or parcels. Unless specifically required otherwise, a preliminary soils report shall not be required for a lot line adjustment, or for the approval of a map for the reversion of divided land to acreage. Any such preliminary soils report shall be based upon sufficient test borings, and shall indicate the character and quality of the land and soils within the area being divided. If the preliminary soil report indicates the presence of critically expansive soils, or conditions indicating slippage, soil movement, lack of compaction, seismic activity, or any other conditions, which if not corrected could lead to possible structural damage or defects to structures or dwellings built upon the land, then the director of public works may require a soils investigation on each lot or parcel in the proposed division. The report shall recommend corrective actions to be taken which are likely to prevent said defects or damage, and such recommendations shall be required to be implemented as conditions precedent to the issuance of building permits for dwellings or structures on the lots or parcels involved. When a soils report is required, it shall be completed and submitted to the public works director prior to the city council approval of the final tract map. The date of preparation of the report, the name of the responsible civil engineer, and the business or firm name with whom he is associated, shall be noted upon the final tract map or final parcel map. (Ord. No. 582, § 2, 9-13-76)