155.003 Definitions

For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.

BEDROCK . The solid undisturbed rock in place either exposed at the ground surface or beneath surficial deposits of loose rock or soil.

BENCH . A relatively level step excavated into sloping natural ground on which engineered fill or embankment fill is to be placed.

CITY COUNCIL . The City Council of the City of Auburn.

CITY ENGINEER . The City Engineer of the City of Auburn, California, acting either directly or through his or her authorized deputies, subject to the administrative direction of the City Manager.

COMPACTION . The increase of density of a soil or rock fill by mechanical means.

CUT . See EXCAVATION .

DEPARTMENT . The Public Works Department of the City of Auburn.

DEPTH OF FILL . The vertical dimension from the exposed fill surface to the original ground surface.

DEPTH OF EXCAVATION (CUT) . The vertical dimension from the exposed cut surface to the original ground surface.

DRAINAGE WATERS . Surface waters which collect, or are accumulated, on the ground and which, by means of drainage ways or water courses, flow off the surface to larger rivers, streams or lakes. The waters shall include, but are not limited to natural precipitation and irrigation waters.

DRAINAGE WAY . A depression in the earth's surface such as swales, ravines, gullies, slews, draws, hollows or ditches in which surface waters collect for drainage, but which otherwise are destitute of water.

EMBANKMENT . See FILL .

ENCROACHMENT PERMIT . A written permit issued by the Department of Public Services authorizing certain work within a publicly-maintained rightof-way.

ENGINEERING GEOLOGIST . A registered geologist certified as an Engineering Geologist by the state.

ENGINEERING GEOLOGY . The application of geologic knowledge in the investigation and evaluation of naturally occurring rock and soil for use in the design of civil works.

EROSION . The wearing away and transportation of earth material as a result of the movement of wind, water or ice.

EXCAVATION (CUT) . The removal of naturally occurring earth materials by mechanical means and includes the conditions resulting therefrom.

EXISTING GRADE . The elevation of the ground surface at a given point prior to excavating or filling.

. EXPANSIVE SOIL . Any soil which exhibits significant expansive properties as determined by a geotechnical engineer or the City Engineer.

FILL (EMBANKMENT) . The deposit of soil, rock or other materials placed by man and includes the conditions resulting therefrom.

FINISH GRADE . The final grade of the site after excavating or filling which conforms to the approved final grading plan. The FINISH GRADE is also the grade at the top of a paved surface.

GEOLOGIC HAZARD . Any condition in naturally occurring earth materials which may endanger life, health or property.

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER . A civil engineer registered by the state who is qualified in the field of soil mechanics and soil engineering and has the authority to use the title "soil engineer."

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING . The application of the principles of soil mechanics in the investigation, evaluation and design of civil works involving the use of earth materials and may include the inspection, testing and construction thereof.

GRADE . The vertical location of the ground surface.

1. EXISTING GRADE . The grade prior to grading.

2. FINISH GRADE . The final grade of the site which conforms to the approved plan.

3. ROUGH GRADE . The stage at which the grade approximately conforms to the approved plan.

GRADING . Any land excavation or filling or combination thereof, or the removal, plowing under or burial of vegetative ground cover.

GRADING PLAN . A plan prepared in accordance with this chapter showing grading and related work.

GRADING WORK . Grading and related work, such as, but not limited to drainage improvements and erosion and sediment control.

KEYWAY . A special backfilled excavation which is constructed beneath the toe area of a planned fill slope or sloping ground to improve the stability of the slope.

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT . A landscape architect registered by the State of California.

LEVEL; LAND LEVELING OPERATION . The physical movement of rock or soil which results in a change in the topography of the land.

LOT . See PARCEL .

OWNER . The person shown as the legal owner of the property on the latest equalized assessment roll in the office of the County Assessor.

PARCEL (LOT) . Land described as a lot or parcel in a recorded deed or shown as a lot or parcel on a subdivision map or parcel map on file in the County Recorder's office.

PERMIT . An approved grading permit issued pursuant to this chapter authorizing certain grading work.

PERMITTEE . Any person to whom a permit is issued pursuant to this chapter.

PERSON . Any natural person, firm, corporation or public agency whether principal, agent, employee, or otherwise.

PLANNING AUTHORITY . The Planning Director of the city; acting directly or through his or her authorized agents.

PRELIMINARY GRADING PLAN . A plan that shows the proposed grading work in relation to the existing site prepared and submitted with the application for a grading permit.

PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR . The Public Works Director of the City of Auburn, California, acting either directly or through his or her authorized deputies, subject to the administrative direction of the City Manager.

RAINY SEASON . The period of the year during which there is a substantial risk of rainfall. For the purpose of this chapter, the RAINY SEASON is defined as from October 15 to May 1, inclusive.

SEDIMENT . Any material transported or deposited by water, including soil debris or other foreign matter.

SITE . Any lot or parcel of land or combination of contiguous lots or parcels of land, whether held separately or joined together in common ownership or occupancy, where grading is to be performed or has been performed.

SLOPE . An inclined ground surface the inclination of which may be expressed as the ratio of horizontal distance to vertical distance.

SOIL . All earth material of any origin that overlies bedrock and may include the decomposed zone of bedrock which can be excavated readily by mechanical equipment.

STRUCTURE . That which is built or constructed or any piece of work artificially built up or composed of parts joined together in some definite manner.

TERRACE . A relatively level step constructed in the face of a graded slope surface for drainage, maintenance or other purposes.

VEHICULAR WAY . A private roadway or driveway.

VEGETATION . Plant life or total plant cover of an area.

WATERCOURSE . Any natural or manmade channel flowing continuously or intermittently in a definite direction and course or used for the holding, delay or storage of waters, which functions at any time to convey or store storm water runoff. Natural channels shall generally be limited to those designated by a solid line or a dash and three dots as shown in blue on the most recent U.S. Geological Survey 7.5 minute series of topographic maps. At the discretion of the City Engineer the definition of natural channel may be limited to those channels having a watershed area of 50 acres or more, and this definition will be commonly used in connection with the administration of this chapter except for those cases in which the City Engineer determines that the definition must be extended to a natural channel with a watershed smaller than 50 acres in order to prevent a condition which is a menace to life, limb, endangers property is a hazard to public safety, adversely affects the safety, use or serviceability of adjacent property, public way or drainage channel, or could adversely affect the water quality of any water bodies or watercourses.

WORK . See GRADING WORK .

(1973 Code, § 7-9.103) (Ord. 90-2, eff. 3-28-1990)

HISTORY

Amended by Ord. 25-05 on 10/27/2025