Beverly Hills Municipal Code Ch. 15 Hillside Building District

SECTION R1501

HILLSIDE BUILDING DISTRICT ESTABLISHED

There is hereby established a hillside building district in the area designated in the ‘hillside building district map’ as set forth in this code. The specific regulations in this chapter shall apply to the hillside building district.

SECTION R1502

GEOLOGICAL AND FOUNDATION INVESTIGATIONS REQUIRED

R1502.1 Investigations required. Prior to issuing a building permit for any new building, structure, or addition to an existing building or structure on a site in the hillside building district where slopes exceed three (3) horizontal to one vertical or where unstable geological or soil conditions are known or suspected to exist, a geological and foundation investigation shall be conducted, and a report shall be submitted to the city building official by a geologist and a civil engineer registered in the state; provided, however, the city building official may issue a building permit for an addition to an existing building or structure without a geological and foundation inspection if such addition is located so as not to be affected by slopes exceeding three (3) horizontal to one vertical.

R1502.2 Prerequisites to permit issuance. Where a geological and foundation investigation required by this section indicates the presence of a geological hazard, and evidence indicates mitigating measures can offset or eliminate the hazard, the city building official shall issue a building permit provided all recommended mitigating measures are designed and incorporated into the proposed project and all other requirements of this code and the municipal code are met.

R1502.3 Denial of permits. Where a geological and foundation investigation indicates the presence of a geological hazard, and evidence indicates no mitigating measures can offset or eliminate the hazard, the city building official shall deny the issuance of a building permit for the proposed project.

SECTION R1503

FOUNDATION EMBEDMENT

Where foundations are placed on natural slopes or un-compacted fill, the foundation shall extend through the natural overburdened or un-compacted fill and rest in undisturbed, un-weathered, firm natural base materials. Foundations shall be designed to resist any vertical or lateral movement or overburden or fill.

SECTION R1504

YARD DRAINAGE

Surface runoff flowing or collecting on building pads and yards shall be directed to catch basins and non-erosive devices to reduce the hazard of erosion, subsidence, or slippage of the surrounding property. Such devices shall conduct any surface runoff to a street or alley and shall be designed to accommodate a three (3") inch per hour rainfall.

SECTION R1505

ROOF DRAINAGE

Eave gutters and downspouts on structures located in the hillside building district shall be provided to collect all roof water and deposit it in non-erosive devices to a street or alley. Gutters, downspouts, and non-erosive devices shall be sized to accommodate a three (3") inch per hour rainfall.

Concentrated drainage shall not be discharged directly into alleys. All drainage shall be directed in a manner that promotes sheet flow, distributing runoff uniformly over a broad surface area, in order to prevent erosion, pavement damage, and safety hazards associated with concentrated and high-velocity flows. (Ord. 25-O-2926, eff. 1-1-2026; amd. Ord. 25-O-2929, 12-9-2025)