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Division 1 — Generally›Chapter 33›Article 55 — GRADING AND EROSION CONTROL

§ 33-1055. Grading permit requirements.

Escondido Zoning Code · 2026-05 edition · updated 2026-07-25 · Escondido

  • (a) Permits required. Except as exempted in section 33-1053 of this article, no person shall perform any grading without first obtaining a grading permit from the city engineer and applicable state-issued stormwater discharge permits. A separate permit shall be required for each site, and may cover both excavations and fills.

  • (b) Application. The provisions of section 302(a) of the Uniform Building Code are applicable to grading, and in addition the application shall state the estimated quantities of work involved.

  • (c) Plans and specifications. When required by the city engineer, each application for a grading

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City of Escondido, CA

ESCONDIDO CODE

§ 33-1055

§ 33-1055

permit shall be accompanied by two sets of plans and specifications, and supporting data consisting of a soil engineering report and engineering geology report. Additional sets of plans and specifications may be required by the city engineer.

  • (d) Information on plans and specifications. Plans shall be drawn to scale upon substantial paper, or cloth, and shall be of sufficient clarity to indicate the nature and extent of the work proposed, and show in detail that they will conform to the provisions of this code and all relevant laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations. The first sheet of each set of plans shall give the location of the work and the name and address of the owner, and the person by whom they were prepared.

The plans shall include the following information:

  • (1) General vicinity of the proposed site;

  • (2) Property limits and accurate contours of existing ground and details of terrain and area drainage;

  • (3) Limiting dimensions, elevations, or finish contours to be achieved by the grading, and proposed drainage channels and related construction;

  • (4) Detailed plans of all surface and subsurface drainage devices, including brow ditches, walls, cribbing, dams, protective fencing, and other protective devices to be constructed with, or as a part of, the proposed work, together with a map showing the drainage area and the estimated runoff of the area served by any drains;

  • (5) Location of any buildings or structures on the property where the work is to be performed and the location of any buildings or structures on land of adjacent owners that are within 15 feet of the property or that may be affected by the proposed grading operations;

  • (6) Location and identification of any existing sensitive biological species, sensitive biological habitat, mature trees, or protected trees pursuant to section 33-1068(c);

  • (7) Letter of permission from property owner for any off-site grading;

  • (8) For projects greater than five acres, the Regional Water Quality Control Board's notice of intent file number.

  • (e) Soils engineering report. The soils engineering report required by subsection (c) of this section shall include data regarding the nature, distribution, and strength of existing soils; conclusions and recommendations for grading procedures; design criteria for corrective measures, when necessary; and opinions and recommendations covering adequacy of sites to be developed by the proposed grading. Recommendations included in the report and approved by the city engineer shall be incorporated in the grading plans or specifications.

  • (f) Engineering geology report. The engineering geology report required by subsection (c) of this section shall include an adequate description of the geology of the site, conclusions and recommendations regarding the effect of geologic conditions on the proposed development, and opinions and recommendations covering the adequacy of sites to be developed by the proposed grading. Recommendations included in the report and approved by the city engineer shall be incorporated in the grading plans or specifications.

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City of Escondido, CA § 33-1055

ZONING

§ 33-1058

  • (g) Issuance. The provisions of section 303 of the Uniform Building Code are applicable to grading permits. The city engineer may require that grading operations and project designs be modified if delays occur which incur weather-generated problems not considered at the time the permit was issued.

  • (h) Provisions for denial. A grading permit may be denied if the city engineer determines that:

    • (1) It is reasonably likely that the ultimate development of the land to be graded cannot occur without further grading requiring zoning administrator or director approval pursuant to the provisions of section 33-1066(c) of the criteria for grading design; or

    • (2) There is no approved development plan or environmental clearance under CEQA for the property to be graded; and

    • (3) The proposed grading may substantially limit development alternatives for the property; and

    • (4) It is probable that development of the property will require discretionary approvals (such as, but not limited to, a tentative subdivision or parcel map, a conditional use permit, or a planned development approval) by the city; or

    • (5) The proposed grading is detrimental to the public health, safety, or welfare; or

    • (6) The proposed grading is not in conformance with the requirements of sections 33-1068 through 33-1069, clearing of land and vegetation protection.

  • (i) Appeals. The city engineer's denial of a grading permit pursuant to subsection (h) of this section may be appealed to the planning commission in accordance with the provisions of section 33-1303 et seq. of Article 61 of this chapter.

  • (Ord. No. 2001-21, § 5, 8-22-01; Ord. No. 2017-03R, § 4, 3-22-17; Ord. No. 2021-10, § 6, 10-27-21)

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▸ Contents — Escondido Zoning Code
Escondido Zoning Code
  1. Chapter 6
  2. Division 2 — Routing
  3. Division 2 — Weed and Rubbish Abatement Program
  4. ▸ Division 1 — Generally
    Overview
    1. § 11-53. Created and established.
    2. § 11-54. Purpose.
    3. § 11-55. Membership.
    4. § 11-56. Members in classified service and subject to civil se…
    5. § 11-57. Personnel to obey fire chief and rules and regulation…
    6. § 11-63. Appointment; tenure.
    7. § 11-64. Qualifications.
    8. § 11-65. Status of employment.
    9. § 11-66. General authority.
    10. § 11-67. To perform duties prescribed by city manager.
    11. § 11-68. To aid enforcement of ordinances, report violations.
    12. § 11-69. Duty to promulgate and enforce rules, regulations for…
    13. § 11-70. Authority, duty to inspect buildings, premises and or…
    14. § 11-71. Right of entry to make inspections.
    15. § 11-72. Duty to investigate fires, maintain records.
    16. § 11-73. Duty to preserve order at fires.
    17. § 11-74. Provide instruction for department in first aid, etc.
    18. § 11-75. Duty to call fire drills; purpose of drills.
    19. § 11-76. Responsible for conduct of and property of department.
    20. § 11-77. Duty to recommend disciplinary action.
    21. § 11-78. Duty to make reports; contents.
    22. § 11-79. To submit annual budget.
    23. Chapter 20
    24. Chapter 32
    25. ▸ Chapter 33
      Overview
      1. § 33-1313. Penalty provisions.
      2. Article 1 — GENERAL PROVISIONS AND DEFINITIONS
      3. Article 2 — OPEN SPACE AND HAZARDOUS LANDS GENERALLY
      4. Article 3 — OPEN SPACE (OS) ZONE
      5. Article 4 — FLOOD PLAIN (FP) OVERLAY ZONE
      6. Article 5 — OPEN SPACE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
      7. Article 6 — RESIDENTIAL ZONES
      8. Article 9 — ANIMAL OVERLAY (AO) ZONE
      9. Article 11 — (RESERVED)
      10. Article 13 — (RESERVED)
      11. Article 16 — COMMERCIAL ZONES
      12. Article 18 — SPECIFIC PLAN (S-P) ZONE
      13. Article 19 — PLANNED DEVELOPMENT (P-D) ZONE
      14. Article 24 — (RESERVED)
      15. Article 25 — PARKING OF RECREATIONAL VEHICLES IN RESIDENTIAL Z…
      16. Article 26 — INDUSTRIAL ZONES
      17. Article 27 — EMERGENCY SHELTER OVERLAY
      18. Article 30 — HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL OVERLAY (H-C-O) ZONE
      19. Article 31 — SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT (S-T-P) OVERLAY ZONE
      20. Article 32 — BED AND BREAKFAST FACILITIES
      21. Article 33 — RECYCLING FACILITIES
      22. Article 34 — COMMUNICATION ANTENNAS
      23. Article 35 — OUTDOOR LIGHTING
      24. Article 36 — CARGO CONTAINER RESTRICTIONS
      25. Article 37 — PUBLIC ART
      26. Article 38 — MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTS
      27. Article 39 — OFF-STREET PARKING
      28. Article 40 — HISTORICAL RESOURCES
      29. Article 41 — SENIOR HOUSING
      30. Article 42 — ADULT BUSINESSES
      31. Article 43 — ABANDONED SERVICE STATIONS
      32. Article 44 — HOME OCCUPATIONS
      33. Article 45 — MOBILEHOME PARKS
      34. Article 46 — TRAVEL TRAILER PARKS
      35. Article 47 — ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
      36. Article 48 — RELOCATION OF BUILDINGS
      37. Article 49 — AIR SPACE CONDOMINIUM AND COMMUNITY APARTMENT PRO…
      38. Article 52 — FREEWAY SIGN CONTROL
      39. ▸ Article 55 — GRADING AND EROSION CONTROL
        Overview
        1. § 33-1050. Purpose.
        2. § 33-1051. Scope.
        3. § 33-1052. Definitions.
        4. § 33-1053. Permits required—Exceptions.
        5. § 33-1055 - (b) Cemetery graves controlled by other regulations;
        6. § 33-1054. Hazards.
        7. § 33-1055. Grading permit requirements.
        8. § 33-1056. Grading fees.
        9. § 33-1057. Bonds.
        10. § 33-1058. Cuts.
        11. § 33-1059. Fills.
        12. § 33-1060. Setbacks.
        13. § 33-1061. Drainage.
        14. § 33-1062 necessary for stability.
        15. § 33-1062. Best management practice (BMP) implementation.
        16. § 33-1062 by a registered civil engineer and approved by the c…
        17. § 33-1063. Grading inspection.
        18. § 33-1064. Completion of work.
        19. § 33-1065. Violation—Penalty.
        20. § 33-1066. Design criteria.
        21. § 33-1066 Figure 2: CONTOUR GRADING
        22. § 33-1066 Figure 4: SLOPE SCREENING
        23. § 33-1069. Vegetation protection and replacement standards.
        24. § 33-1069 Protected trees shall be replaced at a minimum two t…
      40. Article 56 — MISCELLANEOUS DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS
      41. Article 57 — MISCELLANEOUS USE RESTRICTIONS
      42. Article 58 — DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS
  5. Division 1
  6. Division 2 — Variances and Administrative Adjustments
  7. Division 3 — Nonconforming Uses and Structures
  8. Division 4 — Amendments and Zone Changes
  9. Division 5 — Reasonable Accommodation
  10. Division 6 — Public Hearings, Notices, Fees and Appeals
  11. Division 7 — Enforcement and Penalties
  12. Division 8 — Plot Plans
  13. Division 9 — Zoning Administrator

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