Long Beach Municipal Code Ch. 18.75 Grading, Excavations and Fills

A. Scope. The provisions of this chapter apply to grading, excavation and earthwork construction, including fills and embankments. Where conflicts occur between the technical requirements of this chapter and the soils or geotechnical report, the soils or geotechnical report shall govern.

B. Permits required. Except as exempted in Section 18.04.020, no grading shall be performed without first having obtained a permit as required by Section 18.04.010 therefore from the Building Official.

C. Submittal documents. The provisions of Chapter 18.05 shall apply to the submittal of grading construction documents, including soils and geotechnical reports and any other pertinent technical reports where the Building Official determines that the nature of the work applied for is such that a report is necessary.

D. Inspection. Inspections shall be governed by Chapter 18.07.

E. Flood hazard areas. Unless the applicant has submitted an engineering analysis, prepared in accordance with standard engineering practice by a registered design professional, that demonstrates the proposed work will not result in any increase in the level of the base flood, grading, excavation and earthwork construction, including fills and embankments, shall not be permitted in floodways that are in flood hazard areas established in Section 1612.3 of the California Building Code adopted in Chapter 18.40, Section R306 of the California Residential Code adopted in Chapter 18.41, or in flood hazard areas where design flood elevations are specified but floodways have not been designated.

F. Consent of adjacent property owner. Whenever any excavation or fill requires entry onto adjacent property for any reason, the permit applicant shall obtain the written consent of the adjacent property owner or the owner's authorized representative, and shall file a copy of said consent with the Building Official before the commencement of such grading work.

In the event contours on adjacent properties are permanently changed, structures or drainage devices are added or modified, and/or the work done requires a grading permit under Section 18.04.010, a separate permit shall be required for each such affected adjoining property in addition to the consent letter. Furthermore, the adjacent property owner shall acknowledge his or her consent on plans showing such work. The consent letter will not be required if such grading permit is taken out by the adjacent property owner.

G. Safety precaution during grading. If at any stage of work on an excavation or fill the Building Official determines that further work as authorized by an existing permit is likely to endanger any property or public way, the Building Official may require as a condition to allow the work to continue that plans for such work be amended to include adequate safety precautions. Safety precautions may include, but shall not be limited to, specifying a flatter exposed slope or construction of additional drainage facilities, berms, terracing, compaction, cribbing, retaining walls or buttress fills, slough walls, desilting basins, check dams, benching wire mesh and shotcrete, rock fences revetment or diversion walls.

No person shall excavate or fill so as to cause falling rocks, soil or debris in any form to fall, roll, slide or flow onto adjoining properties.

(ORD-25-0019 § 1(Exh. A), 2025; ORD-22-0033 § 1(Exh. A), 2022; ORD-19-0031 § 1(Exh. A), 2019; ORD-16-0026 § 1(Exh. A), 2016)

For the purposes of this chapter, the terms, phrases and words listed in this section and their derivatives shall have the indicated meanings.

"Bench". A relatively level step excavated into earth material on which fill is to be placed.

"Compaction". The densification of a fill by mechanical means.

"Cut." See "excavation".

"Down drain". A device for collecting water from a swale or ditch located on or above a slope, and safely delivering it to an approved drainage facility.

"Erosion". The wearing away of the ground surface as a result of the movement of wind, water or ice.

"Excavation". The removal of earth material by artificial means, also referred to as a cut.

"Fill". Deposition of earth materials by artificial means.

"Grade". The vertical location of the ground surface.

"Grade, existing". The grade prior to grading.

"Grade, finished". The grade of the site at the conclusion of all grading efforts.

"Grading". An excavation or fill or combination thereof.

"Key". A compacted fill placed in a trench excavated in earth material beneath the toe of a slope.

"Slope". An inclined surface, the inclination of which is expressed as a ratio of horizontal distance to vertical distance.

"Terrace". A relatively level step constructed in the face of a graded slope for drainage and maintenance purposes.

(ORD-25-0019 § 1(Exh. A), 2025; ORD-22-0033 § 1(Exh. A), 2022; ORD-19-0031 § 1(Exh. A), 2019; ORD-16-0026 § 1(Exh. A), 2016)

The Building Official may require a grading permit surety bond in such form and amounts as may be deemed necessary to assure that the grading work, if not completed in accordance with the approved plans and specifications, will be corrected to eliminate hazardous conditions as determined by the Building Official. The condition of such bond shall be that the permit applicant will perform the work authorized by the grading permit issued pursuant to this title in a good and workmanlike manner and to the satisfaction of the Building Official. When a grading permit surety bond is required, it shall comply with provisions Section 2.84.040 and this chapter.

A. Surety bond. Before a permit is issued for grading with excavation or fill exceeding five hundred (500) cubic yards and/or that is potentially hazardous, as determined by the Building Official, the owner of the property shall file with the Building Official a bond for the benefit of the City. The bond shall be executed by the owner and a corporate surety authorized to do business in this state as a surety in an amount sufficient to cover the entire project.

EXCEPTION: Upon application by the owner, the Building Official may waive this requirement if:

1. The grading work performed is in compliance with an order issued by the Building Official;

2. The grading work performed is limited in scope and area, for example underground tank removal, soil mitigation, etc.; or

3. The permit applicant can substantiate, to the satisfaction of the Building Official, that the work under a grading permit will be fully executed.

B. Cash bond. In lieu of a surety bond, the owner may file a cash bond with the Building Official on the same terms and conditions and in an amount equal to that which would be required in the surety bond. The deposit may be in the form of negotiable United States securities in lieu of cash.

C. Application of bond to adjacent property. Where grading is required on property adjacent to the grading site under permit in order to complete a project satisfactorily, the owner of such adjacent property need not provide an additional grading bond if the original bond is of sufficient amount to include such additional grading.

D. Conditions of the bond. Every bond shall be conditioned such that the owner shall:

1. Comply with all applicable provisions of this title and all other ordinances of the City, or laws and statutes of the State.

2. Comply with all the terms and conditions of the grading permit to the satisfaction of the Building Official.

3. Complete all the work described by the permit, and the plans and specifications relating thereto, within the time limit specified in the permit. Upon application by the permit applicant, the Building Official may, for sufficient cause, extend the time specified in the permit pursuant to Section 18.03.050, but no such extension shall release any surety on the bond.

4. Install temporary erosion control devices when required to do so by the provisions of this chapter.

E. Period and termination of bond. The term of each bond shall begin on the date of filing and shall remain in effect until the work is completed to the satisfaction of the Building Official or until replaced by a new bond in the event of a change of ownership. In the event of failure to complete the work and/or failure to comply with all the conditions and terms of the permit, the Building Official may order some or all of the work to be completed to correct any hazardous conditions. The surety executing such bond, or such deposit, shall continue to be firmly bound under a continuing obligation for the payment of all necessary costs and expenses that may be incurred or expended by the City in causing any and all of such required work to be done and that said surety or the depositor assents to any lawful extension of time within which to construct and complete such work. Such costs shall include an amount equal to the cost to the City of administering the contract and supervising the work required. In the case of a cash bond, the deposit, or any unused portion thereof, shall be refunded to the depositor upon completion of the work to the satisfaction of the Building Official. The Building Official may release or exonerate the bond under appropriate conditions when the public health and welfare is not jeopardized.

F. Expiration of bond. When the bond expires based on terms placed on the bond by the surety executing the bond, the grading permit shall be suspended until a new bond is obtained. Where a new bond is not obtained within ninety (90) days of the expiration of the original bond, the grading permit shall expire.

G. New ownership. In the event of change of ownership during grading, the new owner shall secure a new grading permit and post a new bond to ensure completion of the grading.

H. Amount of bond. The amount for the bond shall be set at the discretion of the Building Official, considering such factors as the size of the site, the amount of earth material in either excavation or fill, drainage requirements, and other protective devices as needed to secure the safety of the site.

I. Installment refunds and reduction of bond amount. When a substantial portion of the required grading work has been completed to the satisfaction of the Building Official, and when the completion of the remaining grading work, site development or planting is delayed, the Building Official may accept the completed portion of the grading work and consent to the proportionate reduction of the bond to an amount estimated to be adequate to ensure completion of the grading work, site development or planting remaining to be performed. Only one such reduction shall be considered for each bond posted. Any approval of a reduction to the bond amount will require the property owner to file with the Building Official a rider updating the original bond or a new bond for the reduced amount.

J. Entry upon premises. The Building Official, the surety company, or their duly authorized representative, shall have access to the premises described in the permit for the purpose of inspecting the progress of the work.

In the event of default in the performance of any terms or conditions of the permit, the surety or any person employed or engaged in his or her behalf shall have the right to go upon the premises to complete the required work, including the installation of temporary erosion control devices.

Should the permittee or the surety fail to perform the work described by the permit and the plans and specifications relating thereto or required by any applicable law, and it is determined by the Building Official that the public health, safety or general welfare is endangered by such failure, the Building Official may enter upon the premises to perform all or any part of such work, including the installation of temporary erosion control devices.

It shall be unlawful for the owner or any other person to interfere with the ingress and egress from such premises of any authorized representative or agent of any surety company or the City engaged in the work ordered by the Building Official.

(ORD-25-0019 § 1(Exh. A), 2025; ORD-22-0033 § 1(Exh. A), 2022; ORD-19-0031 § 1(Exh. A), 2019; ORD-16-0026 § 1(Exh. A), 2016)

The slope of cut surfaces shall be no steeper than is safe for the intended use, and shall be no steeper than two (2) units horizontal to one (1) unit vertical (50-percent slope) unless the owner or authorized agent furnishes a geotechnical report justifying a steeper slope.

EXCEPTIONS:

1. A cut surface shall be permitted to be at a slope of 1.5 units horizontal to one (1) unit vertical (67-percent slope) provided that all of the following are met:

a. It is not intended to support structures or surcharges.

b. It is adequately protected against erosion.

c. It is no more than eight (8) feet (2,438 mm) in height.

d. Ground water is not encountered.

e. It is approved by the Building Official.

2. A cut surface in bedrock shall be permitted to be at a slope of one (1) unit horizontal to one (1) unit vertical (100-percent slope).

This section shall not be construed to waive the requirements of the General Safety Orders of the California Department of Industrial Relations, nor the provisions of Section 832 of the California Civil Code concerning the rights of coterminous owners as to excavations.

(ORD-25-0019 § 1(Exh. A), 2025; ORD-22-0033 § 1(Exh. A), 2022; ORD-19-0031 § 1(Exh. A), 2019; ORD-16-0026 § 1(Exh. A), 2016)

A. General. Unless otherwise recommended in the geotechnical report, fills shall comply with the provisions of this section.

B. Surface preparation. The ground surface shall be prepared to receive fill by removing vegetation, topsoil and other unsuitable materials, and scarifying the ground to provide a bond with the fill material.

C. Benching. Where existing grade is at a slope steeper than five (5) units horizontal to one (1) unit vertical (20-percent slope) and the depth of the fill exceeds five feet (5') benching shall be provided in accordance with Figure 18.75.050. A key shall be provided which is at least ten feet (10') in width and two feet (2') in depth.

[Figure]

For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm.

FIGURE 18.75.050 BENCHING DETAILS

D. Fill material. Fill material shall not include organic, frozen or other deleterious materials. No rock or similar irreducible material greater than twelve inches (12") in any dimension shall be included in fills.

E. Compaction. All fill material shall be compacted to ninety percent (90%) of maximum density as determined by ASTM D 1557, Modified Proctor, in lifts not exceeding twelve inches (12") in depth. Where cohesionless soil having less than fifteen percent (15%) finer than 0.005 millimeter is used for fill, it shall be compacted to a minimum of ninety-five percent (95%) relative compaction based on maximum dry density. Every fill shall be tested for relative compaction by a soil testing agency approved by the Building Official. A compaction report including a Certificate of Compliance setting forth densities so determined shall be submitted to the Building Official before approval of any fill is given.

F. Maximum slope. The slope of fill surfaces shall be no steeper than is safe for the intended use. Fill slopes steeper than two (2) units horizontal to one (1) unit vertical (50 percent slope) shall be justified by a geotechnical report or engineering data.

(ORD-25-0019 § 1(Exh. A), 2025; ORD-22-0033 § 1(Exh. A), 2022; ORD-19-0031 § 1(Exh. A), 2019; ORD-16-0026 § 1(Exh. A), 2016)

A. General. Cut and fill slopes shall be set back from the property lines in accordance with this section. Setback dimensions shall be measured perpendicular to the property line and shall be as shown in Figure 18.75.060, unless substantiating data is submitted justifying reduced setbacks.

[Figure]

For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm.

FIGURE 18.75.060 DRAINAGE DIMENSIONS

B. Top of slope. The setback at the top of a cut slope shall not be less than that shown in Figure 18.75.060, or than is required to accommodate any required interceptor drains, whichever is greater.

C. Slope protection. Where required to protect adjacent properties at the toe of a slope from adverse effects of the grading, additional protection, approved by the Building Official, shall be included. Such protection may include but shall not be limited to:

1. Setbacks greater than those required by Figure 18.75.060.

2. Provisions for retaining walls or similar construction.

3. Erosion protection of the fill slopes.

4. Provisions for the control of surface waters.

(ORD-25-0019 § 1(Exh. A), 2025; ORD-22-0033 § 1(Exh. A), 2022; ORD-19-0031 § 1(Exh. A), 2019; ORD-16-0026 § 1(Exh. A), 2016)

A. General. Unless otherwise recommended by a registered design professional, drainage facilities and terracing shall be provided in accordance with the requirements of this section.

EXCEPTION: Drainage facilities and terracing need not be provided where the ground slope is not steeper than three (3) unit horizontal to one (1) unit vertical (33-percent slope).

B. Terraces. Terraces at least six feet (6') in width shall be established at not more than thirty foot (30') vertical intervals on all cut or fill slopes to control surface drainage and debris. Suitable access shall be provided to allow for cleaning and maintenance.

Where more than two (2) terraces are required, one (1) terrace, located at approximately mid-height, shall be at least twelve feet (12') in width.

Swales or ditches shall be provided on terraces. They shall have a minimum gradient of twenty (20) unit horizontal to one (1) unit vertical (5%/five percent slope) and shall be paved with concrete not less than three inches (3") in thickness, or with other materials suitable to the application. They shall have a minimum depth of twelve inches (12") and a minimum width of five feet (5').

A single run of swale or ditch shall not collect runoff from a tributary area exceeding thirteen thousand and five hundred (13,500) square feet (projected) without discharging into a down drain.

C. Interceptor drains. Interceptor drains shall be installed along the top of cut slopes receiving drainage from a tributary width greater than forty feet (40'), measured horizontally. They shall have a minimum depth of one foot (1') and a minimum width of three feet (3'). The slope shall be approved by the Building Official, but shall not be less than fifty (50) unit horizontal to one (1) unit vertical (2%/two percent slope). The drain shall be paved with concrete not less than three inches (3") in thickness, or by other materials suitable to the application. Discharge from the drain shall be accomplished in a manner to prevent erosion and shall be approved by the Building Official.

D. Drainage across property lines. Drainage across property lines shall not be permitted except for drainage that does not exceed that which existed prior to grading. Excess or concentrated drainage shall be contained on site or directed to an approved drainage facility. Erosion of the ground in the area of discharge shall be prevented by installation of nonerosive down drains or other devices.

E. Site drainage. All pads with cut or fill shall slope a minimum of two percent (2%) to an approved drainage device or to a public street. Where used, the drainage device shall be an adequately designed system of catch basins and drain lines that conducts the water to a public street.

EXCEPTION: Where the slope of the underlying natural ground does not exceed three percent (3%) and the compacted fill is less than three feet (3') in depth, the slope of the pad may be reduced to one percent (1%).

F. Drainage around buildings. On all building sites, acceptable drainage devices shall be installed to conduct water around buildings whenever the distance from the building to the top of any slope is less than five feet (5'). Where used, the drainage device shall be an adequately designed system of catch basins and drain lines that conducts the water to a public street.

G. Maintenance of drainage. Drainage in conformance with the provisions of this chapter shall be maintained during and subsequent to construction.

(ORD-25-0019 § 1(Exh. A), 2025; ORD-22-0033 § 1(Exh. A), 2022; ORD-19-0031 § 1(Exh. A), 2019; ORD-16-0026 § 1(Exh. A), 2016)

A. General. The faces of cut and fill slopes shall be prepared and maintained to control erosion. This control shall be permitted to consist of effective planting.

EXCEPTION: Erosion control measures need not be provided on cut slopes not subject to erosion due to the erosion-resistant character of the materials.

Erosion control for the slopes shall be installed as soon as practicable and prior to calling for final inspection.

B. Other devices. Where necessary, check dams, cribbing, riprap or other devices or methods shall be employed to control erosion and provide safety.

(ORD-25-0019 § 1(Exh. A), 2025; ORD-22-0033 § 1(Exh. A), 2022; ORD-19-0031 § 1(Exh. A), 2019; ORD-16-0026 § 1(Exh. A), 2016)

ASTM D1557-12E1 Test Method for Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of Soil Using Modified Effort [56,000 ft-lb/ft 3 (2,700kN-m/m 3 )].

(ORD-25-0019 § 1(Exh. A), 2025; ORD-22-0033 § 1(Exh. A), 2022; ORD-19-0031 § 1(Exh. A), 2019; ORD-16-0026 § 1(Exh. A), 2016)