SEC. 91.7016. AREAS SUBJECTED TO SLIDES AND UNSTABLE SOIL.

(Added by Ord. No. 171,175, Eff. 7/25/96.)

91.7016.1. General. The provisions of this section shall be fully complied with prior to issuance of a grading permit in areas subject to slides or unstable soil.

• 91.7016.2. Records and Maps. The Department may adopt maps delineating areas of relative hazard for the application of this division.

• 91.7016.3. Definitions. (Amended by Ord. No. 171,939, Eff. 4/15/98.) The following definitions shall apply for the purpose of this section:

ACTIVE LANDSLIDE is a landslide that has been active since January 1, 1952.

HISTORICAL LANDSLIDE is a landslide that was active in historical time prior to 1952 as determined from photographs, maps and written records.

LANDSLIDE is the falling, slipping or flowing of a mass of land from a higher to a lower level.

POSSIBLE PREHISTORIC LANDSLIDE shall mean areas where there is no record of a historic landslide, but where topographic expression or geological evidence suggests the possibility of past land movement.

PREHISTORIC LANDSLIDE shall mean conditions where there is no record of historical landslide, but where geological evidence or topographic expression indicates modification of the terrain by land movement.

91.7016.4. Permission to Construct Buildings or to do Grading Work.

91.7016.4.1. Active Landslide or Historic Landslide Area. (Amended by Ord. No. 171,939, Eff. 4/15/98.) No building or grading permits shall be issued for development in active or historic landslide areas until, and unless, stabilization of the entire slide or soil mass which may have an adverse effect on the proposed development or access thereto can be satisfactorily demonstrated to the Department.

91.7016.4.2. Prehistoric Landslide or Questionable Area. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.) No building or grading permit shall be issued for development in prehistoric landslide or questionable areas except by specific approval of the Department, based on approved statements and calculations from soil engineers and engineering geologists attesting to the apparent safety of the proposed developments and demonstrating a minimum factor of safety of 1.5 for the stability of the site and access to the site. For these areas, the affidavit required in Exception 2 of LAMC Subdivision 91.106.4.1 shall be filed unless it has been determined that, as a result of satisfactory reports by soils engineers and engineering geologists, the development is not located in an area subject to slides or unstable soil, which may have an adverse effect on the proposed development or access to the proposed development.

. For these areas, the affidavit required in Exception 2 of LAMC Subdivision 91.106.4.1 shall be filed unless it has been determined that, as a result of satisfactory reports by soils engineers and engineering geologists, the development is not located in an area subject to slides or unstable soil, which may have an adverse effect on the proposed development or access to the proposed development.

91.7016.4.3. Other Conditions. (Amended by Ord. No. 185,587, Eff. 7/16/18.) If, in the opinion of the Superintendent of Building, there is evidence of potentially hazardous conditions other than those covered by LAMC Subdivisions 91.7016.4.1 and 91.7016.4.2, the Department may require satisfactory reports from soils engineers and engineering geologists and, after reviewing those reports, may issue a permit when the reports demonstrate the stability and safety of the development. The affidavit may be required by the Department if it is found that the area in question has elements of hazard or, if the reports so indicate, a permit may be refused.

91.7016.5. Affidavits Required. When an affidavit required in this section, has been filed, upon notice of correction of the unstable conditions due to landslide or unstable soil, the Superintendent of Building shall file with the Office of the County Recorder a certificate specifying that the property is no longer considered hazardous due to landslide or unstable soil.