Mission Viejo Municipal Code Div. 2 Definitions

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Approval means a written engineering or geological opinion by the responsible engineer, geologist of record or responsible principal of the engineering company concerning the progress and completion of the work unless it specifically refers to the director.

Approved plans means the current grading plans which bear the signature of approval by the director.

Approved testing agency means a facility whose testing operations are controlled and monitored by a registered civil engineer and which is equipped to perform and certify the tests required by this chapter, or the grading manual, as determined by the director. This determination may be appealed to the city council.

Borrow means earth material acquired from an off-site location for use in grading on a site.

Building official means the director of community development or the director's duly delegated representative.

Civil engineer means a professional engineer registered in the state to practice in the field of civil engineering.

Civil engineering means the application of the knowledge of the forces of nature, principles of mechanics and the properties of materials for the evaluation, design, and construction of civil works for the beneficial uses of mankind.

Clearing, brushing, and grubbing means the removal of vegetation (grass, brush, trees, and similar plant types) by mechanical means.

Commercial coach means a vehicle, with or without motive power, designed and equipped for human occupancy for industrial, professional, or commercial purposes, and shall include a trailer coach.

Compaction means the densification of a fill by mechanical means.

Director means director of public works, city engineer, or the director's duly delegated representative.

Earth material means any rock, natural soil or fill and/or any combination thereof.

Engineering geologist means a geologist certified in the state to practice engineering geology.

Engineering geology means the application of geologic knowledge and principles in the investigation and evaluation of naturally occurring rock and soil for use in the design of civil works.

Erosion means the wearing away of the ground surface as a result of the movement of wind, water, and/or ice.

Erosion control system means an effective combination of source control practices that protect the soil surface and prevent soil particles from being detached by rainfall, flowing water or wind, and sediment control practices that trap soil particles after they have been detached and moved by rain, flowing water or wind, to protect adjacent private property, watercourses, public facilities and receiving waters from an abnormal deposition of sediment or dust.

Excavation means the mechanical removal of earth material.

Fill means a deposit of earth material placed by artificial means.

Grade means the vertical location of the ground surface.

(1) Natural grade is the ground surface unaltered by artificial means.

(2) Existing grade is the ground surface prior to grading.

(3) Rough grade is the stage at which the grade approximately conforms to the approved plan.

(4) Finish grade is the final grade of the site which conforms to the approved plan.

Grading means any excavating or filling or combination thereof.

Grading contractor means a contractor licensed and regulated by the state who specializes in grading work or is otherwise licensed to do grading work.

Grading permit means an official document or certificate issued by the director authorizing grading activity as specified by approved plans and specifications.

Hillside site means a site which entails cut and/or fill grading of three feet or more in vertical height below or above natural ground; or a combination fill-over-cut slope equal to or greater than five feet in vertical height; or where the existing grade is 20 percent or greater; and which may be adversely affected by drainage and/or stability conditions within or from outside the site, or which may cause an adverse effect on adjacent property.

Mobile home means a structure, transportable in one or more sections, designed and equipped to contain not more than two dwelling units to be used with or without a foundation system. Mobile home does not include recreational vehicle, commercial coach, or factory-built housing.

Owner means any person, agency, firm, or corporation having a legal or equitable interest in a given real property.

Rainy season is predetermined by the director and at the time of this printing is established from October 1 through April 30 of each year.

References. Unless indicated otherwise, or as reasonably appears from the context, references in this chapter to the civil engineer, the soil engineer, the geologist, and the engineering geologist refer to the professional person(s) preparing, signing, or approving the project plans and specifications which comprise the approved grading plan, and which professional person appears of record pursuant sections 8.10.400 through 8.10.525, or his successor appearing pursuant to section 8.10.1240, Transfer of responsibility for approval.

Rough grading permit means a permit that is issued by the director on the basis of approved plans which need not show a structure location but must show interim building pad drainage to the degree required by the director.

Site means any lot or parcel of land or contiguous combination thereof, under the same ownership, where grading is performed or permitted.

Slope means an inclined ground surface, the inclination of which is expressed as a ratio of horizontal distance to vertical distance.

Soil means naturally occurring surficial deposits overlying bedrock.

Soil engineer means a civil engineer duly registered in the state whose field of expertise is soil mechanics.

Soil engineering means the application of the principles of soil mechanics in the investigation, evaluation, and design of civil works involving the use of earth materials and the inspection and testing of the construction thereof.

Special inspector means an inspector duly licensed by the director to perform inspection of asphalt concrete placement and related construction work or other grading related work approved by the director.

Stockpile means imported compactable earth temporarily placed for future fill on or off site (no deleterious material).

Stormwater permits means any permits issued by a regional, state, or federal agency regulating stormwater flow over and from any project subject to this division, including, but not limited to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4) permits and state general permits.

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

Water quality requirements means the requirements relevant to activities subject to storm water permits.

(Ord. No. 10-286, § 2, 12-6-10)

Cross reference— Definitions generally, § 1.01.170.