27.08 — DEFINITIONS

The words and phrases set out in this chapter, when used in this title, shall be constructed as defined in this chapter.

(Ord. 126 § 1, 1976, Exhibit A § 27.1-2; Ord. 294, 1982)

"Abut" means two, or greater, adjoining parcels of property with a common property line. Properties separated by a public street right-of-way will not generally be considered adjoining. (Ord. 1420, 12/12/2024)

"Appurtenant structures" means manmade structures related to and necessitated by the proposed grading, and includes, but is not limited to, paved drainage ditches, inlet structures, lined channels, culverts and outlet structures.

(Ord. 126 § 1, 1976, Exhibit A § 27.1-2; Ord. 294, 1982; Ord. 514 § 2, 1987)

"Bedrock" is the relatively solid, undisturbed rock in place either at the ground surface or beneath surficial deposits of gravel, sand, or soil. (Ord. 294, 1982)

"Building pad" means the level padded yard area created through grading for a building site and other ancillary uses. Areas with slopes of five to one or flatter are considered level padded yard areas. Driveways providing access to the building pad are not included as part of the total permitted level pad area.

(Ord. 1420, 12/12/2024)

"City" means the city council, or the building official, or the city engineer. (Ord. 126 § 1, 1976, Exhibit A § 27.1-2 (part); Ord. 294, 1982; Ord. 465 § 2, 1986; Ord. 514 § 2, 1987)

"City building official" means the director of building and safety of the city. (Ord. 126 § 1, 1976, Exhibit A § 27.1-2 (part); Ord. 294, 1982)

"City engineer" means the city engineer of the city or his designated representative. (Ord. 126 § 1, 1976, Exhibit A § 27.1-2 (part); Ord. 294, 1982)

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City of Palm Desert, CA

PALM DESERT CODE

§ 27.08.055

§ 27.08.123

"Civil engineer" means a professional engineer in the branch of civil engineering holding a valid certificate of registration issued by the state of California.

(Ord. 294, 1982; Ord. 465 § 2, 1986)

"Compaction" means the densification of a fill.

(Ord. 126 § 1, 1976, Exhibit A § 27.1-2 (part); Ord. 294, 1982)

"Contractor" means a contractor licensed by the state to do work covered by this title. A contractor may be authorized to act for a property owner in doing such work. (Ord. 126 § 1, 1976, Exhibit A § 27.1-2 (part); Ord. 294, 1982)

"Director" means the director of community development/planning of the city. (Ord. 126 § 1, 1976, Exhibit A § 27.1-2 (part); Ord. 294, 1982; Ord. 465 § 2, 1986)

"Embankment" means a deposit of earth, sand, gravel, rock, or any other material which is deposited, placed, pushed, dumped, pulled, transported or moved to a new location by man. (Ord. 126 § 1, 1976, Exhibit A § 27.1-2 (part); Ord. 294, 1982)

"Engineer of work" means and shall be the civil engineer of record who has performed the engineering for the project.

(Ord. 514 § 2, 1987)

"Excavation" or "cut" means any earth, sand, gravel, rock or any similar material which is cut into, dug, quarried, uncovered, removed, displaced, relocated or bulldozed by man, and the conditions resulting therefrom.

(Ord. 126 § 1, 1976, Exhibit A § 27.1-2 (part); Ord. 294, 1982)

"Expansive soil" means any soil which swells more than three percent when prepared and tested by an approved method.

(Ord. 126 § 1, 1976, Exhibit A § 27.1-2 (part); Ord. 294, 1982)

"Fill" means any act by man by which earth, sand, gravel, rock or any other similar material is deposited, placed, pushed, pulled or transported, and includes the conditions resulting therefrom. (Ord. 126 § 1, 1976, Exhibit A § 27.1-2 (part); Ord. 294, 1982)

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City of Palm Desert, CA

GRADING

§ 27.08.123

§ 27.08.160

"Frontage" means all points along the perimeter of the property that abut a public street. (Ord. 514 § 2, 1987)

"Geologist" means a person holding a valid certificate of registration as a geologist in the specialty of engineering geology issued in accordance with the State Business and Professions Code.

(Ord. 294, 1982; Ord. 465 § 2, 1986; Ord. 514 § 2, 1987)

"Grade" means the vertical location of the ground surface. (Ord. 1420, 12/12/2024)

"Existing grade" means the ground surface prior to grading. (Ord. 1420, 12/12/2024)

"Finished grade" means the final grade of the site which conforms to the approved plan. (Ord. 1420, 12/12/2024)

"Natural grade" means the ground surface unaltered by artificial means. (Ord. 1420, 12/12/2024)

"Grading" means any excavating or filling or combination thereof and shall include the land on its excavated or filled conditions.

(Ord. 126 § 1, 1976, Exhibit A § 27.1-2; Ord. 294, 1982)

"Land alteration" means the making of excavations and embankments on private property and the construction of slopes, drainage structures, fences, and other facilities incidental thereto, where it is necessary to safeguard life, limb, health, property, and public welfare by regulating and controlling the design, construction and quality of materials. (Ord. 126 § 1, 1976, Exhibit A § 27.1-2; Ord. 294, 1982)

"Licensed land surveyor" means a person holding a valid license as a land surveyor issued in accordance with the State Business and Professions Code. (Ord. 514 § 2, 1987)

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City of Palm Desert, CA

PALM DESERT CODE

§ 27.08.160

§ 27.08.250

"Natural slope" means the predominant slope or slopes of land in its original condition prior to any grading.

(Ord. 126 § 1, 1976, Exhibit A § 27.1-2 (part); Ord. 294, 1982)

"Natural terrain" means the original topography of a site prior to any grading. (Ord. 126 § 1, 1976, Exhibit A § 27.1-2 (part); Ord. 294, 1982)

"Permittee" means any person to whom a permit is issued pursuant to this title. (Ord. 126 § 1, 1976, Exhibit A § 27.1-2 (part); Ord. 294, 1982)

"Private contract" means an agreement between a property owner and a qualified contractor to do land alteration work.

(Ord. 126 § 1, 1976, Exhibit A § 27.1-2 (part); Ord. 294, 1982)

"Private engineer" means a civil engineer who may be authorized to act for a property owner in doing work covered by this title.

(Ord. 126 § 1, 1976, Exhibit A § 27.1-2 (part); Ord. 294, 1982)

"Property owner" means the owner of real property which will be benefited by the proposed land alteration work and who makes application to do such work.

(Ord. 126 § 1, 1976, Exhibit A § 27.1-2 (part); Ord. 294, 1982)

"Public improvements" means publicly owned construction, structures, or facilities in the public right-of-way designed for the public use, safety or general welfare. (Ord. 126 § 1, 1976, Exhibit A § 27.1-2 (part); Ord. 294, 1982)

"Public right-of-way" means public easements or dedication for streets, alleys and/or other use. (Ord. 126 § 1, 1976, Exhibit A § 27.1-2 (part); Ord. 294, 1982)

"Public property" means property owned in fee by the city, or dedicated for public use. (Ord. 126 § 1, 1976, Exhibit A § 27.1-2 (part); Ord. 294, 1982)

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City of Palm Desert, CA

GRADING

§ 27.08.250

§ 27.08.280

"Soils engineer" means a registered civil engineer who submits evidence to the satisfaction of the city engineer that:

• A. He is engaged in the practice of civil engineering and spends a majority of his time in the field of applied soil mechanics and foundations engineering.

• B. He has at least four years of responsible practical experience in the field of applied soil mechanics.

• C. He maintains an adequately equipped soils testing laboratory.

• D. He is qualified to make the investigations and determinations, render the reports and opinions and perform the duties of a soil engineer as required by this title.

• (Ord. 126 § 1, 1976, Exhibit A § 27.1-2 (part); Ord. 294, 1982)

"Slope" is an inclined ground surface the inclination of which is expressed as a ratio of horizontal distance to vertical distance and exceeds a ratio of five to one.

(Ord. 126 § 1, 1976, Exhibit A § 27.1-2 (part); Ord. 294, 1982)

"Standard drawings and specifications" means the latest version of such standards that have been adopted by the city as standards for use within the city.

(Ord. 126 § 1, 1976, Exhibit A § 27.1-2 (part); Ord. 294, 1982)

"Uncontrolled embankment" means any embankment constructed as land alteration on which no soil testing was performed or no compaction reports or other soil reports were prepared or submitted.

(Ord. 126 § 1, 1976, Exhibit A § 27.1-2 (part); Ord. 294, 1982)

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City of Palm Desert, CA

GRADING

§ 27.12.010

§ 27.12.020