Rocklin Municipal Code Art. I Purpose, Scope and Definitions

This chapter shall be known as the grading and erosion and sedimentation control ordinance of the city of Rocklin, and shall be referred to herein as the "grading ordinance."

(Ord. 904 § 1 (part), 2006).

A. This chapter is enacted for the purpose of regulating grading on all property within the city of Rocklin to safeguard life, limb, health, property and public welfare; to avoid pollution of watercourses with nutrients, sediments, or other earthen materials generated or caused by surface runoff on or across the permit area; to comply with the city's national pollution discharge elimination system permit issued by the California regional water quality control board; and to ensure that the intended use of a graded site is consistent with the city of Rocklin general plan, provisions of the California Building Standards Code as adopted by the city relating to grading activities, city of Rocklin improvement standards, any applicable specific plans or other land use entitlements, and any other provisions of this code or uncodified ordinances.

B. This chapter sets forth rules and regulations to control grading and erosion control activities, including fills and embankments; establishes the administrative procedure for issuance of permits; and provides for approval of plans and inspection of grading construction and erosion control plans for all graded sites.

C. If any part of this chapter is found invalid, the remainder of this chapter shall remain in effect.

D. If there is any inconsistency or conflict between the provisions of this chapter and Chapter 33, Appendix of the California Building Code as adopted by the city, the more restrictive requirement shall prevail and control. Nothing in this chapter is intended to repeal or replace requirements of the Uniform Building Code as adopted by the city.

E. All grading shall be performed in conformance with the city of Rocklin improvement standards. If there is any inconsistency or conflict between the requirements of this chapter and the improvement standards, the more restrictive requirement shall prevail and control.

(Ord. 904 § 1 (part), 2006).

Unless the particular provision or the context otherwise requires, wherever the following terms are used in this chapter, they shall have the meaning ascribed to them in this section:

A. "Approving authority" means the city engineer, and in matters involving an appeal, the city manager.

B. "Bedrock" means the solid undisturbed rock in place either exposed at the ground surface or beneath surficial deposits of loose rock or soil.

C. "Bench" means a relatively level step excavated into sloping natural ground on which engineered fill or embankment fill is to be placed.

D. "Best management practices" (BMPs) means schedules of activities, prohibitions of practices, general good house keeping practices, pollution prevention and educational practices, maintenance procedures, and other management practices to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants directly or indirectly to stormwater, receiving waters, or stormwater conveyance systems. BMPs also include treatment practices, operating procedures, and practices to control site runoff, spillage or leaks, sludge or water disposal, or drainage from raw materials storage.

E. "Building official" means the Chief Building Official of the City of Rocklin or his or her designee.

F. "City engineer" means the Community Development Department Engineering Services Manager for the City of Rocklin, or his or her designee.

G. "Civil engineer" means a professional engineer registered as a civil engineer by the state of California.

H. "Compaction" means the increase of density of a soil or rock fill by mechanical means.

I. "Cut" means the removal of naturally occurring earth materials by mechanical means, and includes the conditions resulting therefrom.

J. "Depth of fill" means the vertical dimension from the exposed fill surface to the original ground surface.

K. "Depth of excavation" means the vertical dimension from the exposed cut surface to the original ground surface.

L. "Embankment," see "Fill."

M. "Encroachment permit" means a permit issued under Chapter 12.04.

N. "Engineering geologist" means a registered geologist certified as an engineering geologist by the state of California.

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

P. "Erosion" means the wearing away and transportation of earth material as a result of the movement of wind, water, or ice.

Q. "Excavation," see "Cut."

R. "Existing grade" means the elevation of the ground surface at a given point prior to excavating or filling.

S. "Expansive soil" means any soil which exhibits significant expansive properties as determined by a geotechnical engineer or the city engineer.

T. "Fill" means the deposit of soil, rock or other materials placed by man and includes the conditions resulting therefrom; "fill" includes stockpiling.

U. "Finish grade" means the final grade of the site after excavating or filling which conforms to the approved final grading plan. The finish grade is also the grade at the top of a paved surface.

V. "Geologic hazard" means any condition in naturally occurring earth materials which may endanger life, health or property. Geologic hazards include, but are not limited to: faults; existing or potential landslides, mud slides, or rock falls; weak, expansive or creeping soil; subsidence; earthquake-induced shaking, ground movement, ground failure or liquefaction; and seiche or tsunami inundation.

W. "Geotechnical engineer" means a civil engineer registered by the state of California who is qualified in the field of soil mechanics and soil engineering.

X. "Geotechnical 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 may include the inspection, testing and construction thereof.

Y. "Grading" means any cutting, deep ripping or filling, or combination thereof.

Z. "Grading permit" means a permit issued by the city engineer to authorize grading.

AA. "Grading plan" means a plan prepared in accordance with this chapter showing grading and related work.

BB. "Grading work" means grading and related work, such as, but not limited to, drainage improvements and erosion and sediment control.

CC. "Hillside lot" means lot on which the slope of ground, measured from the front setback line to the rear of the lot, or across the lot from side property line to side property line, or diagonally across the lot, at the approximate building site, is twenty percent or greater.

DD. "Improvement Standards" means the City of Rocklin Construction Specifications, Improvement Standards and Standard Drawings, latest version as adopted by the city council.

EE. "Keyway" means a special backfilled excavation which is constructed beneath the toe area of a planned fill slope on sloping ground to improve the stability of the slope.

FF. "Landscape architect" means a landscape architect registered by the state of California.

GG. "Lot," see "Parcel."

HH. "National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)" means the national program for issuing, modifying, revoking and reissuing, terminating, monitoring and enforcing permits, and imposing and enforcing pretreatment requirements, under Sections 307, 402, 318, and 405 of the Clean Water Act.

II. "Owner" means the person shown as the legal owner of the property on the latest equalized assessment roll in the Placer County assessor's office or as otherwise known to the city.

JJ. "Parcel" means land described as a lot or parcel in a recorded deed or shown as a lot or parcel on a subdivision map or parcel map on file in the Placer County recorder's office.

KK. "Permittee" means any person to whom a permit is issued pursuant to this chapter.

LL. "Person" means any natural person, firm, corporation or public agency, whether principal, agent, employee, or otherwise.

MM. "Preliminary grading plan" means a plan that shows the proposed grading work in relation to the existing site prepared and submitted with the application for a grading permit.

NN. "Public works director" means the public works director for the city of Rocklin, acting through his or her designee.

OO. "Rainy season" means the period of the year between October 1 and April 14 of the following year, inclusive.

PP. "Sediment" means any material transported or deposited by water, including soil and debris or other foreign matter.

QQ. "Sediment control measures" means dikes, sediment detention traps, sediment detention basins, filters, fences, barriers, swales, berms, drains, check dams, and other measures which control the deposit of soil or earth material.

RR. "Site" means any lot or parcel of land or combination of contiguous lots or parcels of land, whether held separately or joined together in common ownership or occupancy, where grading is to be performed or has been performed.

SS. "Slope" means an inclined ground surface the inclination of which may be expressed as the ratio of horizontal distance to vertical distance.

TT. "Soil" means all earth material of any origin that overlies bedrock and may include the decomposed zone of bedrock which can be excavated readily by mechanical equipment.

UU. "Stockpiling" means the storage of material for future construction either on- or off-site which exceeds a depth of three feet above natural grade, which is not associated with a retail landscape or material storage yard.

VV. "Terrace" means a relatively level step constructed in the face of a graded slope surface for drainage, maintenance, or other purposes.

WW. "Waters of the state" means any surface water or groundwater, including saline water, within the boundaries of the state of California.

XX. "Work," see "Grading work."

(Ord. 904 § 1 (part), 2006).