Rolling Hills Municipal Code Ch. 16.36 Geological Investigation and Report Required

A. The City Council of the City finds and declares that certain land areas in the City contain geological conditions which, if the land areas are subdivided, may cause slippage and landslide causing not only displacement or destruction of the surface of the land to be subdivided, but the destruction or displacement of the land and improvements in the vicinity of the proposed subdivision.

B. The City Council further finds and declares that this chapter is enacted pursuant to the provisions of Sections 17950 et seq. of the Health and Safety Code of the State, for the purpose of minimizing possible displacement or slippage of any land contained in a proposed subdivision.

C. The City Council finally finds that the safety, health and general welfare of the residents of the City requires the adoption of this chapter for the purpose of providing the City with a complete and detailed geological report and analysis of the soil of all lands proposed to be subdivided.

(Ord. 173 § 1, 1980).

The requirements provided for in this chapter are in addition to any and all other requirements relating to expansive soils and geological inspections and reports required by Title 16, as amended, or the City, or any other ordinances of the City.

(Ord. 173 § 2, 1980).

A. The subdivider of every subdivision of land pursuant to the Subdivision Ordinance of the City, as now in force or as hereinafter enacted, shall provide the City Engineer with a geological report prepared by a geologist registered by the State as required in the Business and Professions Code, which report shall include test borings or excavations. If said geological report, in the opinion of the City Engineer and/or the City Council, indicates that a potentially serious geological condition may exist on the land proposed to be subdivided, the City Engineer shall have the authority to employ an independent geologist registered by the State to prepare and provide him with an independent geological report of the proposed subdivision, and, if necessary, to require additional test borings or excavations to be made by an independent testing service, the depth and accuracy of which shall be approved by said registered geologist. The City Engineer shall also have the authority to submit samples of any or all test borings or excavations to an independent, qualified geological laboratory for analysis and report.

B. The geological report prepared by the independent registered geologist shall recommend corrective action which is designed to prevent displacement or slippage of the land.

(Ord. 177 § 1, 1980; Ord. 175 § 1, 1980: Ord. 173 § 3, 1980).

The subdivider shall provide and file with the City Engineer a full and complete geological report, to the satisfaction of the City Engineer, for each lot in the proposed subdivision, prepared by a registered geologist, registered by the State, as required in the Business and Professions Code. The report, among other things, shall describe the required corrective work or procedures to be taken by the subdivider, which shall be designed to prevent damage either to property or improvements on the land or in close proximity thereto.

(Ord. 175 § 2, 1980: Ord. 173 § 4, 1980).

As a condition to the issuance of a building permit by the City, recommended corrective action or procedures contained in the geological report shall be incorporated in the construction of each dwelling or improvement in the subdivision.

(Ord. 173 § 5, 1980).

All expenses incurred by the subdivider in complying with the provisions of this chapter shall be paid by the subdivider, and shall be in addition to all other charges or fees levied, assessed or charged by the City, in connection with the subdividing of land or the construction of any improvements thereon.

(Ord. 173 § 6, 1980).