Stanton Municipal Code Ch. 16.52 Definitions

A. Professional References. Unless indicated otherwise, or as reasonably appears from the context, references in this code 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 to Sections 16.55.010 through 16.55.015 or his successor appearing pursuant to Section 16.63.013.

B. Words Defined.

"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 stamp of approval and signature of 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 code, or the grading manual, as determined by the director. This determination may be appealed to the city council.

"Borrow"

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

"City"

means the city of Stanton.

"Civil engineer"

means a professional engineer registered in the state of California 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"

is 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"

is the densification of a fill by mechanical means.

"Director"

means a civil engineer employed by the city as the building official, or city engineer. Whenever the title "director" is used, it means "director or his designated representative."

"Earth material"

is any rock, natural soil or fill and/or any combination thereof.

"Engineering geologist"

means a geologist certified in the state of California 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"

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

"Erosion control system"

is a combination of desilting facilities, and erosion protection, including effective planting, to protect adjacent private property, watercourses, public facilities and receiving waters from an abnormal deposition of sediment or dust.

"Excavation"

is the mechanical removal of earth material.

"Fill"

is a deposit of earth material placed by artificial means.

"Grade"

means the vertical location of the ground surface.

"Natural grade"

is the ground surface unaltered by artificial means.

"Existing grade"

is the ground surface prior to grading.

"Rough grade"

is the stage at which the grade approximately conforms to the approved plan.

"Finish grade"

is the final grade of the site which conform to the approved plan.

"Grading"

is any excavating or filling or combination thereof.

"Grading contractor"

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

"Grading permit"

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

"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 vehicles, commercial coach, or factory-built housing.

"Owner"

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

"Precise grading permit"

is a permit that is issued on the basis of approved plans which show the precise structure location, finish elevations, and all on-site improvements.

"Rough grading permit"

is a permit that is issued 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"

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

"Slope"

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

"Soil"

is naturally occurring surficial deposits overlying bedrock.

"Soil engineer"

is a civil engineer duly registered in the state of California 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"

is 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.

"Storm water permits"

are any permits issued by a local, state or federal regulatory agency regulating storm water flow over and from any project subject to this division including but not limited to NPDES permits and state general permits as defined in OCCO Sections 4-13-30, 9-1-30.

"Temporary erosion control devices"

are devices which are removable and can rarely be salvaged for subsequent reuse. In most cases they will last no longer than one rainy season. They include sandbags, gravel bags, plastic sheeting (visqueen), silt fencing, straw bales, and similar items.

"Water quality requirements"

are the requirements relevant to activities that are subject to this division found in The County Water Quality Ordinance, Orange County Code of Ordinances ("OCCO") Sections 4-13-10 et seq. and Orange County Flood Control District Water Quality Ordinance, OCCO Sections 9-1-10 et seq., the DAMP as defined in OCCO Sections 4-13-30(d), 9-1-30(d) including all appendices and guidance documents included in the DAMP, as well as requirements relevant to the activities that are subject to this division found in storm water permits.

(Ord. 820 § 15 (Exh. A), 1999; Ord. 871 § 2, 2003)