Source: http://www.sonoma-county.org/prmd/faq/strmwtr.htm
Timestamp: 2018-03-18 08:01:32
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FAQs - Grading and Storm Water - Permit & Resource Management Department - County of Sonoma, California
Grading and Storm Water FAQs
Grading | Storm Water
Grading is the removal or deposition of earth material by artificial means. Earth material is defined as any rock or natural soil or combination thereof. Grading is generally a combination of excavation (cuts) and placement (fill) of soil. Common examples of grading include, but are not limited to, construction of driveways, building pads, site improvements or reservoirs, and restoration/stabilization of hillsides, slopes or stream banks. Grading does not include routine farming practices. (S.C.C. §11.26.020)
A grading permit is authorization by a regulating body to perform grading work. The regulating body in the unincorporated areas of Sonoma County is the Permit and Resource Management Department (PRMD). The process by which a grading permit is issued involves a review of grading permit application contents for compliance with S.C.C.
Who can apply for a grading permit?
A grading permit application may be filed by the property owner or easement holder of the project site (easement holder), an authorized agent of the property owner or easement holder, or any other person with the written consent of the property owner or easement holder. (S.C.C. §11.10.020.C)
Why are grading permits required?
A grading permit is required prior to commencing any grading or related work, including preparatory site clearing and soil disturbance, except where exempted from permit requirements by S.C.C. §11.04.010.A. A grading permit is required when any of the following conditions apply:
Fill placed within a Special Flood Hazard Area or the Flood-Prone Urban Area (PDF).
What is required to apply for a grading permit?
The following items must be submitted to PRMD to apply for a grading permit:
A completed Grading Permit Supplemental Information (GRD-005) form (PDF).
Four sets of grading plans.
Two sets of drainage reports.
The appropriate plan check fee.
For more information regarding grading permit application submittal requirements, please refer to the Grading Permit Required Application Contents (GRD-004) handout (PDF) and the Drainage Report Required Contents (DRN-006) handout (PDF).
Who can prepare grading plans, drainage reports, or specifications for a grading permit?
It depends on the type of grading designation. Generally, simple grading work is designated as “Regular Grading” while more complex grading work or grading work within specific hazardous locations is designated as “Engineered Grading”. See Table 1 below for specific grading designations and thresholds. Grading plans, drainage reports, and specifications for work designated as Regular Grading may be prepared by the property owner or a licensed professional with a valid license in the State of California acting within the scope of their license. A licensed professional is an architect, civil engineer, landscape architect, professional geologist, or registered professional forester. Grading plans, drainage reports, and specifications for work designated as Engineered Grading must be prepared by a civil engineer with a valid license in the State of California. (S.C.C. §11.04.010.B & §11.26.020)
When is a civil engineer required?
A civil engineer is required when grading work is designated as “Engineered Grading”. See Table 1 below for specific grading designations and thresholds. A civil engineer with a valid license in the State of California is required to prepare grading plans, drainage reports, and specifications for work designated as Engineered Grading. (S.C.C. §11.04.010.B & §11.26.020)
When is a soils report required?
A soils report prepared by a soils engineer is required when there is a specific deviation from certain grading standards of S.C.C. A soils engineer is a civil engineer experienced and knowledgeable in the practice of soils engineering such as a geotechnical engineer. (S.C.C. §11.26.020)
Table 1: Grading Designations and Thresholds
Regular Grading Thresholds
Engineered Grading Thresholds
(cut or fill)
Does not exceed 5,000 cubic yards
Exceeds 5,000 cubic yards
No greater than 3 feet in depth and does not create a cut slope greater than 5 feet in height
Greater than 3 feet in depth or creates a cut slope greater than 5 feet in height
No greater than 3 feet in depth
Greater than 3 feet in depth
Fill in the Flood-Prone Urban Area (PDF) or any special flood hazard area
Does not exceed 50 cubic yards
Exceeds 50 cubic yards
Natural slope of grading area
No steeper than 15 percent
Steeper than 15 percent
Geologic Hazard Area Combining District
Grading area is not in the Geologic Hazard Area Combining District
Grading area is wholly or partially in the Geologic Hazard Area Combining District
Grading area contains no geologic hazards
Grading area contains geologic hazards
How much does a grading permit cost?
The cost of a grading permit is generally comprised of plan check fees and permit fees. Plan check fees are assessed when a grading permit application is submitted and represent the cost of PRMD staff to review the application contents. Permit fees are assessed after plan check is complete and the grading permit is ready to be issued and represent the cost of PRMD staff to implement the grading permit and perform inspection duties.
Most grading permits generally cost between $2000 and $4000 but the total cost of a grading permit depends on a variety of factors including the quantity of proposed earthwork, the complexity and location of the proposed work, and the quality of the grading plans and drainage reports. For more information regarding grading permit fees, see the current fee schedule or consult a permit technician.
How is a grading permit issued?
The grading permit process is usually initiated by a property owner or their authorized agent by submitting a complete grading permit application package to PRMD For more information regarding grading permit application submittal requirements, please refer to the Grading Permit Required Application Contents (GRD-004) handout (PDF). PRMD staff reviews the grading permit application contents for compliance with S.C.C., local regulations, and conditions of approval, if applicable. Revisions and/or clarifications may be requested by PRMD staff usually through plan check comments. The applicant addresses the plan check comments and resubmits revised documents to PRMD staff. This is typically an iterative process until all required plans, reports, and specifications meet all applicable regulations and conditions of approval. Fees are assessed based on the current fiscal year fee schedule and depend on the scope and nature of the proposed work.
How long does it take to issue a grading permit?
Grading permits are not issued within any specific established or required time frame. The time required to review and approve grading permit application contents varies and depends on the scope and nature of the proposed work, the manner in which information is presented in the grading plans and specifications, the volume of grading permit applications received by PRMD, and availability of plan check staff. Each grading permit application is reviewed in order received. Small or simple projects with clear and accurate plans and specifications generally take less time to review and approve. More complex projects or grading permit applications with unclear or inaccurate plans and specifications take more time to review and approve. The goal of plan check staff is to provide the applicant with initial plan check comments within six weeks from the time a complete application is submitted and plan check fees are paid.
The review process is iterative and requires the applicant to respond to comments made by PRMD staff. The comments made by PRMD staff are typically requests for more information but may include revisions to the project to comply with S.C.C. Once all comments are adequately addressed, the applicant submits revised grading plans and/or specifications directly to the reviewer. This process continues until the grading plans and specifications comply with S.C.C. and are approved by P.R.M.D staff. Grading plans should have sufficient detail and clarity to meet county standards and to facilitate plan checking, construction, and inspections.
How can I find out the status of my grading permit application?
Applicants may check the status of their grading permit application online by visiting the Permit Sonoma Online Permitting Tool. Applicants may also visit PRMD’s Engineering customer service cubicle in person or call at (707) 565-2268 during normal Public Lobby hours.
What happens after a grading permit is issued?
Work approved under an issued grading permit may begin after a pre-construction consultation is conducted. An issued grading permit is valid for a term of three years from the time the grading permit is approved and all outstanding permit fees are paid, unless otherwise determined by PRMD staff. The grading permit, job card, and approved grading plans must be present and accessible by PRMD inspection staff at the project site at all times during active work. All grading permits include work that must be inspected and approved by PRMD inspection staff. A Grading Permit Required Inspections (GRD-008) form is attached to the approved grading plans which identifies the type of inspections required to be performed by PRMD inspection staff and, when applicable, by the project civil engineer and/or soils engineer. The type and amount of required grading inspections varies depending on the scope and nature of proposed work. Once all work approved under an issued grading permit is completed, a final inspection must be conducted in order to final the grading permit. Starting grading work, including preparatory site clearing and soil disturbance, prior to the issuance of a grading permit is a violation of county code and may subject the property owner to penalties and fines.
What is the difference between the F1 and F2 flood zones?
F1 and F2 are actually districts used for planning purposes found in Sonoma County Code Chapter 26 Sections 56 and 58.
The F1 district mostly aligns with the FEMA floodway and county code states "… no new permanent structure nor structure intended for human occupancy shall be permitted within the floodway."
The F2 district applies to properties which lie within the one hundred (100) year flood hazard area as shown on the most recent FEMA maps. Structures proposed in the F2 shall be constructed in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 7B of the Sonoma County Code. Where, in the opinion of the planning director, or other decision-making body, topographic data, engineering studies or other studies are needed to determine the effects of flooding on a proposed structure, or the effect of the structure on the floodway, the applicant may be required to submit such data or studies prepared by competent engineers or other technicians. Within the Laguna de Santa Rosa, a “zero net fill” policy shall be enforced whereby no fill should be placed in the Laguna unless an engineering analysis demonstrates that no reduction in flood storage capacity would result from the placement of fill.