Drainage and Grading | California Department of Housing and Community Development

Drainage and Grading Plans

Drainage and grading plans must include the following information:

General vicinity map of the proposed site.
Property limits and accurate contours of existing ground, details of terrain, and area drainage.
Limiting dimensions, elevations, or finish contours achieved by grading, proposed drainage channels, or other related construction.
Detailed plans of all surface and subsurface drainage devices, walls, cribbing, dams and other protective devices constructed with, or as part of, the construction, and a map indicating drainage area(s) and estimated runoff of the area served by any drains.
Location of buildings or structures on the property where the construction is to be performed. Identify location of any buildings or structures on property of adjacent owners which are within 15 feet of property, or that may be affected by proposed grading operations.

Grading notes must be shown on plans:

Include soils report with the plans.
The procedures relating to excavation, grading, and earthwork, including fills and embankments, are contained in the California Building Code.
The design engineer must provide a letter upon completion of the grading, certifying that the final grades are in compliance with the approved plans.
The soils engineering firm must conduct field observations and tests during construction to verify the quality of the work, conformance to the specifications, and recommendations contained in the soils report.
Upon completion of the grading, the soils engineer must submit a final report including test results, certifying the construction is in compliance with the specifications/plan(s) and recommendations contained in the soils report.

The Soil and Engineering Report must include the following:

Data regarding the nature, distribution, and strength of existing soils, and conclusions.
Recommendations for grading procedures.
Design criteria for corrective measures, if necessary.
Recommendations, if any, covering adequacy of sites to be developed by the grading.
Recommendations included in the report and approved by the building official must be incorporated in the grading plans or specifications.

The Engineering Geology Report must include the following:

An adequate description of the geology of the site.
Conclusions and recommendations regarding the effect of geologic conditions on the proposed development.
Options and recommendations covering the adequacy of sites to be developed by the proposed grading.
Recommendations included in the report must be incorporated in the grading plans or specifications.