Perspectives on civil engineering, hillside construction, and grading in Los Angeles.
Burbank SB9 project on a 34-foot slope. See how we designed the garage level, handled drainage, and got planning approval.
Read More
A drainage plan and hydrology report for an Altadena fire rebuild where the site slopes 11 feet from street to rear. We designed flowlines around the main house and proposed ADU, added plastic lined rain gardens on both sides, and used the hydrology report to show pre-fire impervious was greater than proposed.
Read More
LA County often requires pumps on Altadena fire rebuild projects. But there are ways to get around that requirement. If you are planning to add an ADU later, doing the extra engineering now could save $15,000 to $20,000 by avoiding sump pump requirements.
Read More
We built a status page with real response time metrics and an AI search tool that answers questions about our civil engineering work.
Read More
We recently got a drainage plan approved in Altadena without requiring a sump pump or a LID maintenance covenant. Here is the engineering behind why it worked.
Read MoreLA County requirements keep changing after the Eaton Fire. Most Altadena fire rebuilds only need a drainage plan, not a full grading plan. Here is what can trigger the requirements.
Read More
A fire rebuild project on Chapala Drive in Pacific Palisades required a grading plan, excavation plan, erosion control plan, and stormwater sump pump design for a basement with 2 stories above. The corner lot had existing drainage from NW to SE and a proposed pool with lightwells below street grade.
Read MoreThe Baseline Hillside Ordinance controls how much you can grade on hillside properties in Los Angeles. Here is what the BHO actually says, what triggers it, and how the formula works.
Read MoreLADBS requires grading plans for hillside properties, excavations over 500 cubic yards, and ADUs in hillside zones. Here is what triggers the requirement and how to navigate the process.
Read MoreFor a grading plan in Los Angeles, you hire a civil engineer, not an architect. Here is the difference and why it matters for your project.
Read More