Hillside Grading in Pacific Palisades - What Fire Rebuild Projects Actually Require

Pacific Palisades is not the steep hillside terrain you might picture when you think Los Angeles hillside. But it is also not flat. The terrain slopes enough that most rebuild projects require careful grading and drainage planning, even when the slope is not dramatic.

One thing that sets Palisades rebuilds apart from other areas is how many homes have basements. When you are rebuilding on a sloped lot and want to maximize square footage, a basement makes sense. But basements bring additional engineering requirements that many homeowners do not anticipate.

When a Basement Means Additional Engineering

If your project includes a basement, you will likely need an excavation plan that shows the cut and fill depths. That is something we handle at B+W. But because the excavation typically requires temporary shoring to hold back the soil during construction, you will also need a structural engineer to design the shoring plans. That is a separate engineer, not us. We can point you to structural engineers we have worked with if you need one.

The benefit of getting both the excavation plan and the shoring plans designed together is coordination. When we know the shoring requirements, we can design the grading around it. Getting them from separate engineers can create conflicts that slow down your permit review.

Below Grade Means Stormwater Sump Pumps

In Pacific Palisades, many homes sit below street grade. When your house is lower than the street, gravity cannot drain stormwater offsite the way it typically would. That is when you need a stormwater sump pump system.

The sump pump collects water in a basin and pumps it up and out to the street level storm drain. LADBS requires all proposed areas below street level to pump stormwater up to street level.

Some basements also have lightwells. Those recessed areas bring daylight into below-grade spaces. Lightwells can collect stormwater that needs its own separate sump pump system. If there is a lightwell, we will design for that too.

Erosion Control Plans for Winter Construction

Post-fire LA County requirements include erosion control plans for any construction happening during the rainy season. Even if your project starts in summer, if it will extend into fall or winter, you will need these plans showing how you will prevent sediment from washing offsite during storms.

What We Handle at B+W

For Pacific Palisades fire rebuilds, we typically handle grading plans, drainage plans, erosion control plans, excavation plans, and stormwater sump pump design.

For shoring plans, you will need a separate structural engineer who handles shoring design and calculations. We can coordinate with yours to make sure everything fits together.

If you are rebuilding in Pacific Palisades and want to understand what engineering your project needs, get in touch. We can review your plans and give you a clear scope of what we will handle and what else you will need.

Frequently Asked Questions

What engineering does a Pacific Palisades fire rebuild need?

Most Pacific Palisades fire rebuilds need grading plans, drainage plans, and erosion control plans. If there is a basement, you will also need excavation plans and a structural engineer for shoring. Properties below street grade will need a stormwater sump pump system.

Does every rebuild need a structural engineer for shoring?

No. Only projects with basements that require excavation shoring. We handle the grading and drainage, and coordinate with structural engineers when shoring is needed.

What is a stormwater sump pump and why is it required in Pacific Palisades?

When your house sits below street grade, gravity cannot drain water offsite. LADBS requires pumping stormwater up to street level. The sump pump collects water in a basin and pumps it to the storm drain.

Why does a basement in Pacific Palisades need shoring plans?

When you excavate for a basement on a sloped lot, the soil needs to be held back during construction. Shoring plans, designed by a structural engineer, show the temporary walls that support the soil while the basement is being built.