When Does LA Need a Grading Plan? LADBS Rules
LADBS requires grading plans for hillside properties, excavations over 500 cubic yards, and ADUs in hillside zones. Here's what triggers the requirement.
Read MoreEngineering Insights
Perspectives on civil engineering, hillside construction, grading, and structural engineering in Los Angeles.
Who Do You Hire for a Grading Plan in Los Angeles?
For 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 MoreDraining a Sideways Lot Addition Without a Sump Pump
An Altadena addition on a sideways lot sat lower than the existing garage at the rear. Here's how we drained it without a sump pump.
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Olive Ave Drainage Plan: Sideways Lot, 7% Slope
Drainage plan for a 0.17-acre Altadena sideways lot sloping 7% east to west. Sheet flow design splitting flowline to the sideyard and driveway.
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Canon Boulevard Grading Plan: Steep Altadena Hillside
A steep Altadena fire rebuild grading plan near the San Gabriels. We took over from another engineer to design cost-effective grading and drainage.
Read MorePacific Palisades Grading Plans: What LADBS Requires
The Pacific Palisades fire rebuild process is different from a standard project. Here is what your grading plan needs to get through LADBS approval.
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Open Sourcing Our Cloudflare Workers Tools
We are open sourcing some Cloudflare Workers tools we use on this site - one helps AI agents read our content, the other handles our contact form securely.
Read MoreHillside Grading in Pacific Palisades Fire Rebuilds
Pacific Palisades rebuilds often need grading, excavation, erosion control, and sump pump plans. Basements add shoring from your structural engineer.
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Second Wapello Street Drainage Plan in Altadena
Our second Wapello Street drainage plan: an excavated house pad, downslope site, and an existing pool to work around.
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