Altadena Is About to Get a Grading Plan Backlog. Here's What That Means for Architects.
Lots in Altadena are getting fully graded with no grading plans on file. When the county catches up, here's what it's going to take to fix.
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Grading plans
Posts about grading plans in Los Angeles — cut/fill, slope ratios, retaining walls, and what LADBS actually rejects. Includes our own projects and what we learned the hard way.
Pacific Palisades Earthwork: How We Stayed Under 1000 CY to Avoid a Haul Route
Earthwork analysis for a Pacific Palisades single-family home with a basement. Existing and proposed contours plus cut/fill depth model to stay under 1000 CY and skip the LADBS haul route hearing.
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Pacific Palisades Grading Plan: 12% Slope, Basement Level, and Deep Trench Drainage
Grading plan for a Pacific Palisades hillside rebuild on a 12% slope. Garage and basement on same level with lightwell, area drains, and deep trench drainage to the street.
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South Pasadena Grading Plan: Garage Widening and Drainage Exit to Hanscom Drive
Grading plan for a South Pasadena residential remodel. Lot above street grade with garage widening, new staircase, and area drains routing to Hanscom Drive.
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Burbank Grading Plan: SB9 House with 34-Foot Slope
Burbank SB9 project on a 34-foot slope. See how we designed the garage level, handled drainage, and got planning approval.
Read MoreMost Altadena Fire Rebuilds Do Not Need a Full Grading Plan. Here's How to Know If Yours Does.
LA 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.
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Pacific Palisades Fire Rebuild: Basement, Pool, and Sump Pump on Chapala Drive
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 Los Angeles Baseline Hillside Ordinance Explained: What Homeowners and Contractors Need to Know
The 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 MoreWhen Does Your Los Angeles Project Need a Grading Plan? LADBS Requirements Explained
LADBS 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 MoreWho 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.
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Canon Boulevard Grading Plan: Steep Altadena Hillside
A steep Altadena fire rebuild grading plan near the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. We took over from another civil engineer to design cost-effective grading and drainage.
Read MorePacific Palisades Fire Rebuild 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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