Designing a Malibu Hillside Driveway With 3D Grading Models
A vacant Malibu lot off Pacific Coast Highway sits on a 22% slope. Here's how we used 3D terrain models to fit a 15% fire access road with minimal grading.
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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.
Altadena's Coming Grading Plan Backlog
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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Palisades Earthwork: Under 1000 CY, No Haul Route
Earthwork analysis for a Pacific Palisades home with a basement: cut/fill depth model keeping import under 1000 CY to skip the LADBS haul route hearing.
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Glenhaven Ave Grading: 12% Slope and Deep Trenches
Pacific Palisades hillside grading plan on a 12% slope: garage and basement on one level with lightwell, area drains, and deep trench drainage to the street.
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South Pasadena Grading Plan on Illinois 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 MoreDoes Your Altadena Rebuild Need a Grading Plan?
LA County requirements keep changing after the Eaton Fire. Most Altadena rebuilds only need a drainage plan, not full grading. What can trigger more.
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Chapala Drive Rebuild: Basement, Pool, Sump Pump
A Pacific Palisades fire rebuild needing grading, excavation, erosion control, and sump pump design for a basement, with a pool and lightwells below street grade.
Read MoreLA Baseline Hillside Ordinance Explained
The Baseline Hillside Ordinance caps how much you can grade on Los Angeles hillside properties. What the BHO says, what triggers it, and how the formula works.
Read MoreWhen 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 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 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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