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.
Read MoreTag
Hillside
Posts on hillside engineering in Los Angeles: slope analysis, the Baseline Hillside Ordinance, retaining walls, and how steep is too steep.
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.
Read More
Wildfire Tax Relief Extended for LA Fire Rebuilds
Senate passed the Padilla wildfire tax relief bill August 7, 2026. Insurance settlements on the 2025 LA fires stay out of federal taxable income through 2026.
Read More
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.
Read More
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 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.
Read More
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 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.
Read More
Hillside Grading Plans in Los Angeles: A Guide
What goes into a hillside grading plan in Los Angeles, why LA County requires them, and how B+W Engineering streamlines the process.
Read More
Silver Lake Driveway Grading Design
After going through a few options, I started to narrow down a potential idea that works with LA City garage turnaround radius and a typical car reverse radius.
Read More
Why Drainage Plans Matter on LA Hillside Homes
Los Angeles hillsides from Pacific Palisades to Beverly Hills bring views and slope challenges. Here's how drainage plans manage water on hillside lots.
Read More
Hillside Grading and Drainage for Los Angeles Luxury Homes
Los Angeles hills from Bel Air to Malibu demand careful hillside grading and drainage. Here's what building on these slopes requires.
Read More
Silver Lake Hillside Driveway looking for Optimum Route
Finding a clean driveway path on a steep Silver Lake hillside lot: a driveable route with a turnaround in front of the house, on tight existing grades.
Read More