§ 23.05.052. Inspections.

All construction and other work for which a permit is required shall be subject to either periodic or continuous inspections by authorized employees of the Planning and Building Department to assure compliance with the approved plans. Inspectors shall approve that portion of the work completed or shall notify the permit holder where the work fails to comply with the approved plans.

Where the Building Official determines it to be necessary to protect the public safety because of the nature and type of material involved, the type of work proposed or the purpose of the work, the work shall have either continuous or periodic inspections and supervision by one or more of the following as a condition of issuance of the grading permit:

(1)

civil engineer;

(2)

geotechnical engineer;

(3)

engineering geologist; or

(4)

responsible designee.

Prior to final approval of grading work under any type of permit, a final inspection shall be made of all construction or work for which a permit has been issued. Final inspection, as required in the Grading Ordinance, shall be made by an employee of the Planning and Building Department.

Approved plans for grading, vegetation removal work, and erosion and sedimentation control (or SWPPP if required) bearing the stamp of the County of San Luis Obispo Department of Planning and Building shall be maintained at the site during the progress of the work.

In the absence of specific work site designation upon which grading is to be performed, the Building Official may require the site be surveyed and staked by a civil engineer or land surveyor licensed by the State of California, so that the proper location of the work on the lot may be determined.

a.

Required Inspections. Inspections for a grading permit shall be made as provided herein and work shall not continue until approval to proceed has been granted following the requested inspection. The permit holder shall be responsible for requesting inspection by the Planning and Building Department as follows:

(1)

Site check. Prior to permit approval and plan checking.

(2)

Pre-construction meeting. At the Building Official's discretion, a pre-construction meeting may be required due to site characteristics, required mitigation measures, or complexity of the proposal. Qualified professionals may need to be in attendance.

(3)

Pre-construction stormwater inspection. When the permit holder is ready to begin work, but before any grading or vegetation removal has occurred, inspect and review erosion and sedimentation control BMPs with permit holder. Subsequent site inspections may be conducted at any time during the life of the project to determine compliance with the erosion and sedimentation control plan and/or stormwater pollution prevention plan.

(4)

Toe inspection. After the natural ground is exposed and prepared to receive fill, but before any fill is placed, review erosion and sedimentation control BMPs with permit holder.

(5)

Excavation inspection. After the excavation is started, but before the vertical depth of the excavation exceeds ten feet.

(6)

Fill inspection. After the placement of fill is started, but before the vertical height of the fill exceeds ten feet, and at two foot vertical increments thereafter unless waived by the Building Official. In addition, the fill must be inspected by a qualified lab requiring testing for each two feet of fill, or as defined in the soils report.

(7)

Key and bench inspection. After keys and benches are excavated, but before fill is placed.

(8)

Rough grade inspection. When all rough grading has been completed, including terraces, swales, and other drainage devices.

(9)

Drainage and/or groundwater recharge device inspection. After forms and pipe are in place, but before any gravel or concrete is placed, inspect erosion and sedimentation control BMPs.

(10)

Post-construction stormwater inspection. When all work has been completed, all disturbed areas of the construction site have been stabilized, and all long-term (permanent) stormwater pollution prevention and erosion and sedimentation control measures have been installed. Consistent with the General Construction Permit Notice of Termination (NOT) requirements (where applicable), in order for the post-construction stormwater inspection to be approved, all soil disturbing activities shall have been completed and one of the following shall have been met:

(i)

A uniform vegetative cover of 70 percent coverage has been established. In arid areas where native vegetation covers less than 100 percent of the surface, the 70 percent coverage criterion shall be proportionally adjusted (i.e. where native vegetation covers 50 percent: 0.50 x 0.70 = 0.35 - 35 percent); or

(ii)

Equivalent stabilization measures have been employed (e.g. fiber blankets, channel liners, mulch, etc.).

(11)

Final inspection. When all work, including installation of drainage structures, other protective devices, planting and slope stabilization has been completed and the required reports have been submitted to the Building Official and accepted as complete.

(12)

Other inspections. In addition to the inspections above, such other inspections of any work to ascertain compliance with the provisions of the Grading Ordinance and other laws and regulations as may be required by the Building Official including requirements of the NPDES permit of the County of San Luis Obispo for its stormwater discharges. A licensed landscape architect, qualified biologist, archeologist, agricultural advisor, or other qualified professional may be required to be present during inspections.

(13)

Rainy season inspection. During the rainy season (between October 15 and April 15), inspections shall be conducted to verify compliance with required BMPs based on potential for threat to water quality, as determined by the Building Official. Criteria to be considered include area of disturbance, earthwork quantities, and proximity to watercourses. Based on this assessment, a threat priority will be assigned an inspections shall occur as follows:

Construction Site Priority	Low	Medium	High
Frequency of Inspection	Once or twice during the rainy season	Twice or more during the rainy season	Once per week

 

b.

Exposure of work. Whenever any work for which inspections are required is covered or concealed by other work without having been inspected, the Building Official may require that such work be exposed for examination.

c.

Post construction and other inspections.

(1)

Best Management Practices (BMPs). Inspectors of the Planning and Building Department may inspect for adequate installation and functionality of BMPs prescribed by the erosion and sedimentation control plan or SWPPP at any time throughout the year. County inspectors may identify maintenance and repair needs on the site with the permit holder, or permit holder's agent, to ensure compliance with the minimum requirements of BMPs.

(2)

Corrective action. If the Building Official determines by inspection that grading as authorized is likely to endanger public health, safety or welfare in the deposition of debris on any public street, or interfere with any existing drainage course, the Building Official may require that reasonable safety precautions be taken to remove such likelihood of danger. Written notice to comply shall be provided to the permit holder allowing no more than ten days for corrections to begin unless an imminent hazard to the public health, safety or welfare exists, in which case the corrective work shall begin immediately.

d.

Special Reports. Periodic reports by a geotechnical engineer, an engineering geologist, or other qualified professional, certifying the compaction or acceptability of all fills may be required. These shall include, but not be limited to, inspection of cleared areas and benches prepared to receive fill and removal of all unsuitable materials, the bearing capacity of the fill to support structures, the placement and compaction of fill materials, and the inspection of buttress fills, subterranean drains, cut slopes and similar devices.

e.

Inspection by Others.

(1)

Where the nature of the project, type of soils, geologic conditions or drainage dictate that special engineering, geotechnical engineering, or geological inspections are necessary to prevent danger to public health, safety or welfare, the Building Official may require the permit holder to retain one or more of the following:

(i)

A civil engineer: to supervise and coordinate all field surveys and the setting of grade stakes in conformity with the plans, to check elevation of grades, inclination of slopes, installation of drainage structures and other matters related to the geometric design of the work, including the design of revised or modified plans, if necessary.

(ii)

A geotechnical engineer: to provide either periodic or continuous inspection of all soils work, including grading and compaction.

(iii)

An engineering geologist: to provide geological inspections.

(iv)

Resource Conservation District: to provide inspections related to drainage and soil erosion prevention.

(2)

On work requiring the continuous supervision and inspection of a civil engineer or geotechnical engineer, required inspections may be delegated to the civil engineer or geotechnical engineer by the Building Official. At the time of checking the plans, the Building Official shall indicate on each application for a grading permit the types of inspection, if any, to be made by the civil engineer or geotechnical engineer.

(3)

If the civil engineer or geotechnical engineer or geologist finds that the work is not being performed in substantial conformity with the Grading Ordinance, or the plans and specifications, the engineer shall issue a notice to the persons in charge of the grading work and to the Building Official.

(4)

APCD or state compliance staff may inspect the project site to ensure that grading activities are in compliance with the California Air Resources Board Asbestos Air Toxics Control Measure (ATCM) for Construction, Grading, Quarrying, and Surface Mining Operations and the National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants.

f.

Inspection process.

(1)

Grading shall not be commenced until the permit holder or agent has posted an inspection record card in a conspicuous place on the site to allow the inspector to make the required entries thereon regarding inspection of the work. This card shall be maintained and available on the site by the permit holder until final approval.

(2)

The permit holder, agent, or contractor shall have an approved set of grading, drainage and erosion and sedimentation control plans, and stormwater pollution prevention plan (if required), on the site and available at all times while work is in progress until final approval. The plans and specifications shall also include any mitigation measures approved by the Environmental Coordinator.

(3)

In the absence of a specific work site designation, the Building Official may require the site to be surveyed and staked by a civil engineer or land surveyor licensed by the State of California so that the proper location of the work on the lot or parcel may be determined.

(4)

Inspections for a grading permit shall be made as provided herein and work shall not continue until approval to proceed has been granted, following inspection. The permit holder shall be responsible for notifying the Department of Planning and Building at least 24 hours prior to the time when an inspection is necessary.

(5)

Where the nature of the project, type of soils, geologic condition, drainage, or weather conditions dictate that special engineering, geotechnical engineering, geological, or erosion and sedimentation or asbestos control inspections are necessary to prevent danger to public health, safety or welfare, the Building Official may require the permit holder to retain a licensed professional qualified to perform the following:

(i)

Supervise and coordinate all field surveys and the setting of grade stakes in conformity with the plans; to check elevations or grades; inclination of slopes; elevation and grades of drainage structures and other matters related to the geometric design of the work, including the design of revised or modified plans and "as-graded" plans, if necessary.

(ii)

Provide either periodic or continuous inspection of soils work, including grading and compaction.

(iii)

Provide geological inspections.

(iv)

Inspect all erosion and sedimentation runoff control measures and revegetation practices applied to the site.

(6)

Where the nature of the project dictates that special environmental monitors be required, the environmental review process and mitigation measures shall establish the manner and timeframe in which this review shall occur. In these instances, the Director may require the permit holder to retain a qualified professional to perform the work identified from these measures.

(7)

If the civil engineer, geotechnical engineer, geologist, or sediment and erosion control specialist find that the work is not being performed in substantial conformity with the Grading Ordinance or the approved plans and specifications, notice shall be given to the person in charge of the grading work and to the Building Official. No work shall proceed unless and until the issuance of such written notice from the Building Official that work may proceed.

(8)

If the Director or Building Official determines by inspection that grading as authorized is likely to endanger sensitive resources, public health, safety, or welfare in the deposition of debris on any public or private property, or interfere with any existing drainage course, the Director or Building Official shall require that effective precautions be taken to remove such likelihood or danger. Written notice to comply shall be given to the permit holder allowing no more than 10 days for corrections to begin unless an imminent hazard to sensitive resources or the public health, safety or welfare exists, in which case the corrective work shall begin immediately.

(9)

Final inspection, as required in the Grading Ordinance, shall be made to the satisfaction of the Building Official.

g.

Testing. The Director may also require that the applicant pay for testing to be performed by an independent, approved testing laboratory and that the civil engineer issue an opinion to ensure compliance with this ordinance, permit conditions, and/or accordance with the provisions of Title 19 of the County Code and Appendix Chapter 33, 1997 Uniform Building Code. The Building Official shall inspect or provide for adequate inspection of the project by appropriate professionals at the various stages of work and at any more frequent intervals necessary to determine that adequate control is being exercised by the professional consultants.

h.

Reports required. The registered design professional shall provide a summary of the reports required, including special inspections, as set forth in the California Building Code, observe and testing program, and frequency of progress reports, where applicable.

i.

Transfer of responsibility. Where the soils or other conditions are not as stated on the permit, or where the services of the engineer approved to supervise or inspect grading work have been terminated, work shall not commence again until a civil engineer, geotechnical engineer or engineering geologist certifies in writing to the Director or the Building Official that:

(1)

all phases of the project have been reviewed;

(2)

the engineer is thoroughly familiar with the proposed work; and

(3)

the work already completed is approved or responsibility for making the necessary improvements thereto will be assigned to the engineer.

Upon receipt of this notice, the Director or Building Official shall immediately give written notice that work may proceed. No work shall proceed unless and until the issuance of such written notice that work may proceed has been issued.

j.

Final Reports. Upon completion of the work, the Building Official may require the following reports and drawings:

(1)

An as-graded plan prepared by the civil engineer of record, including original ground surface elevations, as-graded ground surface elevations, lot drainage patterns and locations and elevations of all surface and subsurface drainage facilities. Certification by the civil engineer of record shall be provided that all grades, lot drainage, and drainage facilities have been completed in conformity with the approved plans.

(2)

A geotechnical engineering report prepared by a geotechnical engineer that includes, but is not limited to, locations and elevations of field density tests and other substantiating data, certification of soil capacity, and compaction summaries of field and laboratory tests, location of tests, and showing limits of compacted fill on a grading plan. This certification shall include specific approval of the grading as affected by soils on the site.

(3)

An engineering geology report based on the grading plan prepared by an engineering geologist, that includes, but is not limited to a final description of the geology of the site including any new information disclosed during the grading and specific approval of the grading as affected by geological facts. Where necessary, a revised geologic map and cross-sections and any recommendations necessary shall be included.

(4)

An erosion and sedimentation control report prepared by the certified sediment and erosion control specialist or other qualified, approved professional. This report shall include a final description of the erosion, sediment revegetation and runoff control practices applied on the site. Any new information disclosed during site development and the effect of same on recommendations incorporated in the approved grading plan shall also be provided. Any required changes shall be noted. The designated specialist shall provide a statement that, to the best of their knowledge, the work within their area of responsibility is in compliance with the approved erosion and sedimentation control plan and applicable provisions of the Uniform Building Code and the Grading Ordinance.

(5)

The grading contractor shall submit in a form prescribed by the Director and a statement of conformance to all as-graded plans and specifications.

[Added 2013, Ord. 3253]

Editor's note

See editor's note, § 23.05.020.