For the purposes of this chapter, the words and phrases herein defined shall be construed in accordance with the definitions set forth in this section unless it is apparent from the context that a different meaning is intended.

Bedrock means the solid, undisturbed bedrock in place either at the ground surface or beneath surficial deposits of gravel, sand or soil.

Building Official means the Building Official of the City of Phoenix Planning and Development Department.

Clearing or grubbing means the removal of any plant, bush, tree, cacti, or earth or rock.

Earthwork means the cut, fill, import or disposal of excess earth, sand, gravel, rock or other earthen material.

Excavation means any act by which earth, sand, and gravel, rock, or other earthen material is cut into, dug, uncovered, displaced or relocated, and shall include the conditions resulting therefrom.

Existing grade means the grade or elevation of the existing ground surface prior to excavating or filling.

FEMA means the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Fill means deposits of soil, rock, or other materials placed by humans.

Finish grade means the final grade or elevation of the ground surface after grading is completed.

Grading means any excavating, filling, moving of natural earthen ground surface or combination thereof, and shall include the conditions resulting from any excavation, fill or movement of the natural earthen ground surface, including the natural drainage pattern.

NPDES/AZPDES program means the Federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program administered nationally pursuant to 33 U.S.C. Section 1342 and the Arizona Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (AZPDES) Program administered in Arizona pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 49, Chapter 2, Article 3.1, requiring the control or elimination of erosion and other forms of water pollution from a site. As used in this chapter, the term also includes the requirements of Chapter 32C of this Code.

On-lot detention means detaining stormwater on an individual lot for a given design frequency storm, said area of lot being exclusive of public streets, alleys, or other land dedicated for public use.

On-site retention means retaining stormwater that falls on the site for a given design frequency, said site being exclusive of public streets, alleys or other land dedicated for the public use.

Outfall of lot means the lowest point of the lot (when final grading and improvements are complete) that will provide for continuity of drain water disposal to the street, alley, or drainage channel or easement.

Planning and Development Director means the City of Phoenix Planning and Development Director or the Director’s designee.

Retaining wall means a wall which supports earth higher on one side than the other side (measured from the top of the footing to the top of the retaining wall); a retaining wall over three feet high shall be designed by an Arizona registered civil or structural engineer and approved by the Planning and Development Department prior to construction.

Rough grade means an approximate elevation of the ground surface conforming to the proposed design.

Site means any lot or parcel of the land or contiguous combination thereof, under the same ownership, where grading is performed or permitted.

Soil means all earth material of whatever origin that overlies bedrock.

Supervising engineer means an Arizona registered engineer who has been employed to design or oversee work regulated by this chapter. (Ord. No. G-1177, § 1; Ord. No. G-1192, § 1; Ord. No. G-1203, § 2; Ord. No. G-1641, § 1; Ord. No. G-3313, § 1; Ord. No. G-3887, § 1; Ord. No. G-3994, § 1, 1997; Ord. No. G-5590, § 1, 2011; Ord. No. G-5707, 2012; Ord. No. G-7116, § 1, 2023)