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A. Application. To obtain a grading permit, a person shall file an application in writing on a form furnished by the Planning and Development Director. A separate application shall be required for each site and may cover both excavation and filling.

B. Every application shall:

1. Identify and describe the work to be covered by the permit for which application is made.

2. Describe the land on which the proposed work is to be done by lot, block, tract or similar description that will identify readily and definitely locate the proposed work and give name and address of property owner.

3. Indicate the intended use for which the site is being prepared.

4. Give proposed location of deposit area and name and address of person who will receive excavated material and evidence that such person is willing to receive the material (if off site).

5. Be accompanied by plans, specifications and a geotechnical report as required in subsection C of this section and a stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) if required as stated in subsection G of this section.

6. State the estimated quantities of earthwork involved, including, but not limited to, cut, fill, import, borrow and the excess disposal.

7. Be signed by the applicant, or the applicant’s authorized agent, who may be required to submit evidence to indicate such authority.

8. Locate all retaining walls and state height planned in the project.

9. Provide typical cross sections of retaining wall and privacy wall at all locations along the perimeter of the project.

10. Give such other information as reasonably may be required by the Planning and Development Director and the City of Phoenix Stormwater Policies and Standards Manual.

C. Plans, specifications and geotechnical report. Each application for a grading permit shall be accompanied by two sets of plans, specifications and geotechnical report, except when waived by the Planning and Development Director for minor or insignificant work. The plans, specifications and geotechnical report shall be prepared, sealed and signed by an Arizona registered engineer.

D. Exceptions to plans, specifications and geotechnical report requirements.

1. Plans and specifications need not be prepared by an Arizona registered engineer if the Planning and Development Director waives such requirement because technical engineering is not required.

2. When waived by the Planning and Development Director in cases where soils and geologic conditions are not significant factors in the design, a geotechnical report need not be submitted.

3. Plans, specifications and geotechnical reports shall not be required by the Planning and Development Director for work in a legal subdivision or for work which is in an area under an approved site plan required by the Zoning Ordinance, provided such subdivision or site plan approval is granted subsequent to the effective date of this chapter. The requirements of this chapter shall be fulfilled during the approval process of the subdivision or site plan.

E. Information on plans, specifications and geotechnical report. Plans shall be prepared to scale and shall be of sufficient clarity to indicate the nature and extent of the work proposed and show in detail conformance to the provisions of this chapter and all relevant laws, ordinances, rules and regulations. The first sheet of each set of plans shall give the location of the work and the name and address of the owner and person by whom they were prepared. The plans shall comply with the City of Phoenix Stormwater Policies and Standards Manual and shall show, at a minimum, the following information:

1. General vicinity map of the proposed site.

2. Property limits and accurate contours of existing ground and details of terrain and area drainage. All elevations shall conform with National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD), 1929.

3. Limiting dimensions, elevations, slopes and finish contours or elevations to be achieved by the grading, and proposed drainage channels and related construction.

4. Detailed plans of all surface and subsurface drainage devices, walls, cribbing, dams and other protective devices to be constructed with, or as part of, the proposed work together with a map showing the drainage area and the estimated runoff of the area served by any drainage system.

5. Location of any buildings or structures on the property where the work is to be performed and the location of any building or structures on land of adjacent property owners which are within 50 feet of the property or which may be affected by the proposed grading operations.

6. Any additional plans, drawings, specifications or calculations reasonably required by the Planning and Development Director.

7. Provisions for on-site retention of stormwater, unless waived by the City of Phoenix Stormwater Policies and Standards Manual, or the Planning and Development Director, or otherwise not required by this chapter.

8. In areas of special flood hazard, indicate the area of special flood hazard as delineated by FEMA.

9. Specifications shall contain information covering construction and material requirements.

10. Plans and specifications shall be based on the geotechnical report when such a report is required.

F. The geotechnical report shall show the information obtained from surface, subsurface and geological investigations necessary to provide information on which to base the design of the proposed project. The report shall include, but need not be limited to, pertinent data as applicable to the proposed project concerning:

1. The nature, distribution and strengths of existing soil and rock.

2. Geologic factors affecting stability and safety.

3. Conclusions and recommendations for grading requirements including the correction of weak and/or unstable conditions.

4. Opinions and recommendations covering the adequacy of sites to be developed by the proposed grading operations.

G. As required by State or Federal regulations, a stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP), as per the NPDES/AZPDES program, shall be submitted by the owner applicant or the applicant’s representative with the grading and drainage plan. The requirements of the erosion control plan, construction stormwater management plan, and/or stormwater post-construction program maintenance plan are listed in the City of Phoenix Stormwater Policies and Standards Manual. (Ord. No. G-1177, § 1; Ord. No. G-1192, § 1; Ord. No. G-1203, § 3; Ord. No. G-1260, § 1; 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)