Land Planning

Grading Plans are generally required for new houses, additions, garages, or pools and are part of the building permit process.

Site grading plans should specify minimum slopes from the house (usually 2 to 5%), depending on location, type of soils, frost depth, and soil moisture, to ensure water drainage for some specified distance (usually 6 to 25 feet) away from supporting foundations. A topographical and boundary survey is generally required as part of the grading plan.

Rough Grading Plans are for projects that require grading of the land only, such as driveways, demolition or soil stockpiles and require you to apply for a land disturbing permit.

Prior to performing any work, such as grading plans or geotechnical studies, or even purchasing a lot for development, a Feasibility Study can be performed to determine the probability of county approval of the general plan for the lot.