Grading Permit Documentation Requirements by Jurisdiction

While requirements vary, the following checklist covers the documentation required in most jurisdictions for a grading permit application:

1. Completed permit application form. Identifies property (APN or legal description), owner, licensed contractor, civil engineer of record, estimated earthwork volume, and project description.
2. Grading plan (civil engineer stamp required). Shows existing and proposed topography at 1-foot or 2-foot contour intervals; cut and fill limits; pad elevations; drainage directions; retaining wall locations and heights; and erosion control measures.
3. Soils / geotechnical report. Required when fill will be placed. Provides allowable bearing capacity, compaction specifications (minimum relative compaction percentage and test method), shrink/swell data, and expansion index. The compaction report submitted at closeout must reference this report.
4. Erosion and sediment control plan. Shows placement of silt fence, check dams, construction entrances, stockpile locations, and stabilization measures. Must comply with the jurisdiction's BMP handbook or equivalent.
5. SWPPP (for sites over 1 acre). Required under the EPA Construction General Permit. Identifies best management practices, inspection schedule, and responsible party. Must be on site during construction and available for inspector review.
6. Drainage study or hydrology report (where required). Demonstrates that post-grading runoff does not exceed pre-grading runoff at the property line or downstream conveyance points. Required by many jurisdictions in the western US and in coastal states.

Grading permit closeout requires documentation that the work was completed as approved. The typical closeout package includes:

• Final grading certificate. Signed and stamped by the civil engineer of record. Certifies that grading was completed in substantial conformance with the approved grading plan. Most jurisdictions require this on a specific form provided by the building department.
• Compaction report. Prepared by a licensed geotechnical engineer or testing laboratory. Documents lift-by-lift compaction test results for all engineered fill, references the project geotechnical report, and certifies that fill meets specified relative compaction.
• As-built elevation data. Elevations at lot corners, pad, retaining wall top and bottom, and swale flow lines. Required to be within the applicable tolerance of the approved grading plan. In California, this is typically within 0.10 feet of design grade.
• Final inspection sign-off. Building department inspector sign-off after reviewing the as-graded conditions and submitted documentation. In some jurisdictions, this can be completed remotely after reviewing the documentation package; others require a physical site inspection.

Sitemark captures as-built elevations from field measurements and generates the deviation table for the civil engineer of record to review before signing the final grading certificate.