The International Residential Code, 2021 edition, as published by the International Code Council, is hereby adopted by reference. Unless deleted, amended, expanded or otherwise changed herein, all provisions of such code shall be fully applicable and binding.
(Ordinance 1942, § I, 1-24-12; Ordinance 2124, § I, 6-28-16; Ordinance 2323, § I, 10/11/2022)
The residential code of the city shall be administered and enforced by the office of the building official. All references to code official shall mean the building official.
(Ordinance 1942, § I, 1-24-12; Ordinance 2124, § I, 6-28-16; Ordinance 2323, § I, 10/11/2022)
Grading guidelines for development of lots and tracts, to maintain protection of adjoining properties and alleviate erosion problems encountered by improper drainage, shall be as follows:
(1) 
Excavations or fills made for purpose of development of a lot or tract shall grade permanent slopes no steeper than five feet horizontal to one foot vertical.
(2) 
Deviation from excavation or fill limitations for slopes shall be permitted only upon the presentation of a soil investigation report acceptable to the building official.
(3) 
Retaining walls used to comply with the foregoing requirement shall be constructed in accordance with accepted engineering practices and shall be installed in a good workman like manner satisfactory to the building official.
(4) 
Retaining walls four feet and greater in height from finished grade to the top of wall shall require a permit prior to construction. The contractor must make application to the engineering department and submit a detailed engineered drawing and calculations including adequate drainage provisions through the wall. All drawings must bear the legal descriptions of property, all boundaries, easements and rights- of-way, as well as the engineer's seal and signature. All retaining walls one foot or taller shall be constructed of approved masonry materials only and provide for adequate drainage through the wall. (This is not intended to prohibit the use of nonmasonry materials for landscaping.)
(5) 
Grading of slopes shall be done in such a manner as to ensure proper drainage. Where practical, 80 percent of the lot or tract shall be graded to the fronting street gutter. Drainage on the portion of a lot or tract below curb level shall not drain across more than one lot or tract before entering an approved drainageway. This drainage shall be accomplished in such a manner as not to cause erosion or damage to any property.
(6) 
Whenever the building official determines that any existing excavation or embankment or fill on private property has become a hazard to life and limb or endangers property or adversely affects the safety, use or stability of a public way or drainage channel, the owner of the property upon which the excavation or fill is located, or other person or agents in control of said property, upon receipt of notice in writing from the building official, shall within the period specified therein repair or eliminate the hazard and be in conformance with the requirements of this Code.
(Ordinance 1942, § I, 1-24-12; Ordinance 2124, § I, 6-28-16; Ordinance 2323, § I, 10/11/2022)