It is the intent of the council in enacting this article to
implement the directive contained in the
Health and Safety Code, Sections
17953, 17954 and 17955.
(Code 1957, § 8506)
The term "expansive soil", as used in this article, shall mean
any soil which swells more than 3% when prepared and tested in accordance
with the tests prescribed and approved by the city engineer.
(Code 1957, § 8506)
Prior to the issuance of a building permit for the construction
of a building on a lot within a subdivision as defined in the Business
and Professions Code, Sections 11535 and 11535.1, there shall be filed
with the building director a preliminary soil report prepared by a
civil engineer registered by the state, based upon such test borings
or excavations as are approved by the building director as adequate;
provided, however, such preliminary soil report may be waived by the
building director where he determines that due to the knowledge his
department has as to the qualities of the soil within the subdivision,
no preliminary analysis is necessary.
(Code 1957, § 8501)
Where a report satisfying the requirements of sections 6-367
and 6-368 is filed, the report required by section 6-364 need not
be filed.
(Code 1957, § 8503.2)
A preliminary soil report required by section 6-364 shall contain
the following:
(1) A
certification that the engineer has investigated the soil within the
subdivision;
(2) Locations
of the borings or excavations made;
(3) Summaries
of field and laboratory tests made; and
(4) A
statement of the qualities of the soil and its expansive characteristics
or other soil problems which, if not corrected, would lead to structural
defects of dwellings constructed upon such soil.
(Code 1957, § 8501)
Where the report filed pursuant to section 6-364 indicates the
presence of critically expansive soil or other soil problems, which,
if not corrected, would lead to structural defects in buildings constructed
upon such soil, a soil investigation of each lot within the subdivision
shall be required, and before a building permit shall be issued for
the construction of a building on any lot within such subdivision,
there shall be filed with the building director a report of a soil
investigation of each lot prepared by a registered civil engineer.
(Code 1957, § 8502)
The soil investigation report required by section 6-367 shall
contain the following:
(1) A
certification that the engineer has investigated the soil within the
lot;
(2) The
locations of the borings or excavations made;
(3) Summaries
of field and laboratory tests made;
(4) A
statement of the qualities of the soil and its expansive characteristics
or other soil problem, which, if not corrected, would lead to structural
defects of dwellings constructed upon such soil.
(5) A
recommendation of corrective action which is likely to prevent structural
damage to each dwelling proposed to be constructed upon such soil.
(Code 1957, § 8502)
The report or reports required by section 6-367 may supplement
or incorporate by reference any report prepared pursuant to sections
6-364 and 6-366.
(Code 1957, § 8503.1)
The building director shall approve the soil investigation required
by this article if he determines that the recommended action required
by section 6-368(5) is likely to prevent structural damage to each
building to be constructed. Any building permit for a building on
such lot shall be issued subject to the condition that the approved
recommendation contained in the soil investigation report be incorporated
in the construction of each building constructed upon such lot.
(Code 1957, § 8504)
Irrespective of whether a building site is a lot within a subdivision,
if the building director has reason to believe that the site upon
which a building or structure is to be constructed contains critically
expansive soil or other soil problems which, if not corrected, would
lead to structural defects in a building proposed to be constructed
thereon, he may require a soil investigation and report as hereinabove
provided in sections 6-364 and 6-366, and where the building director
determines that the recommended corrective action is likely to prevent
structural damage to the building to be constructed, he may issue
a building permit subject to the condition that the recommended corrective
action be incorporated in the construction of the building.
(Code 1957, § 8505)