Applications for permits shall be filed with the department on forms furnished by the department. Each application shall include a plan-checking fee and other fees as required, grading plans and a statement of the intended use of the site. Only one application and permit is allowed for grading work to be done on a site. The department shall determine whether the application is complete or whether additional information is required from the applicant. The applicant shall be notified within 20 working days, and provided outstanding requirements in writing if the application is deemed incomplete.
(Ord. 1000 § 1; Code 1997 § 36-17)
Any environmental review required by California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) must be completed before the grading permit application will be deemed complete.
(Ord. 1000 § 1; Code 1997 § 36-18)
Applicant shall provide, with the application, documentation that he or she has notified by mail the owners of utilities on or abutting the site that an application for a grading permit has been submitted to the city. The notice shall state that the utilities must provide comments to the applicant within 30 calendar days of the date the notice is received by the utility. No permit shall be issued until the applicant provides proof that the utility has either approved the grading or has not objected to the grading within the 30-day period. This requirement may be waived by the director in his or her sole discretion. (See SLTCC § 7.20.450 for requirements to contact Underground Service Alert (USA) to locate nearby utilities prior to construction.)
(Ord. 1000 § 1; Code 1997 § 36-19)
A. 
No permit shall be granted unless the project conforms to the city of South Lake Tahoe general plan, any community or specific plans adopted thereto and applicable city of South Lake Tahoe ordinances.
B. 
Where a proposed grading project requires the filing of a tentative map or the intended use requires a zoning or design review permit, no grading permit shall be granted prior to approval by the applicable planning authority.
C. 
The permit shall be limited to work shown on the grading plans as approved by the department. In granting a permit, the department may impose any condition deemed necessary to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public, to prevent the creation of a hazard to public or private property, prevent erosion, require temporary and permanent stabilization of disturbed soils, and to assure proper completion of the grading, including but not limited to the following:
1. 
Mitigation of adverse environmental impacts as disclosed by any environmental document findings. This includes the proper disposal of any hazardous material identified in the initial planning phase. The director may require documentation that the permittee has obtained necessary approvals from other agencies, and that the permittee properly manages and disposes of hazardous materials;
2. 
Improvement of any existing grading to comply with the standards of this chapter;
3. 
Requirements for fencing or other protection for grading which would otherwise be hazardous;
4. 
Requirements for dust, erosion, sediment and noise control, and hours of operation and season of work, weather conditions, sequence of work, access roads and haul routes;
5. 
Requirements for safeguarding watercourses, whether natural or manmade, from excessive deposition of sediment or debris in quantities exceeding natural levels;
6. 
Requirements for permanent stabilization of disturbed soils, for designation of approved snow storage areas, and for on-going maintenance of storm water retention and treatment facilities;
7. 
Assurance that the land area in which grading is proposed and for which habitable structures are proposed is not subject to hazards of land slippage or significant settlement or erosion and that the hazards of flooding can be eliminated or adequately reduced;
8. 
Requirements for safeguarding existing water wells.
D. 
All grading activities are prohibited between October 15th and May 1st without written approval of the director. If the grading activity is also governed and permitted by TRPA and/or the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board, written approval from the applicable permitting agency(ies) for grading between October 15th and May 1st must also be provided to the department prior to any grading between October 15th and May 1st.
(Ord. 1000 § 1; Code 1997 § 36-21)
No permit shall relieve the permittee of responsibility for securing other permits or approvals required for work which is regulated by any other department or agency of the city, or other public agency, or for obtaining any easements or authorization for grading on property not owned by the permittee. Proof of issuance of applicable public agency permits shall be required before the issuance of a grading permit.
(Ord. 1000 § 1; Code 1997 § 36-22)
Whenever the location of a property line or easement or the title thereto is disputed during the application process or during a grading operation, a survey by a licensed land surveyor or appropriately licensed civil engineer or resolution of title, all at the expense of the applicant, may be required by the department.
(Ord. 1000 § 1; Code 1997 § 36-23)
A. 
The permittee shall perform and complete all the work required by the permit within time limits specified in the permit. If the work cannot be completed within the specified time, a request for an extension of time setting forth the reasons for the requested extension shall be presented in writing to the department prior to the expiration of the permit. The department may grant additional time for the permitted work to be completed.
B. 
If all of the permit work required is not completed within the time limit specified in subsection (A) of this section, no further grading shall be done without renewing the permit. A written request for renewal shall be submitted to the director who may require a new application and fees depending upon the time between the expiration date and the renewal request, revisions in city regulations, and/or changed circumstances in the immediate area. Any revised plan shall be submitted to the department for review, and any costs thereof shall be at the applicant's expense.
(Ord. 1000 § 1; Code 1997 § 36-24)
The issuance of a permit or approval of plans and specifications shall not be construed as an approval of any violation of the provisions of this chapter or of any other applicable laws, ordinances, rules or regulations.
(Ord. 1000 § 1; Code 1997 § 36-25)
Appeals on decisions pursuant to this chapter may be made pursuant to Chapter 2.35 SLTCC.
(Ord. 1000 § 1; Ord. 1105 § 1 (Exh. B); Code 1997 § 36-26)