Grading Plan Specifications – 1 Acre or More

Stormwater Permits

When stormwater from rain or snow melt flows, it carries dirt, litter, chemicals, or other pollutants that could harm water quality. Stormwater discharges are considered point sources, and stormwater permitting is administered under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program.

ADEQ issues individual and general stormwater permits. The permit conditions for an individual permit are specific for each facility. General permits are used for those facilities with similar operations. Facilities seek coverage with a Notice of Intent (NOI) document to obtain coverage under a general permit.

For more information, visit the ADEQ website: General Stormwater Permits.

Grading Permit Requirements

1. Site Plan. Site plan at a scale no smaller than one inch equals 50 feet, showing property lines, vicinity map, north arrow, name of owner, developer, and adjacent property owners.
2. Contours. Existing grades shall be shown with dashed line contours and proposed grades with solid line contours. Grading plans shall be required to show both the proposed grade and the undisturbed area. Contour intervals shall be a maximum of two feet. Spot elevations shall be indicated.
3. Designation of Grade. Areas with 0-10%, 10-15%, 15-20% and more than 20% grade shall each be identified in a distinguishing manner.
4. Land to be Disturbed. Land areas to be disturbed shall be clearly identified.
5. Engineer/Architect. Seal of a registered engineer, architect, landscape architect, or similar design professional certifying that the plan complies with all applicable regulations.
6. Cuts and Fills. All cuts and fills, including height and slope, shall be clearly shown on the plan.
7. Streets and Rights-of-way. Location and names of all existing or platted streets or rights-of-way within or adjacent to tract and location of all utilities and easements within or adjacent to the property shall all be indicated.
8. Structures. Location and dimension of existing structures.
9. Soil Type. Soil types shall be identified according to the Unified Soil Classification System.
10. Natural Features. Location of natural features such as drainage ways, ponds, rock outcroppings and tree cover. Indication of 100 year floodplains as defined by FEMA.
11. Acreage/Zoning. Total acreage and zoning classification.
12. Surface Water. Provision for collection and discharging surface water.
13. Existing Infrastructure. Profiles and cross sections of streets, drainage systems, and underground utilities if necessary to clarify the grading plan in terms of potential erosion or runoff, or if the grading on site has the potential of disturbing the infrastructure.
14. Treatment of Slopes and Benches. The method of treatment for all slopes and benches shall be indicated.
15. Time Schedule. A time schedule indicating the anticipated starting and completion dates and time of exposure of each area prior to stabilization measures.
16. Fill Material/Compactions. Description of quantity (in cubic yards), source, and composition of imported fill material and compaction specifications. Note the quantity (in cubic yards) and destination of excavation materials to be removed from the site.
17. Natural Vegetation Preservation. Proposals for preserving natural vegetation, including designating the area of preservation on the grading plan, and a description of evegetation or other permanent erosion control strategy. Measures for protecting trees targeted for preservation during land alteration activity.
18. Runoff/sedimentation. Specification and details of measures to control runoff and sedimentation during onstruction indicating what will be used such as straw bales, silt dams, check dams, lateral hillside ditches, catch basins and the like; and construction entrance/exit.
19. Dust. Where excessive dust may become a problem, a plan for spraying water on heavily traveled dirt areas shall be addressed.
20. Soils Engineering Study. The City Engineer may require a soil engineering study or soil loss calculations if site conditions so warrant.

Choose the Online Permit application, or the printable version below:

Online Grading Permit Application

Grading Permit Application – PDF