“Appurtenant structures” means manmade structures related to and necessitated by the proposed grading and includes paved drainage ditches, inlet structures, lined channels, culverts, outlet structures and retaining walls.

“Building pad” means that portion of an embankment and/or excavation contained within an area bounded by a line five feet outside the foundation footing.

“Building site” means that portion of an embankment and/or excavation containing the building pad(s) and lying within an area bounded by the top of slopes and/or toe of slopes within the lot or parcel.

“Certify” or “certification” means a signed written statement that the specific inspection and tests which were required have been performed and that the works comply with the applicable requirements of this chapter, the plans, and the permit.

“Clearing” means the cutting of natural vegetation by any means, without disturbance to the soil and root system.

“Clearing and grubbing permit” means a permit issued pursuant to this chapter that allows clearing and grubbing that is not in association with other land development work.

“Compaction” means densification of a soil or rock fill by mechanical or other acceptable procedures.

“Contract, private” means an agreement between a property owner and a qualified contractor to do land development work.

“Contractor” means a contractor licensed by the state to do work covered by this chapter. A contractor may be authorized to act for a property owner in doing such work.

“Embankment” or “fill” means any act by which earth, sand, gravel, rock or any other material is deposited, placed, pushed, dumped, pulled, transported or moved to a new location and the conditions resulting therefrom.

“Embankment, uncontrolled” means any embankment constructed as land development on which no soil testing was performed or no compaction reports or other soil reports were prepared or submitted.

“Engineer, private” means a civil engineer registered by the state. A private engineer may be authorized to act for a property owner in doing work covered by this chapter.

“Engineering geologist” means a certified engineering geologist, registered by the state, who is engaged in the practice of applying geological principles and data to engineering problems dealing with naturally occurring rock and soil for the purpose of assuring that geological factors are recognized and adequately interpreted in engineering practice.

“Erosion” means the process by which the ground surface is worn away by the action of water or wind.

“Excavation or cut” means any earth, sand, gravel, rock or any similar material which is cut into, dug, quarried, uncovered, removed, displaced, relocated or bulldozed by man, and the conditions resulting therefrom.

“Grade” means the elevation and cross-sections established for the finished surface. All grades shall be based upon the official datum of the City.

“Grading” means any excavating or filling or combination thereof and shall include the land in its excavated or filled conditions.

“Grubbing” means the removal of natural vegetation by any means including removal of the root system.

“Land development permit” means a permit issued pursuant to this chapter to conduct land development work.

“Land development work” means the making of excavations and embankments on private property and the construction of slopes, drainage structures, fences and other facilities incidental thereto, where it is necessary to safeguard life, limb, health, property and public welfare by regulating and controlling the design, construction and quality of materials. Land development work also includes other associated grading, and clearing and/or grubbing conducted in preparation for such development.

“Landscape architect” means a landscape architect, registered by the state, who performs professional work in physical land planning and integrated land development, including the design of landscape planting programs.

“Landscape manual” means the current “City of Chula Vista Landscape Manual” approved by resolution of the City Council.

“Minor slope” means a slope four feet or less in vertical dimension in either cut or fill, between single-family lots and not parallel to any roadway.

“Natural terrain” means the original contour of a site prior to any grading.

“Permittee” means any person to whom a permit is issued pursuant to this chapter.

“Property owner” means the owner, subdivider or developer of real property which will be benefited by the proposed land development work.

“Property, public” means property owned in fee by the City, or dedicated for public use.

“Public improvement” means publicly owned construction, structures or facilities in the public right-of-way designed for the public use, safety or general welfare.

“Public rights-of-way” means public easements or dedications for streets, alleys and/or other use.

“Rough grading” is the condition where the ground surface approximately conforms to the design grade, generally within 0.5 feet.

“Slope” means the inclined exposed surface of a fill, excavation or natural terrain.

“Slope, natural” means the predominant slope or slopes of land in its original condition prior to any grading.

“Soil engineer” means a civil engineer registered by the state who submits evidence to the satisfaction of the City Engineer that:

All persons meeting the qualifications set forth above shall be recognized by the City Engineer as qualified to perform soil engineering under the provisions of this chapter.

“Soil, expansive” means any soil which swells more than three percent when prepared and tested by a method approved by the City Engineer.

“Subdivider” means a person, firm, corporation, partnership or association who causes land to be divided into one or more subdivisions for himself or others as defined by those sections of the Government Code known as the Subdivision Map Act. (Ord. 3005 § 1, 2005; Ord. 2128 § 1, 1985; Ord. 1877 § 1, 1979; Ord. 1797 § 1, 1978).