Grading permits are required within the unincorporated area of Fresno County to safeguard life, limb, health, property, and public welfare; to avoid pollution of watercourses; and to ensure that the intended use of a graded site is consistent with the General Plan, any Specific Plans, the Storm Water Management Plan, California Fire Safety Standards, and applicable Fresno County Ordinances in addition to the California Building Code..

A Grading Permit is a process to ensure that proper foundation preparation and grading requirements are met in accordance with the Fresno County Grading Ordinance. The purpose of the Grading Permit is to review intended grading to verify that proposed work will not result in flooding, drainage/erosion issues, settlement of the building area, or other hazardous conditions.

As a brief overview, answering “Yes” to any of the questions below indicates the need for a Grading Permit.

• Cut or Fill to exceed 50 cubic yards including importing and/or stockpiling over 50 CY One cubic yard is equivalent to a 3’x3’x3’ cube. A typical 6’ truck bed volume measures approximately 1.5 CY and an average dump truck can transport around 5-10 CY depending on vehicle specifications
• Cut to exceed 24” in vertical depth
• Fill to exceed 12” in vertical depth, not placed on flat terrain
• Grading will require realignment or modification to a natural drainage course
• Any part of the parcel lies within Flood Zone “A”
• Parcel Lies west of I-5 or East of Friant-Kern Canal
• Whenever a need for inspection by the Grading Engineer is anticipated regardless of circumstances

If the criteria for a grading permit do not apply to the proposed development, a grading voucher may be issued if determined necessary by the Grading Engineer.

A Grading Voucher is a document that acknowledges compliance of the Fresno County Grading & Flood Ordinance but does not require an inspection from the grading department. Grading vouchers are typically issued for smaller projects when the proposed cut/fill is under 50 cubic yards (CY).

Please complete the attached grading permit/voucher application form and email the form with all applicable documents (ie, site or grading plan, owner builder form, current recorded deed for recent change of ownership, etc.) to developmentengineering@fresnocountyca.gov

Grading Application(PDF, 83KB)

The current fee schedule can be found in the following link: Fee Schedule(PDF, 84KB)

A grading voucher is an acknowledgement of minimal proposed grading work (<50 CY of cut or fill) to be performed in compliance of applicable codes and all corresponding local, state, and federal laws. Grading inspections are not conducted for grading vouchers.

A grading permit typically consists of two inspections: a rough grading inspection and final grading inspection. A rough grading inspection is conducted prior to a building foundation inspection and after rough grading of the building pad and receipt of the certified compaction report. A final grading inspection is conducted after the building is constructed and finished grades around the building is complete. Other special considerations, such as erosion control, drainage swales, slope stabilization, etc. must be implemented as required by the permit.

Call (559) 600-4022 with the address, APN, or permit number to schedule an inspection.

Grading permit/voucher ensures compliance of applicable codes and laws as they relate to earthwork activity. Grading regulations were established in the 1960s and used for many years in jurisdictions throughout the Western United States. The regulation of grading is intended to prevent future issues of damage to your property and adjacent properties. Special soil considerations and construction methods are also critical to ensure proper grading of building pads and to prevent future structural damage.

Once a grading permit has been obtained from the Development Engineering Section there are certain responsibilities placed on the property owner and/or contractor. The property owner and/or contractor are responsible for obtaining the permit for the proposed project. The permit conditions are written in front of the grading permit/voucher application for compliance of the Owner or individual doing the work.

A geotechnical report is a tool used to communicate soil site conditions, design, and construction recommendations to the site design, building design, and construction personnel. Site investigations for building design project have the purpose of providing specific information on subsurface soil, rock, and water conditions.

A geotechnical report can be required based on the scope of grading work involved with the project or certain design criteria of a future building being constructed. If grading work exceeds 1,000 CY or fill exceeds 12” for a new building, a geotechnical report is required by the grading department. Please refer to the following attachment and building department for specific design criteria which may require a geotechnical report (unless sufficient data/information is presented to the building official, thereby waiving the requirement).

NCSEA - When are geotechnical reports required?(PDF, 184KB)

Soils are compacted to increase stability and strength, enhance resistance to erosion, decrease permeability, and decrease compressibility. A certified compaction report is required for any fills (proposed or undocumented) intended to support a structure. A certified compaction report is conducted by a 3rd party Geotechnical/Materials Testing firm. The test samples are taken after the permit/voucher is issued and after the rough grading work is complete.

A minimum of 90% relative compaction is required for most projects. Any fill located within a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area (or 100-year storm event) requires a minimum of 95% relative compaction. Failure to promptly submit certified compaction reports for review may cause delays in the inspection process. Please upload and email reports to developmentengineering@fresnocountyca.gov.

See handout below for minimum requirements of a certified compaction report.
Certified Compaction Report Requirements(PDF, 106KB)

In particular circumstances, grading work may be exempt from a grading permit. For more information on grading permit exemptions, below are links to the 2019 California Building Code (CBC), Section R300 and the Fresno County Grading Ordinance, Chapter 15.28. In cases where a grading permit is exempt, but where there may be an impact on surrounding properties or on present or future structures, a grading voucher may be required. For clarification or questions on whether a grading permit or voucher is required, please contact a grading engineer at (559) 600-4022 or developmentengineering@fresnocountyca.gov.

Please complete the attached Violation Complaint Form and email developmentengineering@fresnocountyca.gov.

Violation Complaint Form(PDF, 144KB)