Compare Regulations
Compare city/county requirements side-by-side (up to 4 jurisdictions)
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Compare city/county requirements side-by-side (up to 4 jurisdictions)
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| Field | Local City of Los Angeles City of Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) | Local City and County of San Francisco San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) |
|---|---|---|
| Permit | ||
| Permit / Authorization | Grading Permit with Low Impact Development (LID) Plan | Stormwater Control Plan (SCP) — required with building/site permit |
| Submit To | City of Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) | San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) |
| Lead Time | Plan check typically 4–8 weeks; expedited review available for fee | SCP review typically 4–6 weeks; must be approved before building permit issuance |
| Application Method | Online via LADBS ePlanLA portal (eplanla.lacity.org); paper plans also accepted at Development Services Centers | Online via SF Planning & Building portals; SCP submitted to SFPUC for review |
| Fee | Grading permit fees based on cubic yards of earthwork; LID plan check fee additional — see LADBS fee schedule | No separate stormwater permit fee; included in building permit fees. Stormwater management fee applies to impervious surfaces on developed parcels. |
| Water Quality | ||
| Impervious Cover Limit | No citywide cap; however, LID Ordinance requires on-site retention of the 85th-percentile 24-hour storm for all new development and redevelopment projects | No cap (dense urban environment); however, projects ≥ 5,000 sq ft of new or replaced impervious surface must manage stormwater on-site |
| On-Site Treatment Required | Yes | Yes |
| Detention Required | Yes — Retain 100% of the 85th-percentile 24-hour storm event on-site using infiltration, bioretention, or rainwater harvesting; if infeasible, biofiltration of 1.5× the design volume | Yes — Manage the 90th-percentile 24-hour storm using green infrastructure (bioretention, permeable pavement, rainwater harvesting); combined sewer system means retention reduces CSO risk |
| Turbidity / Discharge Standard | Must comply with LA County MS4 Permit receiving water limitations; no separate city numeric limit beyond state CGP requirements | Must comply with state CGP and SF Bay Regional Water Board Basin Plan objectives; no separate city numeric turbidity standard |
| SWPPP | ||
| SWPPP / Local Plan Required | Yes — Erosion Control Plan (ECP) required as part of grading permit; LID Plan required for post-construction | Yes — Erosion and Sediment Control Plan (ESCP) for construction; Stormwater Control Plan (SCP) for post-construction |
| PE Stamp Required | Yes | No |
| Inspections | ||
| Inspection Requirements | LADBS conducts grading inspections at key milestones (rough grade, final grade, drainage installation). Separate BMP inspections by Bureau of Sanitation during rainy season (Oct 1 – Apr 15). | SFPUC conducts inspections of stormwater facilities during and after construction. Annual self-certification required for maintained green infrastructure. DBI handles building/grading inspections. |
| Inspector Qualification | No additional city certification beyond QSP/QSD; however, the Deputy Grading Inspector program applies to grading permit compliance | QSP/QSD per state CGP; no additional city certification required |
| Design & Zones | ||
| Local Design Manual | City of Los Angeles LID Standards Manual & Stormwater Technical Manual | San Francisco Stormwater Management Requirements and Design Guidelines |
| Special Overlay Zones | Hillside Area, Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ), Coastal Zone | Combined Sewer Area, Maher Ordinance Area |