A. Application. Any owner or authorized agent who intends to clear, fill, or grade any property within the city, except those specifically exempted in ACC 15.74.050, shall first make an application to the city and obtain the required permit for the work. Applications shall be prepared by a licensed professional civil engineer and shall conform to the city’s design standards per Chapter 12.04 ACC. The city engineer shall have the authority to accept an application not prepared by a licensed professional engineer if the city engineer determines the scope of the project is such that a detailed set of plans is not required. An application for a clearing, filling, and grading permit shall be applied for and, where possible, processed concurrently with any other necessary permits or approvals. In addition, the city engineer may require off-site improvements prior to issuing any grading, filling or clearing permits when such improvements are required to mitigate the impacts of the proposed improvements.

B. Approval. The city engineer, or designee, shall have the authority to approve, modify, approve with conditions, or deny the permit in accordance with the intended purposes of ACC 15.74.010. The city engineer shall also have the authority to determine the time frame when the land disturbing activity shall commence, when the project is to be completed, designated haul routes, seasonal and weather restrictions, and hours of operation.

C. Performance Guarantee. When the city engineer determines that steps must be taken to protect other property or the public right-of-way, then the applicant shall provide the city an assignment of funds or an irrevocable letter of credit or other similar security satisfactory to the city engineer, to ensure land disturbing activities are constructed and maintained in conformance with the approved construction drawings, standards, and any environmental requirements and that the impacts of the activities, including hauling impacts, are mitigated. The amount and duration of the financial guarantee will be determined by the city engineer, when required, and it shall be no less than $2,000 per acre. The financial guarantee shall be accompanied by an agreement granting the city and its agents the right to enter the property and perform work to mitigate and/or control impacts from such land disturbing activities utilizing the above-described satisfactory security. The agreement shall also hold the city harmless from all claims and expenses, including attorneys’ fees.

D. Fees. Fees shall be assessed in accordance with the city’s fee schedule.

E. Term. Work on grading, filling, or land clearing permits must begin within 180 days from the date of issuance of the permit. If work has not begun prior to this date, the permit shall expire and a new permit will be required prior to commencing any grading, filling, or clearing activities, and will be subject to city standards in effect at the time of the new permit. A six-month period of inactivity on the grading, filling or clearing work shall constitute expiration of the permit and a new permit will be required prior to recommencing grading, filling or clearing activities and will be subject to city standards in effect at the time of the new permit unless the applicant can demonstrate justification for the delay to the satisfaction of the city engineer. Work to maintain winterization requirements shall not be considered inactivity.

F. Inspection. Construction or work for which a permit is required shall be subject to inspection by the city engineer, or designee, and such construction or work shall remain accessible for inspection purposes until approved by the city engineer or designee.

G. Revocation of Permits. Failure of the property owner and/or permittee to comply with any or all of the provisions of this chapter or any or all provisions of a land clearing, filling, or grading permit may cause the city engineer to revoke the permit. If the permit is revoked, all operations shall cease until such time that the noncompliance is corrected.

H. Where applicable, the property owner is responsible for obtaining the appropriate permits from the city when the public right-of-way is used to clear, stockpile, or load products and/or debris resulting from any land disturbing activity.

I. Penalties. Any violation of the requirements of this chapter or the conditions of a land clearing, filling, and grading permit shall be enforced pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 1.25 ACC; provided, that the penalty for such violation shall be $500.00, and each day, location and/or incident shall constitute a separate civil infraction. Additionally, each violator (each individual participating in a violation) shall constitute separate violations; provided, that if a violation involves more than 30,000 cubic yards of grading or fill work or more than 15 acres of land clearing, it shall constitute a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine or up to 90 days in jail or both.

Any person who clears or disturbs property without first securing a permit pursuant to this chapter shall be subject to the penalties of this section and may be required to restore the site to the satisfaction of the city engineer. In addition, all activity on the property shall cease until such time that a permit has been issued and there shall be no issuance of any other permit or approval until such time that a land clearing or filling and grading permit has been approved.

J. Appeals. Any person aggrieved by the decision of the city engineer may, within 10 business days of the city engineer’s written decision, appeal the decision to the hearing examiner who shall conduct a public hearing pursuant to ACC 18.70.040. (Ord. 6902 § 22, 2023; Ord. 6146 § 1, 2007; Ord. 4861 § 1, 1996; Ord. 4266 § 1, 1988.)