§ 21-126. Definitions.  


Latest version.
  • (a)

    As used in this Division:

    (1)

    Architect shall mean a person duly registered or authorized to practice architecture in the State and qualified to prepare grading plans and specifications.

    (2)

    Bedrock shall mean the solid undisturbed rock in place either at the ground surface or beneath surface soil deposits.

    (3)

    Borrow pit shall mean the source of earth or bank-run sand and gravel from below the ground surface by open pit excavation as a single incident on a site for use at a specific construction site elsewhere, or in conjunction with rubble fill.

    (4)

    Class I fill shall mean load-bearing fills proposed for support of buildings, walls and other structures, the functions thereof which would be substantially impaired by settlement.

    (5)

    Class II fill shall mean load-bearing fills proposed for support of roadways, pavements, rigid utility lines, house connections and structures which would not be substantially impaired by moderate settlement.

    (6)

    Class III fill shall mean common fill proposed for landscaping or for other nonload bearing usage.

    (7)

    Compaction shall mean densification of a soil or rock fill by mechanical or other acceptable procedures.

    (8)

    Embankment or fill shall mean deposit of soil, rock or other materials placed by man.

    (9)

    Engineering geology shall mean the application of geological data and principles 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.

    (10)

    Erosion shall mean the process by which the ground surface natural or developed, is worn away by the action of wind or water or both.

    (11)

    Excavation or cut shall mean an act or series of acts by which soil or rock is cut into, dug, quarried, uncovered, removed, disposed or relocated and shall include the conditions resulting therefrom.

    (12)

    Existing grade shall mean the vertical location of the existing ground surface prior to excavating or filling.

    (13)

    Fifty-year flood plain shall mean that area which would be inundated by storm runoff or flood water equivalent to that which would occur with a flood of fifty (50) year recurrence frequency in the watershed.

    (14)

    Finished or proposed grade shall mean the final grade or elevation of the ground, drainage or surface structures, conforming to the proposed design.

    (15)

    Grading shall mean any stripping, excavating, filling, stockpiling or any combination thereof, including the conditions resulting therefrom.

    (16)

    Grading permit shall mean a permit issued by the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement, authorizing work to be performed under Article 22, entitled "Grading, Drainage, and Erosion Control," of the Building Code.

    (17)

    Load-bearing fill shall mean fill placed in a controlled manner to support structural foundations, vehicular traffic, or any facility or earthwork which the instability thereof would constitute a public hazard or nuisance.

    (18)

    Natural ground surface shall mean the ground surface in its original state before any grading, excavation or filling.

    (19)

    Professional engineer shall mean a person duly registered or otherwise authorized by the State to practice in the field of engineering.

    (20)

    Rubble shall mean structural, construction waste materials or materials generated by building demolition, such as but not restricted to rocks, concrete, asphalt, brick, lumber, plaster, plasterboard, asbestos, roofing, metal and the like.

    (21)

    Rubble fill shall mean fill placed in a controlled manner consisting of construction or building demolition rubble, including both irreducible materials (concrete, rock, brick) and those subject to decay (lumber). Such fills in addition to rubble, may accept root material, brush, tree limbs and stumps.

    (22)

    Sediment shall mean soils or other surface materials transported by surface water as a product of erosion, manufacturing or other process.

    (23)

    Site shall mean any lot, or parcel of land or combination of contiguous lots or parcels of land.

    (24)

    Slope shall mean the inclined exposed surface of a fill, excavation or natural terrain.

    (25)

    Soil shall mean all earth material of whatever origin that overlies bedrock and may include the decomposed zone of bedrock which can be readily excavated by mechanical means.

    (26)

    Soils engineer shall mean a professional engineer who is qualified by education and experience to practice applied soil mechanics and foundation engineering.

    (27)

    Stripping shall mean any activity which removes or significantly disturbs the vegetable surface cover including clearing, grubbing and top soil removal.

    (28)

    Structural rock fills shall mean fills constructed predominately of rock, broken concrete or brick for the purpose of supporting structures.

    (29)

    Surface structures shall mean site or land improvements such as: fences, curbs, retaining walls, sidewalks, parking lots, driveways, yard drains, catch basins, walls, pavements, ditches, pools, and manholes.

    (30)

    Surveyor shall mean a person duly registered or authorized to practice land surveying in the State and qualified to prepare grading plans and specifications.

    (31)

    Watercourse shall mean any natural or improved stream, river, creek, ditch, channel, canal, conduit, culvert, drain, gully, swale, or wash in which waters flow either continuously or intermittently.

(Gen. Res. No. 18-1970, Sec. 1; CB-49-1984; CB-27-2014)