City of Los Angeles · Mulholland Specific Plan
Outer Corridor Grading Cap
Code Citation
MSPSP §6 B 1
MSPSP §6 B 1
Definition
Outer Corridor grading is capped at twice the Inner Corridor rate. The default cap is two cubic yards of earth per four square feet of lot area visible from Mulholland Drive. The Director may approve grading up to four cubic yards per four square feet under the same four findings used for Inner Corridor 2:1 grading. Corrective grading determined by the Department of Building and Safety is excluded from the calculation.
Inner Corridor caps live in §5 C and apply to lots within 500 feet of the right-of-way. Outer Corridor caps live in §6 B 1 and apply to lots between the Inner Corridor outer boundary and one-half mile from the right-of-way.
The Four Findings for Up to 4:1
- Conformance with the City’s Landform Grading Manual, unless Building and Safety determines that landform grading conflicts with Divisions 29 and 70 of Article 1 of Chapter IX of the Code.
- Graded slopes designed to have a natural appearance compatible with the characteristics of the Santa Monica Mountains.
- Building and Safety determination that the grading will minimize erosion.
- Compliance with §10 (Landscaping) on all graded slopes.
Ordinance ExcerptNo grading in excess of two cubic yards of earth per four square feet of lot area per lot visible from Mulholland Drive shall be permitted without the prior written approval of the Director pursuant to Section 11. … The Director may approve grading up to four cubic yards of earth per four square feet of lot area per lot after making the following findings: …
What Plan Check Looks For
- Confirmation the lot is in the Outer Corridor (MPII), not the Inner Corridor (MPI). Caps differ by a factor of two.
- Total cut/fill quantities on the Grading Plan cross-checked against lot area.
- Conformance with the Landform Grading Manual.
- Graded slope appearance compatible with the natural Santa Monica Mountains contour.
- Building and Safety determination that grading minimizes erosion.
- Compliance with §10 landscaping standards on all graded slopes.
Upstream Decisions
- Determine corridor (Inner vs. Outer) before running grading quantities. ZIMAS and the Specific Plan map series control.
- Run grading at the schematic stage. The default cap shapes building footprint, foundation strategy, and driveway alignment.
- Where the project requires more than the default cap, plan the four findings into the Project Description and supporting documentation.
- Coordinate landform grading with the Civil Engineer or Land Surveyor preparing the topographic survey. The Slope Band Analysis Form and the Grading Plan must align.
Worked ExampleA 16,000-square-foot Outer Corridor lot proposes 9,500 cubic yards of grading for a hillside residence with a swimming pool and tennis court. The default cap is 16,000 ÷ 4 × 2 = 8,000 cubic yards. The proposed quantity exceeds the default by 1,500 cubic yards but is under the with-findings ceiling of 16,000 cubic yards (16,000 ÷ 4 × 4).
The packet supports the four findings: a landform grading scheme, transitions to natural slope, planting per §10 on all graded surfaces, and a Building and Safety determination that erosion is minimized. The Director approves the project with conditions, and grading is permitted at 9,500 cubic yards.
Source: Mulholland Scenic Parkway Specific Plan, §6 B 1 (Outer Corridor grading caps and four findings). Compare with §5 C 1 (Inner Corridor caps, half the Outer rate).
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