Grading Plan Cost in Los Angeles
Real numbers for hillside lots. No "it depends" phone calls required.
What a Grading Plan Costs
Standard residential grading plans in Los Angeles start at $4,800. That covers a typical lot with normal grade changes, standard 2:1 slopes, and straightforward drainage. We quote flat fees, not hourly estimates, so the number does not move mid-project.
Hillside lots get quoted by scope. A steep lot with 20 feet of grade change, two retaining walls, and a driveway redesign is a different animal than a flat lot. We look at your survey and give you a fixed number before we start.
What Drives the Price Up
- Slope height: every foot of retained or cut slope adds design work
- Retaining walls: each wall needs structural coordination and setbacks shown
- Shoring: basement excavations in tight lots need temporary excavation plans
- Jurisdiction: LADBS hillside ordinance review takes more back-and-forth than standard county review
- Survey quality: a bad survey means redoing the topography
What's Not Included
The $4,800 starting price covers the civil grading plan itself. It does not include geotechnical (soils) reports, land surveys, LADBS or DPW plan check fees, or structural retaining wall design. Your architect usually arranges the survey, and we need it to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Send us your address and your architect's contact. We will tell you what your lot needs and what it costs.
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