# LA Hillside Building: Baseline Hillside Ordinance [Browser-friendly HTML version](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/website-guide/pages/articles/baseline-hillside-ordinance-los-angeles-guide/index) Source: https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/articles/baseline-hillside-ordinance-los-angeles-guide Last modified: 2026-08-08T00:00:00.000Z Text part: 1 of 1 [Full website text index](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/llms-full.txt) | [Articles and guides](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/llms/articles-003.txt) | [Previous page](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/llms/pages/articles/title-24-requirements-pools-adus-california/index.txt) | [Next page](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/llms/pages/articles/california-adu-law-what-cities-can-require/index.txt) --- 1. 1. [Resources](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/articles) 1. [Construction Process](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/articles/category/construction-process) 1. Baseline Hillside Ordinance: Building on LA Slopes [Construction Process](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/articles/category/construction-process) ### Baseline Hillside Ordinance: Building on LA Slopes The ordinance caps floor area and grading, and a slope adds $40,000 to $120,000 to a pool. [Remodel Your Vibe Design Team](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/our-approach) August 8, 20265 min read Image: Building on an LA Hillside: The Baseline Hillside Ordinance Explained In this article 1. What the ordinance is and whether it applies to you 1. Slope analysis and how floor area is calculated 1. Grading limits and haul routes 1. Pools, decks and hardscape on a slope 1. Street access, fire and the constraint nobody expects 1. Consultants, cost and how long a hillside job takes If your Los Angeles lot is mapped as a Hillside Area, the Baseline Hillside Ordinance (Ordinance 184,802) governs how much floor area you can build, how much earth you can move, how tall retaining walls can be and whether your street can support the project at all. It applies to single-family zones in designated hillside areas across the city, from Beachwood Canyon to Bel-Air to the Cahuenga Pass. Practically, it means a hillside pool and terrace costs $40,000 to $120,000 more than the same design on a flat lot, and takes twice as long. In this article 1. What the ordinance is and whether it applies to you 1. Slope analysis and how floor area is calculated 1. Grading limits and haul routes 1. Pools, decks and hardscape on a slope 1. Street access, fire and the constraint nobody expects 1. Consultants, cost and how long a hillside job takes #### What the ordinance is and whether it applies to you The Baseline Hillside Ordinance was adopted as Ordinance 184,802 and applies to single-family residential zones (RA, RE, RS and R1) on lots designated as Hillside Area in the City of Los Angeles. It replaced a patchwork of rules with a single framework covering residential floor area, height, grading quantity, retaining walls and street access. Checking applicability takes two minutes. Look the address up on the city's zoning information map and read the Hillside Area designation field. It is a mapped designation, not a judgment call about how steep the ground feels. Two things it is not. It is not a discretionary review: a conforming project is still permitted over the counter. And it does not apply outside city limits. Unincorporated Los Angeles County, Calabasas, Malibu, Glendale and Pasadena each run their own hillside regulations, structured differently, with different numbers. Pro Tip Pull the zoning report before you make an offer on a hillside property, not after. #### Slope analysis and how floor area is calculated Under the ordinance, the maximum residential floor area on a hillside lot is derived from a slope band analysis. A licensed surveyor produces a topographic survey, the lot is broken into bands by steepness, and each band contributes floor area at a different rate. Flatter ground earns more; steep ground earns very little. That survey costs $2,500 to $6,000 depending on lot size, vegetation and access, and it is the first check you write on a hillside project. Everything downstream (grading plan, structural design, drainage, even where the pool can physically go) references it. Height is measured against existing grade under envelope rules rather than from a single convenient high point, which is why hillside houses often step down the slope rather than sitting on a podium. The practical consequence for backyard work: a raised pool deck, a cabana or a covered outdoor kitchen can consume floor area or bump into height envelopes you did not know you had. Pro Tip Order the topographic survey before any design work begins. Designing without it wastes the design fee. Ready to Start Your Project? Schedule a free consultation with our design team. [Book a Consultation](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/contact-us) [Call 818-300-2393](tel:+18183002393) #### Grading limits and haul routes The ordinance sets a by-right maximum quantity of earthwork scaled to lot size. Stay under it and grading is permitted as part of the normal process. Exceed it and you need a deviation from the Zoning Administrator, which turns a ministerial project into a discretionary one with notice, findings and a hearing. Export is the other constraint. In hillside grading areas, exporting more than 1,000 cubic yards of earth generally requires a haul route approval from the Board of Building and Safety Commissioners, with neighborhood notification and conditions on truck routes, hours and street cleaning. The numbers add up quickly. A modest 20 by 40 foot pool at an average depth of five and a half feet, with over-excavation, generates roughly 200 to 300 cubic yards. Add a terraced pad and retaining walls and 1,000 cubic yards is not exotic. Hillside export runs $35 to $70 per cubic yard, since trucks carry 10 to 14 yards each on narrow streets. Pro Tip Design for balanced cut and fill where the geotechnical report allows it. Every yard you keep on site is a yard you do not pay to haul. #### Pools, decks and hardscape on a slope A pool on a slope is a structural problem before it is a design problem. California Building Code Section 1808.7 sets foundation clearances from slopes: roughly one third of slope height from the face of a descending slope, capped at 40 feet, and one half of slope height from the toe of an ascending slope, capped at 15 feet. Most hillside backyards cannot satisfy that by simply moving the pool, so the shell is engineered to bridge the condition instead: caissons drilled into competent material, tied by grade beams, with the pool wall designed as a retaining structure. Drilled caissons run roughly $1,200 to $2,500 each and a modest pool may need eight to twenty. Together with the grade beams, engineered shell and additional shotcrete, expect $40,000 to $120,000 above a flat-lot equivalent. Retaining walls to create usable terrace run $60 to $150 per face foot, and the ordinance limits wall heights and stacking within required yards. Pro Tip Plan the pool equipment location early on a hillside. Long plumbing runs to a distant pad add head loss and cost. #### Street access, fire and the constraint nobody expects The constraint that stops more hillside projects than grading is the street. Many hillside streets in Los Angeles are classified as substandard: narrower than current standards, without continuous paving, or lacking turnarounds. The ordinance and the Fire Department's access requirements tie what you can build to how good that access is. Projects on deficient streets can face reduced allowable floor area, requirements to dedicate and improve the frontage, and mandatory fire sprinklers throughout the dwelling. Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone designation adds its own layer: ignition-resistant exterior construction, ember-resistant vents, defensible space clearance, and restrictions on combustible structures and vegetation near the house. That reaches into backyard design directly: it affects pergola materials, fence construction and what you can plant against a structure. None of this is negotiable at plan check. It is a design input, and it belongs in the first conversation. Pro Tip Ask the Fire Department access question before design. It can change the entire scope on a narrow canyon street. #### Consultants, cost and how long a hillside job takes A hillside backyard project carries a consultant team that a flat lot does not. Licensed surveyor for the topographic survey: $2,500 to $6,000. Geotechnical engineer, often with an engineering geologist, for soils and geology in hillside terrain: $6,000 to $15,000. Civil engineer for grading and drainage plans: $3,000 to $10,000. Structural engineer for the pool shell, caissons and retaining walls: $4,000 to $12,000. That is $15,000 to $43,000 of professional services before a shovel moves, and it is money well spent: the alternative is discovering the problem during excavation. On duration, a flat-lot pool runs eight to sixteen weeks of construction. The same pool on a hillside with caissons, a haul route and terraced walls runs four to eight months. Access drives it: everything arrives by small truck, conveyor or crane, and crews work smaller areas at a time. Pro Tip Bundle the geotechnical scope to cover pool, walls and any future structure. A second mobilization costs more than the extra borings. #### Final Thoughts Hillside building in Los Angeles rewards owners who accept the sequence: survey, geotechnical report, grading strategy, then design. The Baseline Hillside Ordinance is not arbitrary. It exists because these slopes fail when they are treated casually. The costs are real, but they are knowable at the start, and a properly engineered hillside yard is a permanent improvement rather than a maintenance liability. Where we build #### Build this in Los Angeles One team designs, permits and builds in Los Angeles. Start with the page for your project: - [Pool & Spa Remodeling in Los Angeles](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/services/swimming-pool-spa/los-angeles) - [Backyard & Outdoor Living in Los Angeles](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/services/exterior-remodeling/los-angeles) - [Plans, Permits & Design in Los Angeles](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/services/plans-permits/los-angeles) [Everything we build in Los Angeles](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/service-areas/los-angeles) #### Frequently Asked Questions How do I know if my lot is in a hillside area? Look the address up on the City of Los Angeles zoning information map and read the Hillside Area field. It is a mapped designation applied to specific single-family zoned lots, not a judgment about steepness. If the field says yes, the Baseline Hillside Ordinance applies and you should order a topographic survey before design work starts. When is a haul route approval required? In hillside grading areas, exporting more than 1,000 cubic yards of earth generally requires haul route approval from the Board of Building and Safety Commissioners, including neighborhood notice and conditions on truck routes and hours. A single pool typically generates 200 to 300 cubic yards, so it is terracing and pad work that pushes projects over the threshold. How much more does a hillside pool cost? Plan on $40,000 to $120,000 above the same design on flat ground. The additions are drilled caissons at roughly $1,200 to $2,500 each, grade beams, an engineered shell, restricted access requiring conveyors or a crane, and export at $35 to $70 per cubic yard. Engineering and survey fees add another $10,000 to $25,000. Do I need both a soils engineer and a geologist? On hillside terrain in Los Angeles, usually yes. The geotechnical engineer addresses bearing capacity, lateral pressures and compaction; the engineering geologist addresses bedrock, landslide potential and slope stability. Combined reports for a hillside lot run $6,000 to $15,000. The grading division will tell you which disciplines your specific lot requires. Topics - hillside - los angeles - grading - permits - engineering #### About the author Remodel Your Vibe Design Team Written by the design team at Remodel Your Vibe, a licensed ( [CSLB #1119054](https://www.cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicenseII/LicenseDetail.aspx?LicNum=1119054) ), bonded and insured, veteran-owned and family-operated design-build company based in Los Angeles. Our own crews design, permit and build pools, backyards, ADUs and interiors across Greater Los Angeles and Orange County. [How we work](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/our-approach) #### Who builds it - [CSLB License #1119054](https://www.cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicenseII/LicenseDetail.aspx?LicNum=1119054) - Veteran-owned and family-operated - Years of experience building across Southern California - Our own crews build it. One team designs, permits and builds. #### Related services - [Swimming Pool & SpaBuild a new pool and spa, or give yours fresh tile and plaster.](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/services/swimming-pool-spa) - [Backyard & Outdoor LivingWe build patios, outdoor kitchens and fire pits for long evenings outside.](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/services/exterior-remodeling) - [Plans & Permits ServicesFrom first sketch to permit in hand, we handle the drawings and the city.](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/services/plans-permits) #### Talk it through with us Discuss your project with our design team and get expert advice. We call you back within one business day. [Book a Consultation](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/contact-us) [818-300-2393](tel:+18183002393) #### Ready to Transform Your Space? Let's discuss your vision. Schedule a free consultation with our design team and see how we can bring your project to life. [Book a Consultation](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/contact-us) [818-300-2393](tel:+18183002393) We call you back within one business day. #### Continue Reading [All Articles](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/articles) - [Construction Process Why Base Preparation Matters for Hardscape Projects 7 min read](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/articles/why-base-preparation-matters-hardscape) - [Construction Process Backyard Remodel Timeline: What to Expect 8 min read](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/articles/backyard-remodel-timeline) - [Construction Process What to Expect During Excavation 6 min read](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/articles/what-to-expect-during-excavation) #### Further Reading ##### Process Guide - [How to Choose an ADU Builder in Los AngelesA detached ADU in Los Angeles costs $150,000 to $400,000 and takes a full permit set. Here is how to verify the builder, read the proposal, and structure payments so you keep leverage.](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/articles/how-to-choose-adu-builder-los-angeles) - [Pergola and Patio Cover Contractors: How to Vet OneA patio cover is a permitted structure with footings and wind loads. Here is how to check the contractor's license, read the engineering, and price a $9,500 wood pergola against a $40,000 louvered system.](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/articles/pergola-patio-cover-contractor-guide) ##### Educational - [Hiring a Paver Contractor: The Base Is the JobPaver patios run $18 to $32 per square foot installed, and the difference between bids is almost always base depth. Here is how to check the license, read the spec, and spot a shortcut.](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/articles/paver-hardscape-contractor-checklist) - [Permits for Pergolas, Patio Covers and Outdoor KitchensA BBQ island rarely needs a building permit. The gas line, the electrical circuits and anything with a roof usually do. Here is where the lines fall and what the paperwork costs.](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/articles/pergola-patio-cover-outdoor-kitchen-permits) ##### Trend Report - [Contemporary Pool Design Trends for 2026Contemporary pool design emphasizes minimalism, technology, and wellness. Here are the trends defining 2026.](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/articles/contemporary-pool-design-trends-2026) ##### Local Guide - [Pool Design for Inland Empire Heat: Shade & Sun StrategiesPools in the western Inland Empire face long, hot summers. From Chino and Rancho Cucamonga to Corona and Riverside, these design strategies keep the water swimmable and the equipment protected.](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/articles/desert-pool-design-inland-empire) [All Construction Process guides](https://www.remodelyourvibe.com/articles/category/construction-process) --- End of text part 1 of 1. This page is complete.