Engineering Permits

A grading permit is required for the following activities, unless the activity is exempt:

• Grading, storage, or disposal of soil and earth materials
• Clearing and/or grubbing
• Creation and/or replacement of impervious surfaces or other work subject to storm water quality requirements
• Removal or modification of existing best management practices. 

Exemptions 

Exemptions are provided in Municipal Code Chapter 17.32 and include, but are not limited to:

• Cut/Fill is less than 4 feet in vertical depth at its deepest point
• Grading is less than 200 cubic yards including remedial work
• Does not place fill on an existing slope exceeding 5:1 horizontal to vertical
• Any slope created is less than or a 2:1 horizontal to vertical
• Area will create less than 5,000 square feet of impervious area
• Work cannot be classified as a Priority Development Project or involve installation or modification of water quality measures
• Work cannot impact a floodway or floodplain
• Grading explicitly authorized by a valid building permit
• Excavations for  wells, tunnels, or utilities
• Public right-of-way excavations performed under a city-issued permit
• Paving maintenance activities that do not require storm water quality review
• Exploratory excavations performed under the direction of a soils engineer approved in writing by the city. 

Getting a grading permit

Contact Land Development Engineering about how to submit a completed Grading Application Form, provide detailed grading plans prepared by a licensed professional engineer, and provide necessary additional documents from the Grading Submittal Checklist as directed by the City, like soil reports, drainage studies, and a stormwater management plan in a complete package that meets the city’s digital submittal standards.  Every project is different, so feel free to reach out to Land Development Engineering.

Payment of review fees is required prior to the processing of any application.  Staff will calculate the fee for each specific project according to the City Fee Schedule and provide an invoice for payment.

Entitlement requirements

Most projects require an approved project entitlement prior to submittal and processing of a grading permit. Please contact the Planning Division to determine whether or not your project requires an entitlement approval.

Temporary stockpiles

A grading permit for temporary stockpile may be obtained for the temporary storage of material.

Retaining walls 

Retaining walls that require cut or fill exceeding 4-feet in vertical depth and/or require earthwork greater than 200 cubic yards require a grading permit. All other retaining walls require a building permit.  

Transportation permits allow for the monitoring of truck traffic throughout the city. Permits are required for all vehicles exceeding the limits of a legal load as defined by the California Vehicle Code.

Legal load dimensions

• Height: 14 ft 0 in
• Width: 12 ft 0 in
• Length: 65 ft 0 in
• Gross weight maximum: 80,000 lbs

Hours

Monday - Thursday
7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Alternating Fridays
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Please allow 24 hours for permit processing.

Approved truck routes(PDF, 1MB)
Transportation permit general conditions(PDF, 2MB)
Pilot car requirements(PDF, 882KB)

Insurance requirements

Prior to issuance of a transportation permit, the permittee must provide the required documents to the City of San Marcos for approval. Coverage must be effective throughout the term of the permit. Certificates of insurance must include original, authorized signatures and provide at least the following coverage:

• Commercial General Liability: $1,000,000 combined single limit per occurrence (bodily injury, personal injury, and property damage)
• Automobile Liability: “Any Auto” $1,000,000 combined single limit per accident (bodily injury and property damage)

All insurance carriers must have a rating of Grade A or better and Class VII or better by the latest edition of Best’s Key Rating Guide. The certificate of insurance must name the City of San Marcos, its officials, officers, agents, employees, and volunteers as “additional insured” on a separate page (endorsement CG20 form).

A 30-day written cancellation clause is required. The cancellation language must be exactly as follows, unless authorized by the City Attorney’s Office:

“Should any of the above described policies be cancelled before the expiration date thereof, the issuing company will mail 30 days written notice to the certificate holder name to the left.” (Please note that “endeavor to mail” is not acceptable.)

This permit shall be null and void upon the date of cancellation of insurance for any reason. It is the permittee’s responsibility to notify the city immediately upon cancellation of insurance.

Transportation permit application(PDF, 102KB)

Payment

Application fees must be paid before the application will be processed.

Credit card form(PDF, 112KB)

The City of San Marcos accepts payment by credit card over the phone or in person.
Please call the Cashier at 760-744-1050, ext. 3272.

• $16.00 - Single trip
• $100.00 - Annual permit

Public improvements involve work within existing and proposed public streets and easements for infrastructure intended to serve the public. Public improvements are required to meet City adopted standards and specifications and are subject to review and approval by City staff.

When required

Public improvements requiring permitting include but are not limited to:

• Streets and sidewalks
• Drainage facilities
• Utility installation and maintenance
• Traffic signals
• Striping
• Trails
• Community Facilities District landscaping

Get a permit

Contact Land Development Engineering about how to submit a completed improvement application form, provide detailed plans prepared by a licensed professional engineer that meet the city’s Improvement Standards(PDF, 473KB), and provide necessary additional documents from the Improvement Submittal Checklist, as directed by the city, in a complete package that meets the city’s digital submittal standards.  Every project is different, so feel free to reach out to Land Development Engineering.

Payment of review fees is required prior to the processing of any application.  Staff will calculate the fee for each specific project according to the city fee schedule and provide an invoice for payment. 

Any construction or replacement of above-ground or underground improvements in the public right-of-way or public places requires a right-of-way permit(PDF, 471KB) and is governed by Municipal Code Chapter 14.16.

When required

• Work in the right-of-way requiring a permit includes but is not limited to:
• Paving, trenching, tree trimming, utility repair or upgrades
• Storage such as dumpsters or containers
• Sidewalk vending

Get a permit 

Contact Land Development Engineering about how to submit a completed Right-of-Way Application Form, and provide plans and additional documents as directed by the City.

Encroachment agreements

When private improvements exist within a public space an encroachment license and agreement is required. Under Municipal Code Chapter 14.21 private encroachments are not allowed, except in certain circumstances and approved by the City Engineer.

Exemptions

Certain improvements are exempt from encroachment permits including:

• Mailboxes
• Parkway Landscaping under 24” in height
• Parkway Irrigation
• Standard driveways