Grading Close to Lot Line
Grading Close to Lot Line
(OP)
I am building a 2000 sq ft shop/studio very close (3-10 feet) to the top lot line to keep it out of floodplain. The heavily wooded 7 acre property has 5% slope down to a creek in rural Texas Hill Country. Neighbor says it is ok if the fill spills onto her ranch but does not want people or equipment working on her side.
I put a 4" pvc pipe just below grade to transport water from downspout.
Concerned about surface water comming down the hill toward the structure. Contructing cinder block wall foundation.
Thinking raise the interior and exterior grade 18" using gravel and then covering with soil.
There is not much room to slope and lots of trees.
Looking for suggestions.
I put a 4" pvc pipe just below grade to transport water from downspout.
Concerned about surface water comming down the hill toward the structure. Contructing cinder block wall foundation.
Thinking raise the interior and exterior grade 18" using gravel and then covering with soil.
There is not much room to slope and lots of trees.
Looking for suggestions.





RE: Grading Close to Lot Line
To keep the equipment off of the neighbors land, get your grading to tie in/end at least 5' or 10' or so inside your lot.
What is the setback for your lot?? I know some of the rural places have very little in the regs, but even where I live I have to stay 10' inside the lot on the sides.
Piping those roof drains is a good idea - make sure you can get that flow away from the building.
There is another thread on a foundation drain that may be useful to you.
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RE: Grading Close to Lot Line
RE: Grading Close to Lot Line
RE: Grading Close to Lot Line
You're also obliged under the NPDES program to keep sediment/erosion off her property (and out of creeks), and that's not possible if your fill goes onto her property but you can't work there.
Can your client buy a 10' strip of her property to give you a little more breathing room? If you're struggling to fit a 2,000 sq ft building onto 7 acres you must have a lot of flood plain to deal with. Maybe the neighbor will consider a land swap; if your client gives her twice as much land below the flood plain (can be used for agriculture) as you need above it, she might be very happy.
As for offsite water coming across your property, you can divert it into a swale or pipe to protect your building. You will have to make sure you've got good energy dissipation and erosion prevention at the outlet, however.