Geotechnical Report & Soils Investigation Requirements

The plans noted above must be accompanied by a Geotechnical Report prepared by a Qualified Professional Engineer registered in British Columbia with a background in Geotechnical Engineering.  The report will need to address both the soil placement on the property and the technical building issues related to pile foundations, retaining walls, drainage and bearing capacity of soil as applicable.  The Geotechnical Report must be site specific.

The following items must be included in the geotechnical report; failure to do so may result in delayed acceptance and/or possible rejection of the report.

• legal description of the lot
• purpose of the report
• site description and proposed development
  • proposed main floor elevation
  • identification of the flood construction level (if applicable)
• field investigation
• soil and groundwater conditions
• conclusion and recommendations
  • confirmation that the proposed development is feasible
  • fill placement and pre-loading recommendations and any anticipated short and long term settlement
  • duration of pre-loading as applicable
  • when the foundation can be constructed following primary consolidation
  • recommendations for settlement gauge and piezometer installations
  • recommendations for driveway, sidewalk and site preparation
  • confirmation that the fill placement can be carried out safely without causing damage to adjoining buildings or structures, utilities, infrastructure or undue settlement of neighbouring lands
  • adjoining property will not be subject to flooding as a result of fill placement
• pile foundation
  • confirmation that there will be no potential damage to adjacent structures from pile driving
• lot grading
• methane gas
  • reference methane gas barrier or ventilation system
• methods used to prevent potential damage to services to dwellings
• review and inspection services required by the geotechnical engineer
• detailed borehole logs and site plan locating the boreholes

The report must be signed and sealed by a Professional Engineer registered in the Province of British Columbia.

If a subsidence covenant is not already registered on the lands, provide a one page summary of the geotechnical report called “Schedule A” and attach it to the subsidence covenant to be registered on title.  This summary needs to include the wording; “the subject parcel of the land may be used safely for the intended use” either residential or commercial as applicable to the specific zoning of the land.  In addition, it should make reference to the lot grading plan.