Retaining Wall Legalization | Laurelcrest Dr, Studio City, CA
This project involved the legalization of an existing unpermitted retaining wall located on a hillside, landslide-prone lot on Laurelcrest Drive in Studio City, California. The retaining wall had been constructed without permits and required immediate engineering review to address life-safety, slope stability, and code compliance issues.
Creative Design Partners, Inc. (CDP) provided structural engineering, civil engineering, and a full Geotechnical Preliminary Investigation (GPI) report to bring the retaining wall into compliance with City of Los Angeles requirements and the California Building Code.
This was not a paperwork exercise. Unpermitted retaining walls on hillside properties represent serious structural and geotechnical risks and are a common cause of permit denial, property sale delays, and insurance issues in Los Angeles.
Scope of Work
- Structural engineering analysis of the existing as-built retaining wall
- Civil engineering design addressing drainage, surface runoff, and site grading
- Preparation of a Geotechnical Preliminary Investigation (GPI) report
- Evaluation of hillside and landslide conditions specific to Studio City
- Retaining wall stability checks, including earth pressure, surcharge, sliding, and overturning
- Coordination with geotechnical recommendations and City of Los Angeles requirements
- Preparation of permit-ready drawings and calculations to legalize the unpermitted retaining wall
- Support through the City plan check and approval process
The objective was clear: legalize the retaining wall without demolition, mitigate landslide risk, and achieve permit approval. The project was engineered to meet California and Los Angeles hillside regulations—not minimum assumptions.
Firm: Creative Design Partners, Inc. (CDP)
Services: Structural Engineering, Civil Engineering, GPI Report
Project Type: Retaining Wall Legalization | Hillside / Landslide Lot
Location: Laurelcrest Dr, Studio City, Los Angeles, CA
