Quick answer
Landscape grading is the shaping of the ground’s surface so that it slopes in planned directions, which sends rain and irrigation water away from buildings to a safe place and sets lawns, beds and paving at the right levels.
Slope is measured in percent: the drop in height for every 100 units of run. The model residential code asks for a 6-inch fall in the first 10 feet from a foundation, and your town may set its own number.
Quick facts
The key facts about Landscape Grading, with sources:
- Near a foundation
- The grade falls at least 6 in. within the first 10 ft under the model residential code, Section R401.3 2
- If barriers prevent that
- A slope of at least 5 percent, with water sent to drains or swales 2
- Swales and hard surfaces near the house
- At least 2 percent within 10 ft of the foundation 2
- Planting areas (extension)
- Positive drainage away from structures for at least 10 ft at a 2 percent minimum slope 1
- Paver surfaces
- Slopes of at least 1.5 percent 4
- Local variation
- One California city allows 2 percent on soil near a house and 1 percent on paving if soil, drain and engineer conditions are met 3
- Before digging
- Call 811, the free national before-you-dig service 6
Key takeaways
- Grading is about direction. Every surface should slope toward a safe place, away from the house.
- The model code wants 6 inches of fall in the first 10 feet from a foundation, which is about 5 percent. Many towns change this.
- Slope under 2 percent is hard to grade and tends to settle into low spots, according to Nebraska extension.
- Steep or large grade changes may need a permit, retaining walls or an engineer.
- Never send water onto a neighbor or into a sanitary sewer. Call 811 before you dig.
Grading in plain English: where the water goes
Rain follows the shape of the ground. Grading is the planned shaping of that ground. It decides whether a downpour leaves your yard or settles against your wall.
University of Nebraska–Lincoln extension explains why it matters. New homes are often built on soil that has been stripped, compacted by heavy equipment and finished with a shallow tiller.
A small layer of topsoil may be spread on top, leaving a hardpan, an almost impermeable layer, below 1. Poor drainage should be corrected before planting by filling low spots, channeling water or reducing severe slopes 1.
The same publication gives a target. Regrade to establish positive drainage away from all structures for a distance of at least 10 feet, using a 2 percent minimum slope 1. The word “positive” just means the ground falls away from the building.
Grading differs from drainage systems. Grading shapes the surface. A French drain or dry well manages water below or beside it. See drainage and grading for the service, and the drainage diagnostic to work out what your yard needs.
How grading moves water, step by step
A graded yard works like a very shallow roof. Each part tilts to hand water to the next.
- Near the house, the ground falls away. The model code asks for a 6-inch fall in the first 10 feet 2.
- Paving and swales within that zone tilt too. Swales and impervious surfaces within 10 feet of the foundation must slope at least 2 percent away 2.
- Beyond the zone, the slope eases. Gentler slopes carry water across the lawn toward a safe outlet. Nebraska extension warns slopes under 2 percent are hard to grade and may settle into pockets that hold water 1.
- Water reaches an outlet. The California residential code says surface drainage shall be diverted to a storm sewer conveyance or other approved point of collection that does not create a hazard 3.
- Edges hold the shape. Plants, mulch and edging keep soil in place so the slope does not wash away.
- Roof and downspoutsWater starts here and must be carried away
- First 10 feetGround falls away from the wall
- Swale or open lawnGentle slope carries the water
- Approved outletStorm conveyance or another approved point that creates no hazard
Never end the path at a neighbor’s wall or a sanitary sewer. Source: [2] [3]
Slope numbers by situation, and what they mean in inches
| Situation | Published minimum | Drop over 10 ft (our arithmetic) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soil beside a foundation, first 10 ft | 6 in. of fall (about 5 percent) | 6 in. | 2 |
| When barriers prevent that fall | 5 percent, with drains or swales | 6 in. | 2 |
| Swale within 10 ft of the foundation | 2 percent | 2.4 in. | 2 |
| Hard surface within 10 ft of the foundation | 2 percent | 2.4 in. | 2 |
| Planting areas near structures (extension advice) | 2 percent for at least 10 ft | 2.4 in. | 1 |
| Interlocking paver surfaces | 1.5 percent | 1.8 in. | 4 |
| One city’s alternative for hard surfaces, if conditions are met | 1 percent | 1.2 in. | 3 |
Model code, extension advice and local rules are different things
The model code is written by a standards group and has no force until a town adopts it. Extension advice is guidance. Your town’s adopted code and any local policy decide what an inspector checks. Ask your building department.
Example: turning a slope into inches, and checking a patio
The numbers below are examples, not a survey of your yard. They show the arithmetic. The slope minimums come from sources 241. Measure your own site with a level or have a surveyor do it.
| Step | Example input | Result | Check against |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slope from rise and run | Ground drops 6 in. over 10 ft (120 in.) | 6 ÷ 120 × 100 = 5 percent | The first-10-feet fall in the model code 2 |
| Lawn beyond the zone | Ground drops 3 in. over 10 ft | 3 ÷ 120 × 100 = 2.5 percent | At or above 2 percent 1 |
| Patio next to the wall | Surface drops 2 in. over 10 ft | 2 ÷ 120 × 100 = 1.7 percent | Below the 2 percent code line for hard surfaces within 10 ft 2; fine for pavers elsewhere at 1.5 percent 4 |
| Fix | Raise the far edge or adjust the base | Aim for at least 2.4 in. in 10 ft | The patio must shed water away from the wall |
Slope (%) = Rise (drop in height) ÷ Run (horizontal distance) × 100
Rise- The drop in inches or feet
Run- The horizontal distance, in the same unit
Check units. 6 inches over 10 feet is 6 over 120 inches, not 6 over 10.
The third row shows why the number depends on location. The same 1.7 percent patio would pass a paver guide but miss the model code’s 2 percent line when it sits within 10 feet of the foundation. Your local rule decides which applies.
Where grading shows up: bids, permits and inspection reports
On a bid. Grading appears as “regrade,” “finish grade,” “rough grade” or “fill and level.” Ask each company to state the slope it will build and where water will go. Our landscaping estimates guide shows how to compare scopes.
On a permit. Many towns require a grading permit for large moves of soil or changes that affect neighbors. The City of Hemet memo mentions a precise grading permit and a grading inspector 3. Your own town’s thresholds differ.
On a home inspection. Inspectors check whether the ground slopes toward the house. A poor grade is a common note, with a fix that ranges from adding soil to a larger regrade.
In a service search. “Grading” is often bundled with drainage work, so a search for one returns the other. Ask whether a bid covers surface shaping, pipes or both.
Ask for the slope in writing
A bid that says “regrade yard” does not say how much fall you will get. Ask for the slope in percent or inches per 10 feet, and the outlet for the water.
What good grading does, and what it does not fix
What it helps
What it does not fix
- Poor soil. A hardpan under thin topsoil still limits roots 1.
- Roof water with no downspout plan. Grade cannot absorb a roof’s output.
- High water tables or springs, which need a drainage design.
- Neighbor impact. A fix on one lot can move water to another.
Limits of grading and of these numbers
Grading shapes the surface only. If soil is compacted or clay, water may still pond on a perfect slope. Nebraska extension notes that plant roots may be unable to penetrate the barrier of compacted soil, leaving shallow roots and less drought tolerance 1. Grading is the first step, not the whole fix.
The numbers vary. The model code, a county, a city and a paver guide each state different minimums for different surfaces, as the table above shows.
Hemet’s own memo explains that the prescribed state requirements may be difficult to achieve and offers a local alternative with conditions: soil with very low to medium expansion potential, a geotechnical report, area drains and survey verification by the civil engineer of record 3. That is one city’s policy; do not copy it.
Slope also settles. Slopes under 2 percent are hard to grade, and settling over time can create pockets or flat areas that hold water 1. Fill that has not been compacted will sink. A level reading on installation day is not a promise a year later.
Finally, this page cannot judge your lot. Only a site visit and the local code can say what you need.
What drives the price of grading, and how long it holds
We do not publish prices. Grading bids move with the area to be reshaped, the volume of soil moved or imported, access for machines, the slope and whether walls, drains or a permit are involved.
A small fix by hand is a different job from a machine regrade of a whole lot. Hauling soil away or bringing fill in adds distance and volume.
Soil quality matters. Imported fill must be suitable and compacted in layers, or it settles. Nebraska extension advises using equipment that limits compaction, and never working or driving on soil when it is wet 1.
We do not give a lifespan. A graded slope lasts as long as soil stays in place and no one regrades it. Ask for the finished slope in writing and for terms on settling.
Use our cost hub and landscaping cost estimator to see what sets price, and the gravel calculator if drains or bases are part of the job.
How a grading job usually runs
Homeowners can do light fill and leveling by hand. Large grade changes, retaining walls and anything near a property line call for a professional and often a permit.
- Walk the lot after a rain and mark where water goes and where it pools.
- Call your building department. Ask whether a grading or drainage permit is needed and what slope it expects.
- Call 811 before any digging and wait for every utility to reply 6.
- Have the slopes measured by a surveyor or a contractor with a level.
- Strip and save topsoil, rough-grade the subsoil, and compact fill in layers.
- Spread topsoil and finish-grade to the planned slopes.
- Check the result after the first heavy rain and note any ponding or settling.
Call 811, and do not move a drainage problem to a neighbor
Anyone who plans to dig should contact 811 a few business days before starting 6. Never direct runoff onto a neighbor’s property or into a sanitary sewer. Steep slopes may need retaining walls, and walls and large regrades can need a permit and an engineer.
Keeping the grade working
Grading does not need upkeep, but it can drift. These are tasks to watch, not a schedule.
- Check after heavy rain. Look for new ponding, wash-outs or soil against the siding.
- Fill settled spots. Small dips can be topped with soil and reseeded.
- Keep outlets clear. Leaves and silt can block a swale or the end of a downspout line.
- Keep mulch off the wall. Thick mulch beside the house can hold water and flatten the grade; see landscape bed preparation.
- Recheck after new work. A patio, deck or wall can change where water goes.
Warning signs the grade is wrong
- Water pools against the foundation after rain. The ground is not falling away.
- Low spots that stay wet for days. Settling or a hardpan may be the cause 1.
- Soil or mulch washed onto paving. Slopes may be too steep or too long without a break.
- Cracks, leaning walls or doors that stick. Water near the foundation can be a cause; ask a professional.
- Neighbor complaints about runoff. A change on one lot can send water to another.
Water entering the house, a leaning wall or a washed-out slope are not DIY problems. Call a licensed contractor or engineer. See retaining walls for slope-holding work.
Rules: model code, state code and city policy
Model residential code. The International Residential Code, Section R401.3, says lots shall be graded away from foundation walls with a minimum fall of 6 inches within the first 10 feet.
Where barriers prevent that, the final grade slopes at least 5 percent, with water sent to drains or swales; swales within 10 feet slope at least 2 percent; and impervious surfaces within 10 feet slope at least 2 percent away from the building 2.
The county page we read quotes the code without naming the edition, so check which edition your town adopted.
California example. Section 1804.4 of the 2022 California Building Code asks for a 5-percent slope for 10 feet beside a foundation, with an exception reducing it to 2 percent where climate or soil conditions warrant 3.
Section R401.3 of the 2022 California Residential Code carries the 6-inch rule 3. The City of Hemet then published its own alternative, described above 3.
Permits and neighbors. Large grade changes may need a grading permit, and drainage must not create a hazard. Retaining walls over certain heights need permits; see retaining wall permit thresholds.
Digging. 811 is the free national before-you-dig service 6.
Grading vs. drainage systems vs. related terms
| Term | What it does | How it differs from grading |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape grading | Shapes the ground’s surface slopes | Works at the surface, over a whole area |
| Yard drainage systems | Collect or move water in pipes or stone | Add structures; may need grading to work |
| Swale | A shallow shaped channel that carries surface water | A graded feature, within 10 ft of a foundation it needs 2 percent 2 |
| Retaining wall | Holds soil at a change in level; see segmental retaining walls | Used when a slope is too steep to grade; walls may need engineering |
| Landscape edging | A border that holds soil or mulch; see landscape edging | Holds a graded edge in place |
Common grading myths
- Myth Any slope away from the house is enough.
- Reality The model code sets a minimum fall of 6 inches in the first 10 feet, with 2 percent minimums for swales and hard surfaces within that zone 2.
- Myth A flat yard drains fine.
- Reality Nebraska extension says slopes under 2 percent are hard to grade, and flat or settled areas can hold water 1.
- Myth Sand fixes a wet yard.
- Reality Nebraska extension says not to till sand into a heavy soil to improve drainage 1.
- Myth One slope number applies everywhere.
- Reality The numbers differ by surface and by place, as the model code, a paver guide and one city’s memo show 243.
- Myth Grading is a DIY weekend job at any size.
- Reality Small leveling can be, but large changes may need permits, walls or an engineer, and 811 before any digging 6.
The regional variable: soil type and adopted code
Two things change the answer by place. One is soil. Expansive clay moves with moisture, and the City of Hemet’s alternative depends on soil with very low to medium expansion potential 3.
The other is the building code your town adopted, since states and cities amend the model code, as the California example shows 3. Read our research on expansive soils, then ask your building department which grading rule applies.
When grading is the answer, and your next step
Grading is the answer when water runs toward the house, pools in a low spot that you can fill, or sits on paving that lacks slope.
It is not the answer if the cause is a high water table, a roof with no downspout plan or clay that will not drain, since those need a drainage design.
Start by watching the yard after a rain and marking where water goes. Then take a clear question to your building department and to any contractor: what slope will be built, and where will the water end up?
For a fuller picture, read the research on soil drainage and flooding.
- If Water pools against the foundation
- Then Check the first 10 feet of grade; ask about a regrade or a drain
- If A small low spot holds water
- Then Fill and compact it, then regrade to blend in
- If The slope is steep or eroding
- Then Ask about retaining walls, a permit and an engineer
- If Water stays even on a good slope
- Then Suspect soil or groundwater; use the drainage diagnostic
Questions about Landscape Grading
What is landscape grading?
Landscape grading is shaping the ground’s surface so it slopes in planned directions.
It sends rain and irrigation water away from buildings to a safe place and sets lawns, beds and paving at the right levels.
It is measured in percent slope or in inches of fall over a set distance, such as 6 inches in the first 10 feet.
How much should the ground slope away from my house?
The model residential code asks for a fall of at least 6 inches within the first 10 feet, about 5 percent.
If lot lines or walls prevent that, the code allows a 5 percent slope with water directed to drains or swales.
Your town may adopt a different edition or amend the rule, so ask your building department.
What slope should a patio have?
ICPI says interlocking paver surfaces should slope at least 1.5 percent. The model code asks for at least 2 percent on hard surfaces within 10 feet of a foundation, sloping away from the building. When a patio sits next to the house, use the higher number unless your town says otherwise.
How do I convert percent slope to inches?
Multiply the percent by the run and divide by 100. For a 10-foot run, which is 120 inches, a 2 percent slope drops 2.4 inches and a 5 percent slope drops 6 inches. Keep units the same: 6 inches over 10 feet is 6 over 120, which equals 5 percent.
Can I regrade my yard myself?
Small leveling by hand can be a homeowner job. Large changes, steep slopes, retaining walls and anything near a property line call for a contractor and may need a permit or an engineer. Call 811 before any digging, and never aim runoff at a neighbor or into a sanitary sewer.
Do I need a permit to regrade?
Often for large moves of soil or changes that affect drainage or neighbors, but thresholds vary by town. Some cities require a grading permit and inspection, and walls above certain heights need their own permits. Call your building department before work starts and ask what drawings it expects.
Why does water still pond after I graded?
The soil may be compacted or clay, so water cannot soak in even on a good slope. Nebraska extension notes that construction often leaves a hardpan under thin topsoil, and that slopes under 2 percent can settle into pockets. A drainage diagnostic and a soil check can find the cause.
Is a flat yard bad?
Often, yes. A yard that is too flat gives water no direction, and extension notes that slopes under 2 percent are hard to grade and settle into pockets that hold water. A gentle, steady fall away from structures works better than flat ground or a steep bank.
Should I add sand to fix drainage?
No. Nebraska extension advises against tilling sand into heavy soil to improve drainage. Compost mixed into soil helps most soils, and the same publication keeps compost near 25 percent of the mix. Grading and soil work are separate: grading sends water away, and soil work helps roots.
Who sets the grading rules in my town?
Your building department sets them through the code edition it adopted and any local policy. The model code gives a baseline, and states and cities amend it. One California city, for example, published an alternative for certain soils. Ask which edition applies and whether a grading permit is needed.
Sources
- University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension, EC1264 Planting the Landscape (2014), retrieved .
- Maricopa County, Building Elevation Plan Requirements (quotes International Residential Code R401.3), retrieved .
- City of Hemet, Engineering Standards Supplemental Update: Site Grading for Drainage Around Buildings (24 May 2024), retrieved .
- ICPI Tech Spec 2, Construction of Interlocking Concrete Pavements (revised February 2020; member-distributor copy), retrieved .
- U.S. EPA, Nonpoint Source: Urban Areas, retrieved .
- 811, the national before-you-dig service, retrieved .
Expert review
Written by the HyreYard Research Desk. Not yet reviewed by an outside expert. We say so rather than imply a review that has not happened; see our editorial policy.
How the numbers were checked: Slope figures come from the model residential code Section R401.3 as quoted by Maricopa County, the City of Hemet’s May 2024 memo (which quotes the 2022 California codes), ICPI Tech Spec 2 and Nebraska extension EC1264.
Inches over 10 feet are our arithmetic on the published percentages. The worked example uses labelled example inputs. We did not read the ICC code library directly and name no code edition as adopted anywhere. No prices or lifespans are given.
Suggest a correction. We fix errors and say what changed.