Civil Engineering Services in California
Every successful development starts with a well-engineered site. NTS Engineering provides full-service civil engineering solutions — grading plans, stormwater and drainage design, land subdivision, and LID management systems. Permit-ready documents that meet all local agency requirements.
Get a civil engineering quote
Tell us about your project. We respond within 24 hours.
Civil Engineering Services Throughout California
NTS Engineering provides comprehensive civil engineering, land development, grading, drainage, and infrastructure design services for residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, and mixed-use developments throughout California. Our licensed civil engineers partner with homeowners, developers, architects, contractors, and public agencies to deliver practical, cost-effective engineering solutions that move projects efficiently from concept through construction.
Whether you are developing a custom home, subdivision, multifamily community, commercial center, warehouse facility, industrial complex, accessory dwelling unit (ADU), or mixed-use development, our team provides innovative civil engineering designs that meet local agency requirements while maximizing project value and constructability.
Civil Engineering Services
From site grading to stormwater compliance — we prepare the permit-ready civil engineering documents your project requires.
Grading Plans
Precise grading plans for residential lots, commercial pads, hillside developments, and mass grading. Cut/fill quantities, finished grades, slope setbacks, drainage patterns.
Homeowners, developers, and contractors who need a grading permit before beginning site work.
Drainage Design
Surface and subsurface drainage systems that manage stormwater runoff safely and in compliance with local regulations. Sheet flow, concentrated discharge, detention.
Developers and homeowners on hillside lots or sites with drainage challenges. Required with most grading permits.
Stormwater and LID Management
LID-compliant systems — infiltration trenches, bioretention cells, permeable pavement, and cisterns — satisfying RWQCB and local agency requirements.
Developers whose projects trigger stormwater permit requirements under the Construction General Permit or MS4 permits.
Land Subdivision Engineering
Tentative tract maps, final maps, and improvement plans for streets, utilities, and drainage. Coordination with planning, public works, and utility agencies.
Property owners and developers pursuing residential or commercial land subdivisions in California.
Site Plans and Improvement Plans
Site plans, precise grading plans, and public improvement plans coordinated with architectural, structural, and geotechnical drawings for complete first-submittal packages.
Architects, contractors, and developers who need a complete civil plan set to accompany a building permit application.
Permit Processing & Agency Coordination
Plan submittals, plan check comment responses, and coordination with public works, planning, and building departments across SoCal jurisdictions.
Developers, architects, and contractors who need experienced agency coordination — especially on multi-agency or complex projects.
Comprehensive Civil Engineering Services
Our civil engineering team provides complete site development and infrastructure engineering services including:
- Grading plans
- Street improvement plans
- Drainage studies and drainage plans
- Site development plans
- Hydrology and hydraulic analyses
- Parcel maps and subdivision design
- Stormwater management design
- Tentative tract maps
- Low Impact Development (LID) compliance
- Erosion control plans
- Water quality management plans (WQMP)
- Construction support services
- Utility design and coordination
- Public improvement plans
- Sewer system design
- Site accessibility and ADA compliance design
- Water system design
Our engineering solutions are designed to help clients navigate complex permitting requirements while reducing construction costs and minimizing project delays.
Land Development Engineering
Successful developments begin with proper site planning and civil engineering design. NTS Engineering works closely with developers, property owners, architects, and entitlement teams to create efficient and sustainable development solutions. We provide land development engineering services for:
- Residential subdivisions
- Multifamily developments
- Affordable housing projects
- Mixed-use developments
- Commercial retail centers
- Industrial facilities
- Warehouse developments
- Educational facilities
- Religious facilities
- Medical office buildings
Our team evaluates site constraints, utility availability, grading requirements, drainage considerations, and local agency standards to create practical and permit-ready engineering solutions.
Grading and Drainage Engineering
Grading and drainage design are among the most critical components of any development project. Improper drainage can result in flooding, erosion, slope instability, and costly construction issues. Our civil engineers provide:
- Site grading plans
- Hillside grading plans
- Drainage studies
- Erosion control measures
- Storm drain system design
- Hydrology and hydraulic calculations
- Detention and retention basin design
- FEMA floodplain evaluations
- Surface water management
- Post-construction stormwater compliance
Our goal is to develop grading and drainage solutions that protect property, satisfy agency requirements, and support long-term site performance.
Stormwater and LID Engineering
California regulations require many development projects to implement Low Impact Development (LID) and stormwater quality measures. NTS Engineering provides:
- LID design and calculations
- Hydromodification management plans
- Stormwater quality management plans
- Best Management Practice (BMP) design
- Infiltration studies
- Post-construction stormwater compliance
- Bioretention system design
- Municipal permit support
We work proactively with local jurisdictions to help clients satisfy stormwater requirements while maintaining project feasibility.
Civil Engineering for ADUs and Residential Development
Homeowners and residential developers frequently require civil engineering services to support permit approvals and construction activities. Our residential civil engineering services include:
- ADU site plans
- Site development plans
- Grading plans for custom homes
- Hillside development engineering
- Drainage plans
- Lot line adjustments
- Retaining wall coordination
- Residential subdivision design
- Utility connections
Whether you are building an ADU, custom home, or residential community, our engineers provide efficient and practical solutions tailored to your project goals.
Civil Engineering for Palisades and Eaton Fire Rebuild Projects
NTS Engineering proudly supports homeowners and project teams rebuilding after the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire. As communities throughout Pacific Palisades, Altadena, Pasadena, Sierra Madre, Malibu, and surrounding areas continue reconstruction efforts, our engineers provide critical civil engineering services necessary to obtain permits and rebuild infrastructure safely.
Our fire rebuild services include:
- Grading plans for replacement homes
- Hillside development engineering
- Drainage plan preparation
- Retaining wall coordination
- Site development engineering
- Erosion control design
- Utility reconstruction design
- Public improvement coordination
- Stormwater compliance
- Permit support and agency coordination
We understand the urgency of rebuilding after wildfire events and work diligently to help homeowners and developers move projects through design, permitting, and construction as efficiently as possible.
SB 684 and SB 1123 Civil Engineering Services
NTS Engineering provides specialized civil engineering services for SB 684, SB 1123, small lot subdivision, infill housing, and residential development projects throughout California. Our team works closely with property owners, developers, investors, architects, land use consultants, and builders to maximize development potential while navigating the complex entitlement, mapping, and permitting process required for subdivision projects.
As California continues addressing its housing shortage, Senate Bills 684 and 1123 have created significant opportunities for property owners to subdivide land, create additional residential lots, and increase housing density in urban and suburban communities. NTS Engineering helps clients unlock the full value of their properties through strategic site planning, subdivision design, parcel mapping, tract mapping, grading design, utility planning, and entitlement support.
Whether you are pursuing a small lot subdivision, multifamily development, urban infill project, or residential community, our engineers provide practical and permit-ready solutions designed to streamline approvals and accelerate project delivery.
Civil Engineering for SB 684 Subdivision Projects
SB 684 was enacted to simplify and accelerate the approval process for qualifying residential subdivision projects throughout California. NTS Engineering provides comprehensive engineering support for SB 684 developments, including:
- Site feasibility evaluations
- Utility infrastructure planning
- Preliminary subdivision planning
- Grading and drainage design
- Tentative parcel maps
- Stormwater compliance
- Tentative tract maps
- Public improvement plans
- Final parcel maps
- Agency coordination and permit support
- Final tract maps
Our engineers work collaboratively with project teams to identify development opportunities, maximize lot yield, and navigate local jurisdiction requirements efficiently.
Civil Engineering for SB 1123 Residential Development
SB 1123 has further expanded opportunities for small-scale residential development and housing production throughout California by creating additional pathways for lot creation and residential density. NTS Engineering assists property owners and developers with:
- Small lot subdivision design
- Access and circulation planning
- Residential lot creation
- Infrastructure feasibility evaluations
- Site development planning
- Entitlement support
- Parcel split engineering
- Permit processing assistance
- Utility design and coordination
Our team understands the evolving regulatory framework surrounding California housing legislation and develops engineering solutions that help clients capitalize on new development opportunities while maintaining compliance with local agency standards.
Tract Map Engineering Services
For larger residential developments and subdivision projects, tract maps are often required to establish new lots and supporting infrastructure. Our tract map engineering services include:
- Tentative tract maps
- Utility infrastructure design
- Vesting tentative tract maps
- Drainage studies
- Final tract maps
- Grading plans
- Residential subdivision design
- Public improvement plans
- Street and roadway planning
- Agency coordination and approval support
Our engineers focus on creating efficient site layouts that maximize development potential while meeting jurisdictional requirements and infrastructure standards.
Who We Work With
NTS Engineering is the civil firm development teams call when they need permit-ready documents the first time — without multiple plan check rounds. We know the requirements of cities and counties across California and prepare plan sets that are complete, coordinated, and consistent with what local agencies expect.
- Permit-ready plan sets on first submittal
- Coordinated with geotech, structural & architectural
- Familiar with all SoCal jurisdictions
- 24h response
If your project requires a grading permit, a site plan, or a drainage study — and you're not sure where to start — NTS Engineering makes the process clear. We explain what your project needs, prepare the documents your city requires, and coordinate directly with your contractor and architect.
- Fixed-fee proposals
- Accepted by all SoCal cities
- We coordinate with your team
Civil Engineering in Action
A selection of site development, grading, and land development projects engineered and permitted across California — from fuel and retail centers to subdivisions, truck stops, and multi-family communities.
Lynwood Fuel & Carwash
Lynwood, CA
Westminster Duplex
Westminster, CA
Costa Mesa Townhomes
Costa Mesa, CA
Rancho Mirage Subdivision
Rancho Mirage, CA
Inglewood Subdivision
Inglewood, CA
Gustine Truck Stop
Gustine, CA
Holbrook Truck Stop
Holbrook, AZ
Panorama Car Wash
Panorama City, CA
Serving All of California
Orange County
- Santa Ana
- Huntington Beach
- Fountain Valley
- Orange
- Costa Mesa
Los Angeles County
- Long Beach
- Glendale
- Pasadena
- Torrance
- Pomona
- Lancaster
- Palmdale
Riverside County
- Riverside
- Moreno Valley
- Corona
San Bernardino County
- San Bernardino
- Fontana
- Rancho Cucamonga
San Diego County
- Escondido
Ventura County
- Ventura
Santa Clara County
- San Jose
- Sunnyvale
San Francisco County
- San Francisco
Alameda County
- Fremont
- Hayward
Sacramento County
- Sacramento
Fresno County
- Fresno
Stanislaus County
- Modesto
Kern County
Countywide coverage
San Mateo County
Countywide coverage
Santa Barbara County
Countywide coverage
Sonoma County
Countywide coverage
Marin County
Countywide coverage
Santa Cruz County
Countywide coverage
+ surrounding communities
Frequently Asked Questions
In most cases, yes. Cities and counties require grading plans stamped by a licensed civil engineer for any project involving significant earthwork — new homes, ADUs on sloped lots, pools, and land development.
Ready to Move Your Project Forward?
Whether you need a grading plan, a drainage study, a stormwater management system, or full civil engineering support for a subdivision — NTS Engineering is ready to help. Call us at 949-996-0990 or fill out the form above. We respond within 24 hours.