News & Info

When is a Permit Required for
Retaining Walls and/or Rockery Structures?

The best answer is to always call the jurisdiction having administrative authority to discuss your proposal ahead of time. There are many variables and issues regarding the installation of a wall structure and how it could effect the surrounding area. Some of these potential issues include: surcharge loads, drainage, proximity to property lines and existing structures or driveways, required engineering and possibly third party special inspection of the wall system.

Each retaining wall/rockery situation is unique and needs to be discussed with you local code official before he or she can determine whether or not a permit is required and what would need to be submitted if a permit were required. Most problems with retaining walls and rockeries occur when someone assumes a permit is not required and proceeds without checking ahead of time. Calling before proceeding is easy, repairing or removing something after it is built is very hard.