Retaining Walls: Mead Valley vs Palm Springs

Retaining walls over 3 feet measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall require a building permit in Riverside County under California Building Code §105.2 (as adopted by Ordinance 460). Walls supporting a surcharge (such as a driveway or pool) require a permit at any height. Walls are drawn to seismic standards for Design Category D.

Palm Springs requires a building permit and engineered plans for any retaining wall over 4 feet in height (measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall) or for any wall supporting a surcharge such as a driveway, pool, or structure. Hillside properties on the Mesa, Araby Cove, and Southridge face additional geotechnical and slope-stability review.