Apple Valley, CA Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)

Apple Valley does not appear to publish a separate freestanding retaining-wall height ordinance distinct from its general wall standards, so the primary controlling rules come from the California Residential Code, which the Town has adopted, together with the Town Development Code's wall provisions. Under California Residential Code Section R105.2, a retaining wall is exempt from a building permit only if it is not over 4 feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, and provided it does not support a surcharge (such as a slope, driveway, or structure load above it) or impound Class I, II, or IIIA flammable liquids. Any retaining wall taller than 4 feet, or one carrying a surcharge, requires an engineered building permit. Separately, the Town's Wall/Fence Height Permit guidance requires a Building Permit for any wall exceeding 6 feet in height, and submittal plans must show wall materials, heights, and height differentials from abutting property. In Apple Valley's High Desert terrain with rural and equestrian lots, retaining walls are common on sloped parcels, and grading or drainage review may also apply. Because a retaining wall can combine with a fence on top to exceed height limits, the Town measures fence height from adjacent grade, so confirm the combined height with Community Development before building.