780 CMR (Mass Building Code) requires a building permit for retaining walls over 4 feet from footing to top. Walls supporting surcharge or over 4 feet need engineered plans stamped by Mass-licensed PE. Setbacks per local zoning.
Under 780 CMR (Massachusetts State Building Code, 9th edition) R105.2, retaining walls not over 4 feet measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall and not supporting a surcharge are permit-exempt. Walls over 4 feet, or any wall retaining a surcharge (driveway, structure, or sloped soil above), require a building permit and engineered design sealed by a Massachusetts-licensed Professional Engineer. Fall River, New Bedford, and Taunton require drainage details, soil-bearing assumptions, and often geotechnical input for taller walls. Zoning setbacks apply — typically walls cannot sit on the property line without written neighbor consent and must respect side-yard and front-yard requirements of the underlying district.
Unpermitted wall over 4 ft: stop-work order, engineered review required, fines $200 to $1,000 plus potential demolition. Failure to address drainage causing neighbor damage: civil liability plus code enforcement.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Attleboro, MA
Attleboro regulates construction noise under its general noise ordinance and zoning provisions. Any use that is significantly offensive or detrimental to sur...
Attleboro, MA
Attleboro addresses nuisance dogs under its animal control ordinance and state law MGL Ch. 140. Dogs that habitually bark or cause disturbances may result in...
Attleboro, MA
Attleboro adopted a noise ordinance giving police the ability to issue citations and fines for excessive noise. Noise plainly audible at 200 feet may trigger...
Attleboro, MA
Attleboro's zoning ordinance regulates off-street parking and driveways. Paved parking areas must comply with zoning district setback requirements. Building ...
Attleboro, MA
Attleboro regulates commercial vehicle parking through its traffic ordinances and zoning code. Service zone loading is limited to 15 minutes (30 minutes whil...
Attleboro, MA
Attleboro regulates vehicle parking through Chapter 10 of the Ordinances and the zoning code. Oversized vehicles must comply with general street parking rule...
See how Attleboro's retaining walls rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.