Aurora, IL Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Baseline duty
- Wall must stay structurally sound
- Permit trigger
- Failing wall over 30 inches
- Also triggers permit
- Vehicle-surcharge on high side
- Design
- Licensed design professional required
- Scope
- Applies citywide, all 4 counties
Summary
Aurora requires retaining walls to stay structurally sound; failing walls over 30 inches tall, or carrying vehicle-load surcharge on the high side, need a permit and a licensed engineer's design to repair or replace.
Retaining Walls: Shall be maintained in a structurally sound condition. Failing walls taller than 30 inches or bearing a surcharge from vehicular traffic on the high side shall require permitting for repairs or replacement and shall be designed by a licensed design professional acceptable to the building official.
Full Breakdown
Under Aurora Code of Ordinances § 12-102 (Property Maintenance Code § 302.7.2), every retaining wall in the city must be kept structurally sound. The permit trigger applies specifically to walls that are already failing: if a failing wall is taller than 30 inches, or it carries a surcharge from vehicular traffic on its high side, the owner must obtain a permit for repair or replacement, and the work must be designed by a licensed design professional acceptable to the building official. The rule applies citywide, regardless of which of Aurora's four counties the property sits in.
Violations & Fines
An unsound wall is itself a property maintenance violation; repairing or replacing a failing wall over 30 inches without a permit is a separate violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to fix a retaining wall in Aurora, Illinois?
Who enforces retaining wall condition in Aurora?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Aurora
Compare Aurora to another location·View the Illinois fence regulations overview
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Retaining Walls in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle retaining walls.