Babylon, NY Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- new single-family house site plans
- Standard
- properly engineered, suitable materials
- Added by
- Local Law No. 21-2024
- Reviewer
- Planning Board / Engineering Division
- Commercial trigger
- full site plan review required
Summary
New house site plans in the Town of Babylon must include properly engineered retaining walls built of suitable materials, or the Planning Board can refuse to approve the plan.
A site plan for a new house which fails to comply with the requirements of the Engineering Division, which include, but are not limited to: [Added 11-14-2024 by L.L. No. 21-2024]
(1) Provision of adequate on-site drainage.
(2) Property grading compliant with Town Engineering specifications.
(3) Properly engineered retaining walls constructed out of suitable materials and finishes.
(4) Sufficient on-site landscaping.
(5) Matching and aesthetically attractive on-site masonry.
H. A high ranch style house. [Added 11-14-2024 by L.L. No. 21-2024]
I. Outside stairs to a second story. [Added 11-14-2024 by L.L. No. 21-2024]
J. Second story decks. [Added 11-14-2024 by L.L. No. 21-2024]
K. Side yard decks. [Added 11-14-2024 by L.L. No. 21-2024]
L. Any house which fails to provide adequate off-street parking by means of a garage and/or properly developed driveway. A driveway, as defined in § 213-1, must be a paved surface. Gravel is not considered a paved surface. [Added 11-14-2024 by L.L. No. 21-2024]
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4941158; v66 updated 2026-05-13; through 05-13-2026).
Full Breakdown
Under Chapter 186, Site Plan Review, the Town of Babylon's Planning Board reviews site plans for new single-family houses across Suffolk County's unincorporated hamlets, from West Babylon to Wyandanch. Section 186-25G, added by Local Law No. 21-2024, lets the Board refuse a favorable review of a house plan that fails the Engineering Division's requirements: including retaining walls that aren't properly engineered and built of suitable materials and finishes. Separately, § 186-6A(2) requires full site plan approval, not just a building permit, for any retaining wall or bulkhead on commercial, industrial or multiple-residence property.
Violations & Fines
The Planning Board can deny site plan approval outright, which blocks the building permit; there's no separate fine schedule for retaining wall design defects under this chapter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every retaining wall in Babylon need a permit?
What happens if my retaining wall design isn't approved?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Babylon
New York rules heatmap·Compare Babylon to another location·View the New York fence regulations overview
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Retaining Walls in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Suffolk County handle retaining walls.