Bellflower, CA Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)

For retaining walls in Bellflower, the controlling standard is the California Building Code, which the City applies through its Building Division, together with the fence/wall height limits in Zoning Code Chapter 17.72 when a fence sits atop a wall. The California Building Code generally exempts a retaining wall from a building permit when it is not over 4 feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, provided it does not support a surcharge (such as a slope or structure above) or impound flammable or hazardous liquids. Walls taller than 4 feet, or any wall carrying a surcharge, require an engineered design and a building permit. Where a fence is built on top of a retaining wall, the combined height is relevant to the Chapter 17.72 fence limits, so a tall retaining wall plus a 6-foot fence can push the assembly into the range requiring Planning Director approval. Because Bellflower does not publish its own retaining-wall dimensions beyond these adopted codes, confirm specifics with the Bellflower Building Division before construction.