Buncombe County, NC Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Standalone wall height cap
- None in zoning code
- Wall as fence (≤10 ft)
- Setback exempt
- Steep-slope sites
- Grading limits apply
- Engineering
- Per NC building code
- Code section
- Buncombe 78-581, 78-644
Summary
Buncombe County's Zoning Ordinance does not set a standalone retaining-wall height limit, but a wall that also functions as a fence follows the ten-foot setback-exemption rule. In the mountainous Steep Slope/High Elevation Overlay, grading limits and building-code engineering govern retaining structures.
The maximum gross site area disturbance allowed in the Steep Slope/High Elevation Overlay District for any single lot, excluding disturbance for installation of individual septic systems, shall be: For lots less than 2.0 acres shall be 0.3 acres. For lots 2.0 acres and larger shall be 15 percent.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 37).
Full Breakdown
The Buncombe County Zoning Ordinance treats a retaining wall as a structure. A wall of fence height (ten feet or less) is exempt from setbacks under Section 78-581; a taller wall must meet the district yard setbacks of Section 78-642. In the Steep Slope/High Elevation Overlay District (Sec. 78-644), grading, disturbance, and impervious-surface limits apply to hillside sites around Asheville, and structural retaining walls must meet North Carolina building-code engineering standards enforced by Permits and Inspections. The zoning ordinance itself sets no separate numeric wall-height cap, so engineering and permitting for a retaining wall run through the county building department.
Violations & Fines
A retaining wall built without required engineering, a permit, or in violation of overlay grading limits is enforced by Permits and Inspections and the zoning administrator, with civil penalties available under Section 78-583.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Buncombe County limit retaining wall height?
Are hillside retaining walls treated differently?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Buncombe County
Compare Buncombe County to another location·View the North Carolina fence regulations overview
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