Bloomington, IL Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing sections
- §§ 44-1303(A)(21) and 44-1304(E)(1)(e)
- Plan requirement
- Detail sheet showing materials, height, construction
- Maintenance duty
- Owner must keep wall in good repair
- City remedy
- City may repair and bill owner after 30 days
- Zoning violation fine
- $100 to $750 per violation per day
Summary
Retaining walls in the City of Bloomington fall under the zoning code's landscaping article rather than a stand-alone wall permit. § 44-1303(A)(21) requires any landscape plan proposing a retaining wall to include a detail sheet showing its materials, height, and construction, and § 44-1304(E)(1)(e) makes the property owner responsible for keeping the wall in good repair permanently.
Where fences, retaining walls or screen walls are proposed: an inset detail or specification sheet that indicates materials, height, and construction details for the structure; ... Fences, steps, retaining walls and similar landscaping elements shall be maintained in good repair. The owner of the premises shall be responsible for the maintenance, repair, and replacement of all landscape materials, fences, steps, retaining walls and similar landscaping elements, and refuse disposal areas. ... RETAINING WALL A wall or similar device used at a grade change to hold the soil on the up-hill side of the wall from slumping, sliding, or falling, and includes but is not limited to, segmental walls, masonry walls, poured-in-place concrete walls, boulder walls, stacked railroad ties, and pre-split rock walls.
Full Breakdown
" That submission is reviewed by the Development Services Director as part of the landscape plan, and § 44-1303(B) lets the Director approve minor changes to an already-approved plan administratively, while a change to wall height or materials that does not match the approved sheet counts as a major change requiring the same body that approved the original plan to sign off again. § 44-1304(E)(4) backs that with an enforcement path: the Development Services Director can order a property owner to restore or replace deficient landscaping, which the definitions article, § 44-1619, defines to include a retaining wall as a wall or similar device used at a grade change to hold soil on the up-hill side from slumping, sliding, or falling, and if the owner does not act within 30 days, the City may replace it and recover the cost by suing the owner.
Violations & Fines
Failure to maintain a retaining wall in good repair, or building one without the required detail sheet in an approved landscape plan, is enforced under the Zoning Code's general remedies at § 44-1715: fines of $100 to $750 per violation per day, plus court costs and attorney fees, and the City can also perform the repair itself under § 44-1304(E)(4) and bill the owner through a civil suit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build a retaining wall in Bloomington?
Who is responsible for keeping a retaining wall in good condition?
What happens if I don't fix a failing retaining wall after the City notifies me?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bloomington
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