In unincorporated San Diego County, a retaining wall's height is generally unlimited when stabilizing a bank, but every retaining wall higher than 3 feet requires a County building permit.
Bostonia's retaining walls are regulated by the San Diego County Zoning Division. When a retaining wall is used to stabilize a bank or enhance the usefulness of the property, its height is not capped by the fence-height limits, but any retaining wall higher than 3 feet requires approval of a building permit. Where a solid fence or wall sits within a yard setback, it is still bound by the 42-inch (front/exterior side) and 72-inch (rear/side) limits under Zoning Ordinance § 6708. Combining a retaining wall with a fence on top can trigger the setback height rules, so check with County PDS before building.
An unpermitted retaining wall over 3 feet is a permit violation; the County can require permitting, engineering, or removal through code compliance.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in San Diego County.
See how other cities in San Diego County handle retaining walls.
See how Bostonia's retaining walls rules stack up against other locations.
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