Brooklyn Park, MN Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Critical Area Overlay wall height cap
- 5 feet
- Minimum spacing between walls
- 10 feet
- Drainage rule
- no blocking flow to abutting lots
- Easement placement
- prohibited
- Nonresidential wall approval
- City Manager sign-off before permit
Summary
Retaining walls citywide cannot block drainage to neighboring properties or sit inside an easement under City Code § 152.1010(A)(1), and nonresidential walls must be anchored to the Minnesota Building Code under § 152.1010(C)(2). Inside the Mississippi River Critical Area Overlay's bluff and water quality zones, § 152.802 further caps erosion-control retaining walls at five feet in height, spaced at least ten feet apart.
a. Retaining walls must not exceed five feet in height and must be placed a minimum horizontal distance of ten feet apart; ... (1) Fences or walls which detain or inhibit the flow of surface water drainage to and from abutting properties are prohibited. Retaining walls are prohibited from being placed in easements. ... (2) ... All fences must be constructed of durable, weather resistant materials and properly constructed and anchored in compliance with the Minnesota Building Code.
Full Breakdown
Brooklyn Park regulates retaining walls in two places. 1010(A)(1) bars any retaining wall from detaining or inhibiting the natural flow of surface water drainage between properties, and separately prohibits placing a retaining wall inside an easement, a rule that reaches every lot in the city regardless of zoning district. 1010(C)(4)(b) requires the City Manager to approve the wall before a building permit issues. 802(J)(3)(b), a retaining wall built there to correct an established erosion problem cannot exceed five feet in height and must be spaced at least ten feet from the next one, unless a professional engineer certifies that a taller wall is needed to fix the erosion.
Any work at or below the ordinary high water level in that overlay also needs sign-off from the state Commissioner under Minn. 0216 before construction proceeds, on top of the city's own land alteration permit.
Violations & Fines
A retaining wall that blocks drainage, sits in an easement, or exceeds the five-foot critical-area cap without engineering justification is a city code violation subject to an administrative citation. § 37.03 sets a civil penalty of up to $2,000 per day of violation, with 14 days under § 37.04 to pay the scheduled fine or request a hearing before a 10% late fee applies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a height limit on retaining walls in Brooklyn Park?
Can I build a retaining wall that changes drainage onto my neighbor's yard?
Do commercial retaining walls need city approval?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Brooklyn Park
Compare Brooklyn Park to another location·View the Minnesota fence regulations overview
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Retaining Walls in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Hennepin County handle retaining walls.