Buena Park, CA Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)

Buena Park does not exempt retaining walls from review. Under Municipal Code section 19.328.010, fences and walls 'may require a building permit as required by the California Building Code,' and the City specifically lists retaining walls exceeding 4 feet in height (measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall) as requiring a permit. Consistent with California Residential Code section R105.2, a retaining wall not over 4 feet from the bottom of the footing is generally permit-exempt unless it supports a surcharge such as a slope or structure load, in which case a permit is required at any height. The interaction between a retaining wall and a fence on top matters in Buena Park: where a retaining wall protects a cut below natural grade and sits on the line separating lots, it may be topped by a fence, wall, or hedge of the same height that would otherwise be permitted at that location if no retaining wall existed. Where a retaining wall holds back fill, the height of that retaining wall counts toward the permissible height of any fence, wall, or hedge above it - though a protective fence or wall up to a limited additional height may be erected at the top for safety. The practical result is that a tall retaining-wall-plus-fence combination in a side or rear yard is still measured against the City's 7-foot residential fence ceiling, and against the 2-foot/4-foot limits in the front yard. Walls over 6 feet also require a structural engineer's report under the City handout.