Burleson, TX Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)

The City of Burleson amends IBC Section 105.2 in § 10-142 with a list under the subtitle Building, and one item reads: retaining walls that are not over 4 feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, at the highest point of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding Class I, II, or IIIA liquids. The measurement runs from the footing, so buried height counts, and the highest point of the wall controls. The companion residential amendment in § 10-172(3) is titled "R105.2 Work exempt from permit", and that is the list the Burleson amendment re-numbers for building code work.

Stormwater is a separate gate. Section 82-169 covers management plan submittal and review for stormwater discharges from construction activity, and subsection (f) lists activities outside its requirements. Item (6) exempts construction of a fence, but states that no exemption is granted for construction of a retaining wall or a fence that may significantly obstruct or change the direction of flow of water. Under § 82-169(d), the city can deny approval of any building permit, grading permit, or other city approval needed to commence or continue construction, or to assume occupancy, if the erosion and sediment management practices are inadequate.

Retaining walls also show up in pool rules. The IRC amendments in § 10-172 print that the depth of a swimming pool and spa shall maintain a ratio of 1:1 from the nearest building foundation or footing of a retaining wall. Section 10-142 also deletes IBC Section 113 Board of Appeals, and appeals of the building official's decisions go to the Building Codes and Standards Board under § 10-79, which has no authority over the administrative provisions of the codes and cannot waive requirements.