Cathedral City, CA Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)

Cathedral City adopted the 2022 California Building Code in Chapter 8.04 and rewrote several permit exemptions in Section 105.2. Under § 8.04.020, paragraph 4 of Section 105.2 is deleted. That paragraph exempted retaining walls not over four feet in height, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless the wall supported a surcharge or impounded Class I, II or III A liquids. With it gone, Section 105.2 no longer exempts retaining walls from permits. The same section lowers the fence exemption: only fences and walls not over 3 feet are exempt.

One- and two-family properties are governed by the Residential Code in Chapter 8.18. Section 8.18.020 amends Section R105.2 so the retaining wall exemption covers walls not over two feet in height, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge. Both codes measure from the bottom of the footing, so a buried footing counts toward the height.

Permit timing is also local. Under Section 105.3.2 an application is deemed abandoned 180 days after filing unless pursued in good faith or a permit has been issued, and the building official can grant one or two extensions of up to 90 days each. Under Section 105.5 a permit becomes invalid if work does not start within 12 months of issuance or stalls for 180 days, and progress means obtaining approval of one or more inspections. An extension of up to 180 days needs a written request, and a reactivation fee of 1/2 the new permit amount applies if the permit expired less than a year ago with no plan changes. Appendix J, Grading, is adopted without amendment in § 8.04.040. The Chief Building Official runs the Building and Safety Division, and appeals go through the Board of Appeals under Section 113, which has no authority to waive Building Code requirements.