Catoosa County, GA Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Engineering trigger
- Retaining walls over 30 inches tall
- Overlay applies at
- Natural slope of 35% or more
- Ridgeline elevation limit
- 1,100 ft west / 1,200 ft east side
- Plans required for
- Grading, walls, drainage, erosion control
- Enforced by
- Zoning Administrator / Building Official
- Fine range
- $50-$1,000 per day, min $100
Summary
In unincorporated Catoosa County, a retaining wall built on land with a natural slope of 35 percent or more, or on specified high-elevation ridgeline sites, must be designed by a civil engineer once it exceeds 30 inches in height. The Unified Development Code's ridgeline and steep-slope rules, Section 3.10.04, control grading, drainage and erosion plans alongside the wall design.
The following provisions shall apply to the development of property with a natural slope of 35 percent or more, or the development of property located on Taylor's Ridge or White Oak Mountain ridgelines having elevations equal to or less than those specified in Section 3.10.03.A even though such ridgelines may have a natural slope of less than 35 percent. ... A.General Development Guidelines.1)All grading, retaining wall design (retaining walls over 30 inches require engineering), drainage and erosion control plans for development subject to this Section shall be designed by a civil engineer. In cases where geologically hazardous areas exist, such plans shall be prepared by a qualified professional.
Full Breakdown
Section 3.10.04 of the Catoosa County Unified Development Code applies wherever a natural slope reaches 35 percent or more, and separately on Taylor's Ridge and White Oak Mountain ridgelines at elevations above 1,100 feet on the west side or 1,200 feet on the east side, the thresholds set in Section 3.10.03. Within that overlay, the code requires that all grading, retaining wall design, drainage and erosion control plans be prepared by a civil engineer; any retaining wall over 30 inches tall specifically requires engineered design.
Where the site sits in a geologically hazardous area, the plans must instead come from a qualified professional rather than a general civil engineer. The purpose clause in Section 3.10.01 ties the rule to preventing hillside erosion, landslide damage, sedimentation of lower slopes and flooding of downhill properties, and to protecting the visual character of ridgelines. Section 3.10.02 makes the engineering requirement mandatory, distinct from the guideline-level standards elsewhere in the same section covering road alignment and grading philosophy. Below the 1,100/1,200-foot elevation lines, building envelopes are barred outright under Section 3.10.03.B.
The Zoning Administrator or Building Official reviews plans and enforces compliance under Article IX; unpermitted grading or wall construction exposes the property owner to citation in Catoosa County Magistrate Court.
Violations & Fines
Violating Section 3.10.04 or building without the required engineered plans is a misdemeanor under UDC Section 9.07.03, punishable by a fine of $50 to $1,000 (minimum $100 upon conviction) or up to 60 days, with each day of continuing violation a separate offense; the Zoning Administrator charges double the permit fee against anyone who built before obtaining a permit, and the county may seek injunctive relief under Section 9.07.04 to halt or remedy the work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every retaining wall in unincorporated Catoosa County need an engineer?
What if my land sits in a geologically hazardous area?
Can I build above the 1,100 or 1,200-foot elevation line?
What happens if I skip the engineering requirement?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Catoosa County
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