Centennial, CO Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Design trigger
- 8 feet or taller
- Required design
- Tiering or articulation above 8 ft
- Materials
- Durable, commercial-grade only
- Governing code
- LDC § 12-3-609 (residential)
Summary
Centennial's Land Development Code requires retaining walls eight feet or taller to break up their mass with tiering or articulation, and every retaining wall must be built from durable, commercial-grade materials like brick, stone, or poured concrete.
A.Generally. Retaining Walls equal to or above eight (8) feet in height shall be designed to offer visual breaks by use of tiering or horizontal articulation and vertical articulation.B.Materials. Materials shall be durable, high-quality materials used for commercial application, including weather-resistant wood species, brick, stone, poured-in-place concrete, concrete block, or other similar materials.
Full Breakdown
Section 12-3-609 of the Land Development Code governs retaining walls on residential parcels: once a wall reaches eight feet in height, it must be designed with visual breaks through tiering, or horizontal and vertical articulation, so it doesn't read as one flat face. All retaining walls, regardless of height, must use durable, high-quality materials suited to commercial application, such as weather-resistant wood, brick, stone, poured-in-place concrete, or concrete block. Nonresidential and mixed-use parcels are held to the identical standard under the parallel Section 12-3-811. Neither section sets a numeric permit threshold; a building permit follows from the adopted building code once the wall's height and structural load trigger one.
Violations & Fines
Building an eight-foot-plus retaining wall as a single flat face, or using prohibited materials such as scrap lumber or plywood instead of the required durable materials, is a Land Development Code violation subject to correction.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a retaining wall be in Centennial before extra design rules apply?
What materials can I use for a retaining wall?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Centennial
Compare Centennial to another location·View the Colorado fence regulations overview
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Retaining Walls in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Arapahoe County handle retaining walls.