Per CMC §16.10.020 and the City of Chico Building FAQ, retaining walls 4 feet or less in height (measured from bottom of footing to top of wall) that do not support a surcharge are exempt from building permits. Walls exceeding 4 feet, supporting a structure/fence, or impounding hazardous liquids require a building permit with engineered plans.
Chico Municipal Code §16.10.020 adopts the California Building Code permit thresholds for retaining walls. Walls measuring 4 feet or less from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, and not supporting a surcharge (additional load such as a slope, structure, or fence above), are exempt from a building permit. Any retaining wall taller than 4 feet, any wall supporting a surcharge of any height, or any wall impounding Class I, II, or IIIA flammable liquids must obtain a building permit with engineered plans signed by a California-licensed civil or structural engineer. Walls in special drainage corridors (Big Chico Creek, Little Chico Creek, Lindo Channel) may face additional setback or floodplain review. Stacked fence-on-wall heights are measured cumulatively for zoning purposes under CMC §19.60.070.
Building without a required permit can result in stop-work orders, double permit fees, and forced removal or engineering retrofit. Code Enforcement may post the structure unsafe under the California Building Code.
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