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.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Chico, CA
Chico does not ban artificial turf and the City permits it as part of drought-tolerant landscapes. State law (AB 1572, Cal. Water Code §10608.14, eff. 2027) ...
Chico, CA
CMC §9.56.010 prohibits minors under 18 from loitering in public places between 10:00 PM (11:00 PM during Daylight Savings Time) and 5:00 AM unless accompani...
Chico, CA
CMC Chapter 9.54 (Aggressive and Deceptive Solicitation) bars solicitation at bus stops, in public transit vehicles, on public streets to occupied cars, with...
Chico, CA
Chico Municipal Code Chapter 19.23 regulates Mobile Food Vendors with a dedicated permit process covering applications, operating standards, and enforcement....
Chico, CA
City of Chico parks — including the 3,670-acre Bidwell Park — restrict drone operations under CMC Title 12R; advance written permission is required. CARD-man...
Chico, CA
Commercial drone work in Chico requires an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate; the city does not issue separate commercial UAS permits. Operations on city...
See how Chico's retaining walls rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.