Cocoa, FL Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)

Cocoa's general zoning and building chapters do not contain a stand-alone height limit or blanket permit requirement for ordinary retaining walls citywide; the only retaining-wall-specific rule in the code applies inside regulated floodways under the city's Floodplain Management Ordinance. " In practice, that means a homeowner or contractor proposing a retaining wall that places fill inside a mapped regulatory floodway, as opposed to the broader flood hazard area, must first have an engineer perform the encroachment analysis referenced in § 6-332(1) and demonstrate zero increase to the base flood elevation before the floodplain administrator, who is the building official under § 6-313, will approve the work.

Outside a regulated floodway, or where a retaining wall doesn't involve fill placement, a retaining wall still requires a standard building permit through the building official under the general building-permit process at Appendix A, art. XV, § 2, since erecting a structure is covered by that permit requirement. Property owners planning a retaining wall anywhere in the city should confirm with the Community Services Department/Building Division at 65 Stone Street whether the parcel sits inside a regulatory floodway before proceeding.