Retaining walls in Colorado Springs require a building permit from Pikes Peak Regional Building Department when over 4 feet in exposed height measured from bottom of footing, or over 2 feet if supporting a surcharge such as a driveway, structure, or slope. Engineering stamp is required above 4 feet and for any wall in geologically hazardous terrain.
The foothills location and expansive clay (Pierre Shale) subsurface conditions in many Colorado Springs neighborhoods make retaining wall engineering critical. Walls on steep lots in Broadmoor, Skyway, and Mountain Shadows often require geotechnical investigation and tieback design. Segmental block systems (Keystone, Versa-Lok) are common up to 6 feet but require engineered design above 4 feet. Drainage behind the wall must be shown on plans with perforated pipe and gravel backfill. Walls on property lines require written agreement with the adjoining owner.
Building a retaining wall without a required permit is a 500-dollar fine and mandatory stop-work order. Walls that fail and damage adjoining property create civil liability plus potential criminal charges if endangerment occurs.
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