Coral Gables, FL Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Required material
- Masonry or native stone only
- Governing section
- Code of Ordinances Sec. 86-2
- Height/setback rules
- Set in the separate Zoning Code
- Default penalty
- Up to $500 fine or 60 days
- Adopted
- Ordinance No. 716 (1951)
Summary
Coral Gables requires every retaining wall or bulkhead built in the city to be constructed of masonry or native stone; no wood, metal, or other materials are allowed under the city's waterways chapter.
No bulkhead, retaining wall or similar installation shall be built or constructed within the city unless such bulkhead, retaining wall or similar installation is of masonry or native stone construction.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Fee Schedule: Supplement 2 | Zoning Code: Supplement 1 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 25 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Section 86-2 of the Code of Ordinances, in the waterways chapter, bars any bulkhead, retaining wall, or similar installation from being built in Coral Gables unless it is masonry or native stone -- a rule the city originally adopted in 1951 to keep canal-adjacent construction durable and uniform. The code does not set a maximum height, setback, or engineering-certification standard for retaining walls; those dimensional and permitting requirements sit in Coral Gables' separate Zoning Code and the adopted Florida Building Code, not in this Code of Ordinances.
Violations & Fines
Building with disallowed materials is a Code violation under Sec. 1-7: fines up to $500 or 60 days imprisonment, or code enforcement board fines up to $1,000 per day for continuing violations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build a retaining wall out of wood in Coral Gables?
Where do I find retaining wall height limits and permit rules for Coral Gables?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Coral Gables
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Coral Gables to another location·View the Florida fence regulations overview
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