Monterey County requires a construction permit for any retaining wall 4 feet or greater in height, measured bottom of footing to top of wall, OR a retaining wall of any height that supports a surcharge. Permit submittals require engineered drawings, structural calculations, and typically a geotechnical report.
Retaining walls are treated as construction, not just zoning, in unincorporated Monterey County. The County's Retaining Wall Construction page and Building & Planning FAQ state a construction permit is required "for a retaining wall if the wall is 4 feet or greater in height or for a retaining wall of any height if the wall supports a surcharge" — a surcharge being added load such as a sloping backfill, driveway, structure, or vehicle behind the wall. Submittal requirements include complete construction drawings and details (multiple copies), structural calculations and specifications prepared by a licensed engineer or architect, and a geotechnical/soils report with engineer review where conditions warrant. Below 4 feet with no surcharge, a building permit is generally not triggered, but zoning setbacks and easement restrictions from Title 21/Title 20 still apply, and a retaining wall combined with a fence on top may push the structure into permit or planning review. Coastal Zone walls may also require a Coastal Development Permit.
Building a 4-ft-or-taller or surcharge-bearing wall without a permit is a violation; the County can require engineered plans, inspection, or removal. Unpermitted walls that fail can create liability and abatement orders, with daily penalties for continued non-compliance.
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