Dunwoody, GA Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)

Section 27-269 applies specifically to retaining walls in single-dwelling residential zoning districts. Its height table lets a wall rise to four feet with no discretionary approval, unless a building permit is separately required under section 27-266(1); a wall from more than four up to eight feet needs an administrative permit under Article V, Division 7; and a wall from more than eight up to twelve feet needs a special exception under Article V, Division 6, the outer limit the code allows in these districts. Existing retaining walls can be repaired or replaced without new approval only if the work does not increase the wall's height.

On lots with a detached house, a retaining wall must sit back from every property line by the distance the zoning ordinance requires for building setbacks, though the community development director can grant an administrative permit letting a wall encroach into that setback. Any administrative permit or special exception for height or setback requires the applicant to show exceptional topographical restrictions on the lot, in context with the adjoining property, that the applicant did not create, plus a showing that no practical alternative wall design exists, backed by a site plan or topographic map certified by an engineer or landscape architect.

Under section 27-271, wall height for zoning purposes is measured from the natural adjacent grade on the lowest side of the wall to its top, and section 27-269(5) separately states that retaining walls may not exceed 12 inches above grade at the higher side elevation.