Durham requires a building permit for all retaining walls. Retaining walls over 4 feet at street frontage must be terraced in Design Districts. Walls over 8 feet near buffers require a 10-foot setback.
Retaining walls in Durham always require a building permit, unlike standard fences. Under UDO Section 9.9, retaining walls are permitted within required yards but face additional restrictions in Design Districts: walls exceeding 4 feet along street frontage or within the street yard must be terraced to reduce visual impact. Retaining walls exceeding 8 feet in height must be set back at least 10 feet from any required buffer. Wall materials must comply with UDO standards requiring stucco over concrete block, exposed aggregate concrete, brick, stone, or architectural block; plain concrete block is prohibited. Engineered drawings may be required by Durham Development Services for walls exceeding 4 feet in total height per the NC Building Code. Contact 919-560-4137 for permit requirements.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Durham, NC
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