Retaining walls in Henrico County are governed by Sec. 24-5407 of Chapter 24. A wall more than six feet higher than a property line within 20 feet, or more than ten feet higher within 50 feet, must be supplemented with landscaping. Tall walls should be terraced in six-foot sections.
Under Sec. 24-5407, only the retaining-wall standards (not the general fence standards) apply to retaining walls. If the elevation at the top of a retaining wall is more than six feet higher than a property line within 20 feet, or more than ten feet higher than a property line within 50 feet, the base must be supplemented with landscaping under Sec. 24-5406.B. Two retaining walls each under six feet must be separated by a terrace at least three feet wide; if either exceeds six feet, the terrace must be at least five feet wide. Structural retaining walls also require a building permit under the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.
A retaining wall that violates Chapter 24 is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $1,000 with escalating fines for continued violation (Sec. 24-7602); building-code violations carry separate USBC penalties.
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