Elgin, IL Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)

The City of Elgin amended the International Residential Code 2021 through Ordinance No. 020 of the Elgin Municipal Code. 3 (Retaining Wall Guards) requires a protective barrier at least 36 inches high, measured vertically above the adjacent walking surface, wherever a retaining wall separates grade levels by more than 30 inches and sits closer than two feet to a walk, path, pedestrian area, parking lot or driveway on the high side. Open guards must use balusters or horizontal rails spaced so a 21-inch-diameter sphere cannot pass through.

4 sets an engineering trigger: any retaining wall that is not laterally supported at the top and retains more than 24 inches of unbalanced fill, or that exceeds 24 inches in height while resisting lateral loads beyond soil pressure, must be designed by a licensed structural engineer or licensed architect. 5 against lateral sliding and overturning. The section explicitly carves out foundation walls that support buildings, which fall under separate structural provisions rather than this retaining wall rule. Because these amendments sit inside the adopted International Residential Code for one- and two-family dwellings, they apply citywide to residential lots regardless of zoning district, and enforcement runs through the community development department's building division, which reviews plans and issues the building permit before wall construction begins.