Desoto County, MS Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)

DeSoto County and its four cities enforce the International Residential Code (IRC) §R105.2 for accessory structures. Retaining walls 4 feet or less from bottom of footing to top of wall, with no surcharge, do not require a building permit in most of the county. Walls over 4 feet require a building permit and design drawings stamped by a professional engineer licensed in Mississippi (MS Code §73-13-1 et seq.). Surcharges — including driveways, sloped ground, swimming pools, buildings, or retaining walls above — within a 1-horizontal-to-1-vertical zone behind the wall lower the permit-free threshold; any retaining wall supporting a surcharge requires a permit regardless of height. Engineered design must account for soil lateral pressure (DeSoto County has Memphis-metro clay and loess soils that retain water), drainage (perforated pipe, geotextile, gravel backfill), and any applicable seismic requirements (Mississippi is in the New Madrid Seismic Zone influence area — DeSoto County is Seismic Design Category C per IRC). Required setbacks from property lines typically 3 feet for walls up to 4 feet and 5+ feet for taller walls; check local zoning. Drainage water must not be discharged onto adjoining property (MS common-law rule).