Evansville, IN Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Standard height limit
- 6 feet
- Max height with consent
- 9 feet, 50% of nearby owners
- Post depth required
- at least 4 feet below grade
- Masonry foundation depth
- at least 2 feet below grade
Summary
Evansville limits retaining-wall fences around junk or coal yards to 6 feet, or 9 feet with neighbor consent, under strict structural design standards for posts, timber, and masonry.
All fences constructed or reconstructed around junk or coal yards shall be designed as retaining walls where the fences are used to hold or restrain materials or things of any kind and shall be limited in height to six feet; provided, that fences may be erected to a height not to exceed nine feet if the consent of not less than 50 percent of the owners of the property within 500 feet of the junk or coal yard has been obtained...
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance G-2026-12, passed June 22, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Evansville's retaining-wall rule is narrower than a general yard standard: it specifically governs fences built or rebuilt around junk or coal yards that are designed to hold or restrain materials. Height is capped at six feet, but can reach nine feet if the builder gets the written consent of at least 50 percent of property owners within 500 feet of the yard. The code then sets construction specs: timber-framed walls need main members securely bolted together, posts must have a cross-sectional area of at least 90-1/4 square inches and extend at least four feet below grade, and masonry walls need foundations extending at least two feet below grade.
Violations & Fines
Junk- or coal-yard retaining-wall fences that exceed the height cap or skip the post, timber, or masonry specs can be ordered corrected under Title 15's general building code enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Evansville regulate retaining wall height?
What structural standards apply to these Evansville retaining walls?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Evansville
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