Farmersville, TX Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger for a required wall
- >2.5 ft grade change, slope >1:2
- Design approval
- Building official, per building code
- Easement rule
- No wall within a utility easement
- Maintenance duty
- Falls to the property owner
- Max fine
- $2,000 per offense (§ 65-12)
Summary
Farmersville requires a retaining wall wherever a subdivision has a grade change over two and a half feet with a slope steeper than 1:2, and every wall must be engineered to the building code and approved by the building official under Code § 65-50.
(a)Retaining wall requirements. In general, the use of retaining walls shall be minimized, wherever possible, through minimal and balanced cut and fill on property. When property within or directly adjacent to a subdivision contains changes in elevation exceeding two and one-half feet and the slope exceeds one unit vertical in two units horizontal, a retaining wall shall be required at the locations specified herein prior to the acceptance of the subdivision ... (b)Retaining wall design and construction. All retaining wall design and construction shall be in compliance with the provisions of the building code and the design manuals and standard construction details of the city, and shall be approved by the building official.(c)Retaining wall maintenance. Retaining walls shall be maintained by the owner of the property where such retaining wall is located.
Full Breakdown
Section 65-50(a) of the Farmersville Code of Ordinances states that retaining walls should be minimized "through minimal and balanced cut and fill," but requires one wherever "property within or directly adjacent to a subdivision contains changes in elevation exceeding two and one-half feet and the slope exceeds one unit vertical in two units horizontal," at three specified locations: where the grade change follows a side or rear lot line, where it is adjacent to a proposed building site boundary, and where it is adjacent to a water course or drainage easement.
" Section 65-50(b) requires that "all retaining wall design and construction shall be in compliance with the provisions of the building code and the design manuals and standard construction details of the city, and shall be approved by the building official," tying retaining wall approval to the city's adopted building code (Chapter 14) rather than a standalone wall ordinance, so taller or structurally significant walls trigger the same plan review and engineering standards as other building code work. Section 65-50(c) then places ongoing upkeep on the property owner: "Retaining walls shall be maintained by the owner of the property where such retaining wall is located," so the developer's obligation to build the wall does not carry forward as a maintenance duty once lots transfer.
These standards were re-enacted by Ord. No. 2018-0508-002, § 3, adopted May 8, 2018, as part of the subdivision improvement standards in Article III of Chapter 65.
Violations & Fines
Retaining wall violations are enforced under Chapter 65's general penalty at § 65-12: any violation of the subdivision chapter is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $2,000.00 per offense, and each day a required wall is missing, unapproved or built in an easement counts as a separate offense; the city may also bring a civil action to compel compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Farmersville require a retaining wall in a new subdivision?
Who has to approve a retaining wall's design in Farmersville?
Who is responsible for maintaining a retaining wall after the subdivision is built out?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Farmersville
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Farmersville to another location·View the Texas fence regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Retaining Walls in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Collin County handle retaining walls.