Showing ordinances that apply to Fruitdale, CA
Fruitdale is an unincorporated community (population 989) in Santa Clara County, California. Because Fruitdale is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal code. Instead, Santa Clara County ordinances apply directly to properties here. The retaining walls rules below are the ones that govern your area.
Santa Clara County requires building permits for retaining walls over 3 feet tall measured from bottom of footing to top. Hillside and foothill properties often need geotechnical reports and engineered plans.
Retaining walls in unincorporated Santa Clara County are regulated under the California Building Code as adopted by County ordinance. A building permit is required when the wall exceeds 3 feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, or when a wall of any height supports a surcharge such as a driveway, parking area, or structure. Engineered drawings stamped by a licensed civil or structural engineer are required for taller walls and any wall in geotechnical hazard zones. Foothill properties in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Diablo Range foothills, and areas mapped for landslide susceptibility typically require a geotechnical report addressing slope stability, drainage, and soil bearing capacity. Tiered walls separated by less than twice the lower wall height are treated as a single wall for height calculations. Walls must include adequate drainage such as weep holes or perforated drain pipe, and must respect property line setbacks and grading permits.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
See how Fruitdale's retaining walls rules stack up against other locations.
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