In Allentown, a retaining wall higher than 4 feet needs a building permit. Retaining walls up to 8 feet that hold back slopes or a building wall are exempt from the fence/wall height limits, but still must meet the building code.
Lehigh County does not regulate retaining walls; that is municipal. Allentown's Zoning Ordinance §660-45.A(1) exempts from the fence and wall regulations any 'Retaining walls up to 8 feet in height that are necessary to hold back slopes or the wall of a building in a location permitted by this zoning ordinance.' Separately, Allentown's permit guidance requires a building permit for any retaining wall higher than 4 feet, and walls must be durably built to the building code. Segmental and engineered walls typically need stamped plans. On steep sites, the county Conservation District's erosion and sediment (Chapter 102) rules may also apply during grading.
Building a retaining wall over 4 feet without a permit draws a $100 fine per Allentown's permit rules; unsafe or failing walls can be cited under the property-maintenance code.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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