Glendale, AZ Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- UDC § 35.4.204(D)-(E)
- Retaining wall trigger
- Retains 18 inches of earth or more
- Structural calcs required
- Any wall over 6 feet tall
- Terracing required
- Once retaining exceeds 4 feet
- Sloped-lot wall split
- 6 ft high side, 8 ft low side
- Waiver appeal path
- Variance under UDC § 35.6.209
Summary
Glendale treats any wall holding back eighteen inches of earth or more as a retaining wall subject to City Engineer review, and any wall over six feet tall, retaining or not, needs stamped structural calculations from a licensed engineer. UDC § 35.4.204 also forces terracing once retained soil tops four feet.
D.Walls exceeding six (6) feet in height, measured from the inside finished grade, shall require the submittal and approval of structural calculations prepared by a licensed structural engineer, unless specified otherwise in this Ordinance. Non-retaining concrete block walls shall adhere to the City adopted building codes.E.For the purpose of this Section, any wall retaining a minimum of eighteen (18) inches of earth or soil shall be considered a retaining wall and shall be subject to review by the City Engineer or authorized agent. Terraced walls shall be required when retaining needs exceed four (4) feet in height. Terraced walls shall be separated by an average of four (4) feet with no point being separated by less than two (2) feet. Terraces shall be landscaped with low-maintenance shrubs, cacti, and vegetative groundcovers. Terraced walls shall include weep holes for drainage and sleeves for irrigation.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 115).
Full Breakdown
' Once retaining needs exceed four feet, the code requires terraced walls rather than one tall wall, separated by an average of four feet with no point closer than two feet apart, each terrace landscaped with low-maintenance shrubs, cacti or groundcover and built with weep holes for drainage and sleeves for irrigation. 204(D) requires structural calculations sealed by a licensed structural engineer for any wall over six feet in height measured from the inside finished grade, and non-retaining concrete block walls must still meet the City's adopted building codes.
204(F) caps the wall at six feet on the high side and eight feet on the low side, and any change to that split needs written approval from Development Services. 209.
Violations & Fines
Retaining walls fall under Chapter 35.4.200's general enforcement: an unsafe or unrepaired wall is a public nuisance under § 35.4.207 that the City can order abated. Because the retaining-wall section carries no dedicated fine, an unpermitted or non-compliant retaining wall defaults to the Code's Sec. 1-7 general penalty, a Class 1 misdemeanor with each day of continued violation a separate offense, or a civil code infraction the city attorney can instead pursue in Glendale City Court.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what point does a wall count as a retaining wall in Glendale?
Do I need an engineer for a backyard retaining wall?
What if my lot's slope makes the standard wall rules impossible to meet?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Glendale
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