Hanford, CA Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)

Retaining walls in unincorporated Kings County are addressed both by the zoning Development Code and by the adopted California Building Code. Article 4 of the Development Code expressly provides that 'fences, walls, hedges, gates, walks, driveways and retaining walls may occupy any required yard or other open spaces, subject to the limitations prescribed in the district regulations.' In practice this means a retaining wall can sit within a required front, side or rear setback area, but it still must respect the Traffic Safety Visibility Area at driveways and intersections, where obstructions are limited to three feet. For the permit question, the County has adopted the California Building Standards Code; California Building Code Section 105.2 exempts from a building permit 'retaining walls that are not over 4 feet (1219 mm) in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding Class I, II or IIIA liquids.' So a retaining wall taller than four feet, or one holding back a slope load (surcharge) such as a driveway or structure above it, requires an engineered design and a building permit. Walls are measured from the bottom of the footing, so an exposed face under four feet can still need a permit if its total height exceeds four feet. Drainage and the impact on neighboring property are also reviewed where a permit applies.