Retaining walls in Hendersonville are regulated under the City-adopted 2021 International Residential Code and 2021 International Building Code (effective July 1, 2025) and require a permit from the Building & Codes Department (615-822-3802). Per IRC R404.4 / IBC 1807, retaining walls over 4 feet measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, or any wall supporting a surcharge, require a building permit and engineered design. Pool-related retaining walls must show 'Wall height and slope for any retaining walls that are part of the proposed construction' on the Swimming Pool Plan submittal.
Hendersonville Building & Codes adopted the 2021 ICC family effective July 1, 2025, including the 2021 IRC and 2021 IBC, replacing the prior 2018 editions. Under IRC R404.4 (retaining walls), 'Retaining walls that are not laterally supported at the top and that retain in excess of 48 inches (1219 mm) of unbalanced backfill, or those exceeding the conditions prescribed in IBC Section 1807, shall be designed in accordance with accepted engineering practice.' IBC Section 1807.2 requires retaining walls to be designed to ensure stability against overturning, sliding, excessive foundation pressure and water uplift, with a minimum safety factor of 1.5 for overturning and sliding (1.1 for resisting seismic load combinations). The City's Swimming Pool Plan Submittal Checklist requires applicants to show 'Wall height and slope for any retaining walls that are part of the proposed construction.' Walls supporting a surcharge (such as a driveway, building foundation, or pool) require engineered design regardless of height. Retaining walls may not be located in a recorded easement or street right-of-way, and the property owner must verify property lines (the City does not survey). Statewide, Tennessee Code Annotated Title 68, Chapter 120 (Building Construction Safety Standards) provides the floor that all local Tennessee jurisdictions, including Hendersonville and Sumner County, build upon. For walls under 4 feet that do not carry a surcharge, no building permit is required but the wall must still respect easements, the right-of-way, and Chapter 10.4 zoning placement rules.
Building a retaining wall over 4 feet (bottom of footing to top of wall) without a permit and engineered design violates the City-adopted 2021 IRC/IBC. Walls supporting a surcharge built without engineering, walls placed in easements or rights-of-way, or pool retaining walls not shown on the Swimming Pool Plan are all enforceable by Building & Codes (615-822-3802). Failed walls causing soil movement onto an adjacent property can trigger civil claims under Tennessee common law in addition to City enforcement.
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