An individual retaining wall three feet or less is exempt from setbacks. A series of retaining walls must follow the engineering design manual and cannot come closer than 10 feet to a property line adjoining residentially zoned land.
Zoning Regulations Section 128.0.A.9 treats retaining walls like fences for height and setback purposes. Individual retaining walls three feet or less are exempt from all setback requirements. Where ground is higher on one side, wall height is measured from the lower side. A series (tiered) of retaining walls must be set back per the county engineering design manual and may not be closer than 10 feet from a property line adjoining residentially zoned property. Structural retaining walls typically require engineered plans and a building permit from DILP.
Retaining walls built too close to a residential line or without required engineering/permits can be ordered corrected or removed by DILP, plus permit penalties.
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