Jurupa Valley, CA Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit threshold
- Over 2 feet from footing top
- Walls supporting surcharge
- Permit required at any height
- Retaining wall mandatory
- Excavation banks over 2 feet
- City standard drawings
- Retaining wall and combo wall handouts
Summary
Retaining walls over two feet tall, measured from the top of the footing, require a building permit in Jurupa Valley, as does any wall supporting a surcharge. Retaining walls are mandatory for unsupported excavations with banks over two feet.
A Building permit is also required for the following specified items: 1. Retaining walls over two feet in height (measured from the top of the footing) and walls of any height if supporting a surcharge or any superimposed load other than the natural fill of level earth. Retaining walls are required for any unsupported excavation with vertical banks more than two feet high or unsupported excavations of any height if supporting a surcharge or any superimposed load other than the natural fill of level earth.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Ordinance No. 2025-24, adopting the 2025 California Building Code with local amendments to Municipal Code Chapter 8.05, added Section 105.1.3 requiring permits for retaining walls over two feet in height measured from the top of the footing, and for walls of any height supporting a surcharge or superimposed load other than the natural fill of level earth. The same section requires a retaining wall for any unsupported excavation with vertical banks more than two feet high. Amended Section 105.2 exempts only retaining walls two feet or shorter that carry no surcharge and do not impound Class I, II, or IIIA liquids. The city publishes free standard drawings, including Retaining Wall Standards and Combo Wall Standards, for conforming designs.
Violations & Fines
Unpermitted retaining walls are code violations subject to infraction fines escalating from $200 to $1,000 for repeat offenses within a year, and unsafe walls can trigger correction orders from Building and Safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a small garden retaining wall?
What is a combo wall and does it need a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jurupa Valley
California rules heatmap·Compare Jurupa Valley to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
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Retaining Walls in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Riverside County handle retaining walls.