Lee's Summit, MO Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit + structural analysis
- walls over 4 ft
- Minimum street setback
- 2 ft from right-of-way
- Height above retained grade
- 6 in max unless guardrail needed
- Combined 6-ft+ wall on PDP lot
- final development plan approval first
- Extra condition
- security fencing may be required
- Enforcing office
- Building Official
Summary
Lee's Summit requires a permit and structural analysis for any retaining wall over four feet, per the UDO's accessory-structures table, and separately limits when a wall can be built at all: it must be reasonably necessary for a slope change, sit at least two feet off any street right-of-way, and rise no more than six inches above the retained grade unless the building code calls for a safety guardrail.
3.A retaining wall may be permitted where it is reasonably necessary due to the changes in slope on the site, where the wall is located at least two feet from any street right-of-way, and where the wall does not extend more than six inches above the ground level of the land being retained unless the building code requires a guardrail for safety purposes. (See also the city's encroachment policy for additional restrictions.) [Table 6.IV-1, Accessory Structures row]: "Retaining Wall | All | N/A | Above 4 feet requires permit and structural analysis | Security fencing may be required."
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 55 | Unified Development Ordinance: Supplement 15).
Full Breakdown
Two provisions of the Unified Development Ordinance work together here. IV-1, the citywide accessory-structures table under Sec. D, flags retaining walls above four feet as requiring both a building permit and a structural analysis, and notes that security fencing may also be required. Meanwhile the residential fence-and-wall subsection, Sec. 3, adds siting conditions that apply regardless of height: the wall has to be reasonably necessary because of an actual change in slope on the site, it must sit at least two feet from any street right-of-way, and it cannot extend more than six inches above the ground level of the land being retained unless the building code requires a guardrail for safety.
If a retaining wall is built as part of a fence or wall that tops six feet and was required by a subdivision's preliminary development plan, the related fence-permit rule in Sec. c requires final development plan approval before any permit can be issued. The city's separate encroachment policy adds further restrictions on locating any wall near an easement or right-of-way. Because retaining walls are accessory structures, they also fall under the general 60 percent maximum impervious lot coverage cap that applies to residential properties citywide.
Violations & Fines
Building an unpermitted retaining wall over four feet, or one that fails the slope-necessity, setback, or height limits, is a UDO violation enforced under the ordinance's general penalty section: a misdemeanor with fines of $10 to $250 per day for a first offense, $100 to $500 per day for a repeat violation at the same property, and an added $250 civil penalty if the wall isn't corrected within ten days of a written notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what height does a Lee's Summit retaining wall need a permit?
How close to the street can I build a retaining wall?
Does a retaining wall combined with a fence need extra approval?
What is the penalty for building an unpermitted retaining wall over four feet?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lee's Summit
Compare Lee's Summit to another location·View the Missouri fence regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Retaining Walls in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Jackson County handle retaining walls.