Lehi, UT Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)

Chapter 12-C of the Lehi City Development Code, adopted August 26, 2025, governs every retaining wall in the city that retains 4 feet or more of fill. A requires a building permit before construction of a new wall or alteration of an existing one, and each design must be specific to the site rather than a generic standard plan. The submittal package must include structural design calculations and drawings, a drainage plan, a geotechnical report covering soil bearing values and seismic design criteria, and cross-sectional drawings extending two times the wall height in front of and behind the wall, or three times for sloped fill.

10 when seismic loads are included. Footings must sit below the local frost depth, measured from the wall's front face. Rock, boulder and organic-material walls such as railroad ties are prohibited above 4 feet and may only be used for landscaping below that height; no structure, roadway or surcharge load may bear on them. Building permits are exempt for walls retaining less than 4 feet, for non-tiered walls under 50 square feet of exposed surface with slopes no steeper than 4H:1V, and for tiered walls totaling less than 100 square feet with 6H:1V slopes and 5 feet of spacing between tiers.

A preconstruction meeting with the Building Official, design engineer, contractor and owner must be held at least 48 hours before work begins, though the Building Official may waive it. C requires a fence at least 3 feet 6 inches tall along the top. Modifications to existing walls are treated as new construction under the same permit and design process.