Lynn follows the Massachusetts State Building Code (780 CMR): retaining walls over 4 feet, measured from footing bottom to top, require a building permit and engineered plans. Shorter garden walls are exempt.
Retaining walls in Lynn are governed by the statewide Massachusetts State Building Code (780 CMR), which Lynn cannot modify. A retaining wall over four feet in height, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, requires a building permit and plans stamped by a Massachusetts-registered professional engineer; walls supporting a surcharge such as a driveway or slope may need a permit at lower heights. Drainage behind the wall must be addressed in the design, and Inspectional Services reviews wall permits. Shorter garden walls are generally exempt.
Building an over-4-foot retaining wall without the required permit and engineered plans draws a stop-work order from Inspectional Services and can require engineering review, correction, or removal.
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