Miramar, FL Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing sections
- LDC §§ 616.3 and 612.4
- Applies to
- Retaining walls placing fill in regulated floodways
- Standard
- No-rise: no increase in base flood elevation
- Required study
- Floodway encroachment analysis under § 605.3
- Permit authority
- Floodplain administrator (Building, Planning & Zoning Director)
- Citywide height cap
- None found outside regulated floodways
Summary
Miramar doesn't set a citywide retaining wall height cap, but its Land Development Code does regulate retaining walls built within FEMA-mapped regulated floodways. Section 616.3 requires any retaining wall involving fill placement in a regulated floodway to meet the no-rise engineering standard in Section 612.4 before the city will permit it.
616.3. Retaining walls, sidewalks and driveways in regulated floodways. Retaining walls and sidewalks and driveways that involve the placement of fill in regulated floodways shall meet the limitations of section 612.4... 612.4. Limitations on sites in regulatory floodways. No development, including but not limited to site improvements, and land disturbing activity involving fill or regrading, shall be authorized in the regulatory floodway unless the floodway encroachment analysis required in section 605.3 demonstrates that the proposed development or land disturbing activity will not result in any increase in the base flood elevation.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 104 | Land Development Code: Supplement 46).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 6 of the Land Development Code, the Floodplain Management Ordinance, addresses retaining walls only where they intersect regulated floodways, the channel and adjacent land reserved to carry floodwaters without raising flood heights. 4. 3, demonstrates the proposed work will not increase the base flood elevation at all. 1 is the Building, Planning, and Zoning Director, will issue a floodplain development permit. 2 address perimeter hedges, walls and fences for landscaping screening purposes, but they don't address freestanding retaining structures built to hold back grade changes.
Violations & Fines
Placing fill for a retaining wall in a regulated floodway without the required no-rise encroachment analysis, or without the floodplain development permit Section 604.1 requires, is a violation of Chapter 6 under Section 608.1, enforceable through a notice of violation or stop-work order from the floodplain administrator. Continued work after a stop-work order is a separate offense each day it continues, prosecuted under Section 2-330 et seq. of the City Code of Ordinances per Section 608.4.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Miramar require a permit for a retaining wall?
Is there a height limit on retaining walls in Miramar?
What is the no-rise standard that applies to floodway retaining walls?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Miramar
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Miramar to another location·View the Florida fence regulations overview
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