The county has no retaining-wall ordinance. Height limits and permits for retaining walls come from your Montgomery County borough or township under the PA Municipalities Planning Code. Taller walls usually need a permit and engineering.
Retaining walls are treated as structures and regulated locally, not by Montgomery County. Under the PA Municipalities Planning Code, each municipality may regulate the size, height and construction of structures, so retaining-wall limits and permit thresholds appear in your borough or township code. Lower Merion Township, for example, provides that the height of retaining walls shall not exceed six feet within the setback and eight feet beyond the setback. Many municipalities require a building permit and stamped engineering for walls above a set height (commonly 4 feet). Confirm the exact threshold and permit rule with your local building department.
Building a retaining wall over the local height threshold without a permit or engineering can bring a stop-work order and municipal fines, plus a required after-the-fact permit or wall modification.
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See how Montgomery County's retaining walls rules stack up against other locations.
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