Rockland County towns require building permits for retaining walls over 4 feet per the NY Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code. Clarkstown, Ramapo, and Orangetown require engineered plans stamped by a NYS-licensed PE for taller walls or surcharge loads.
Rockland towns enforce retaining wall regulations through the NY Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code (19 NYCRR Part 1219, adopting the IRC/IBC). Walls up to 4 feet measured from bottom of footing to top typically do not require a building permit. Walls over 4 feet require a building permit under IRC R404, and walls supporting a surcharge (driveway, slope, structure) require engineered plans stamped by a NY-licensed Professional Engineer regardless of height. Clarkstown Town Code Chapter 118, Ramapo Chapter 130, and Orangetown Chapter 14A building permit chapters apply. Rockland's hilly Hudson Valley terrain with steep slopes and rock outcrops makes retaining walls common, particularly in Upper Nyack, Piermont, Sloatsburg, and the Ramapo Mountains. Setbacks from property lines typically match accessory structure setbacks (3-10 feet). Drainage behind walls is critical in Rockland's clay-heavy and rocky soils; French drains or weep holes are code-required. Walls in freshwater wetland buffers require DEC approval under ECL Article 24.
Unpermitted wall over 4 feet: stop-work order, required engineering review, potential demolition. Fines $250 to $1,500 under town building code chapters. Wall failure causing damage to neighbor or right-of-way: civil liability plus municipal cost recovery. Wetland buffer violations: DEC penalties up to $11,500 per day.
Rockland County, NY
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