Retaining walls over 4 feet in height (measured from bottom of footing) require a building permit and engineering in Mountain View, with additional scrutiny for walls supporting surcharge loads.
Mountain View requires a building permit for any retaining wall over 4 feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, consistent with California Building Code. Walls supporting a surcharge such as a slope, driveway, or structure above require a permit regardless of height. Engineered drawings stamped by a California licensed engineer are typically required. Setbacks, drainage, and geotechnical considerations apply especially in the western foothill edges of the city near El Camino Real and Cuesta Park. Walls at or below 4 feet not supporting surcharge are exempt but still must comply with zoning setback and property line rules. Combined fence-plus-wall configurations are measured as a single system.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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