Ocala, FL Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)

The Code of Ordinances does not set a citywide height limit or standalone permit article for retaining walls; the only provision naming them sits in Chapter 90's floodplain regulations. Section 90-26, titled "Other development," covers structures the rest of the floodplain chapter does not address by name, and subsection (c) calls out "Retaining walls, sidewalks and driveways in regulated floodways" specifically: any of those features that involve placing fill within a mapped regulatory floodway must meet the limitations set in § 90-22(d). That cross-referenced subsection is strict about floodway fill generally: no development, including site improvements and land-disturbing activity involving fill or regrading, can be authorized in a regulatory floodway unless a floodway encroachment analysis required under § 90-15(c)(1) demonstrates the work will not increase the base flood elevation at all.

That analysis has to be prepared, signed and sealed by a Florida licensed engineer using standard engineering methods and models, and it has to accompany the site plan and construction documents submitted with the floodplain development permit application under § 90-14. The floodplain administrator, the city engineer under § 90-13, reviews that analysis before issuing the permit, and if a proposed retaining wall would raise base flood elevations, the applicant instead has to pursue a conditional letter of map revision from FEMA before the city can act on it.

Outside a mapped regulatory floodway, a retaining wall still falls under Ocala's general building permit requirement in § 82-40(a) for any construction, addition or alteration, but the code does not print a separate height, setback or engineering standard for retaining walls outside that floodway-specific rule.