Oregon, OH Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)

Chapter 1309, General Requirements, governs grading and drainage for construction in the City of Oregon. 01(a) sets the finished grade at the base of a dwelling to match adjacent dwellings but never less than twelve inches above the curb, or twelve inches above the pavement crown on streets without curbs, though the Commissioner of Building and Zoning Inspection can approve a lower elevation on a written showing that it will not impair drainage or the area's development. 01(b) requires roadside drainage to be maintained where streets have no curbs, with a swale at least six inches below pavement elevation graded toward the nearest catch basin and driveway culverts of at least twelve-inch reinforced concrete pipe.

The retaining-wall duty sits in subsection (c), Protection of Adjoining Property: whenever a lot or plot is graded to a higher or lower level than the property next to it, the owner must install suitable retaining walls, curbs or other protection, approved by the Commissioner, if necessary to keep the neighboring property from being damaged by the grade change. Subsection (d) backs this with a permitting step: a grading and drainage plan must be submitted to and approved by the Safety Service Director before any construction starts, and all grading and required drainage must be installed before the City issues a final certificate of occupancy.

The whole section traces to Ordinance 186-1992, passed November 23, 1992, and sits inside Part Thirteen, the Building Code, enforced by the Division of Inspection alongside the rest of the City's construction permitting.