Orleans Parish treats retaining walls as structures requiring a building permit from the Department of Safety and Permits. The CZO fence-and-wall height rules govern walls, and where lots differ in grade, height is measured from the highest grade at the property line.
New Orleans does not publish a stand-alone retaining-wall code; walls are permitted and inspected under the City building code (adopted Louisiana/International code) through the Department of Safety and Permits, and the CZO Art. 21.6.N wall-height standards apply. Sec. 21.6.N.1 requires that where grade differs between abutting properties, wall height be measured from the highest grade at the property line on either side, and in no case may total fence or wall height exceed 10 feet. Given the city's flat, high-water-table terrain, retaining walls are less common than in hilly jurisdictions, but drainage and subsurface soil conditions make engineered design important.
Building a structural retaining wall without a permit can result in stop-work orders and fines; walls exceeding CZO height limits must be lowered.
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See how Orleans Parish's retaining walls rules stack up against other locations.
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