Yakima County, WA Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit-exempt height
- Retaining wall 4 ft or less, footing to top
- Permit trigger
- Any surcharge or hazardous-liquid impoundment
- Combined fence+wall zoning cap
- 10 ft from lower elevation
- Enforcing office
- Building and Fire Safety Division
- Violation
- Misdemeanor citation or civil infraction per day
Summary
Yakima County exempts retaining walls up to 4 feet tall, measured from the footing to the wall top, from building permits under the amended International Building Code, unless the wall holds back a surcharge or impounds hazardous liquids. Taller walls, or ones bearing extra load, need a building permit and engineered design reviewed by the Building and Fire Safety Division.
105.2 Work exempt from permit. Exemptions from permit requirements of this code shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in any manner in violation of the provisions of this code or any other laws or ordinances of this jurisdiction. Permits shall not be required for the following: Building: ... 4. Retaining walls which are not over 4 feet (1219 mm) in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding Class I, II or III-A liquids.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4871853; v6 updated 2026-04-21; through 04-21-2026).
Full Breakdown
05 of the Yakima County Code, its local amendments to the 2018 International Building Code. 030 amends IBC Section 105, and its work-exempt-from-permit list places retaining walls in the same permit-exempt category as 200-square-foot storage sheds and 5,000-gallon water tanks: no permit is needed if the wall stands 4 feet or less from the bottom of its footing to the top, unless the wall supports a surcharge (extra load behind it, such as a driveway or fill slope) or impounds Class I, II or III-A flammable or combustible liquids, in which case a permit and engineered design are required regardless of height.
2, Item 3, for one- and two-family lots. 1. 040(9)(a)(vi), no combination of a fence and a retaining wall may exceed 10 feet measured from the lower elevation, with a narrow exception letting a fence be added atop a retaining wall that already exceeded 10 feet before the zoning title was adopted. 05 grading provisions, which require a separate grading permit once an unsupported excavation exceeds 5 feet.
Violations & Fines
Building without the required permit, or exceeding the 4-foot exempt height without engineering, is enforced as an IBC Section 114 violation. The Building Official can issue a notice of violation ordering the work stopped and the condition abated; failure to comply within the stated time exposes the owner to a misdemeanor citation or civil infraction under YCC Chapter 13.25, and each day the violation continues after notice is a separate offense. The County can also refer the matter to legal counsel to compel removal of noncompliant walls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a retaining wall in unincorporated Yakima County?
Can I build a fence on top of a retaining wall?
What happens if I build an oversized retaining wall without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yakima County
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