Palm Springs, CA Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)

Retaining walls in Palm Springs must comply with the California Building Code as adopted locally and with PSMC Title 8 (Building Regulations) and Chapter 93.03. A building permit is required for any retaining wall taller than 4 feet measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, and for any wall of any height that supports a surcharge (soil load from a driveway, swimming pool, patio, structure, or vehicle access). Plans must be stamped by a licensed California civil or structural engineer and include soil data or geotechnical report recommendations for walls over 4 feet or in hillside areas. Drainage is critical: weep holes, gravel backfill, and perforated drainage pipe must carry subsurface water away from the wall and neighboring property. Terracing is required for heights that would otherwise exceed engineered limits; a common approach is two 4-foot walls with a planting bench between them. Setbacks from property lines may be specified based on the wall height and retained slope. Hillside properties in the Mesa, Araby Cove, Southridge, and the foothills of the San Jacinto Mountains are within Hillside Zones with mandatory geotechnical review, slope-density limits, and stricter erosion-control requirements. Flood-control walls along the Whitewater River, Tahquitz Creek, and Palm Canyon Wash require Coachella Valley Water District and city engineering review. Combining a retaining wall with a fence on top is permitted but the total height may be regulated as a wall/fence combination.