Perris, CA Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)

Perris addresses retaining walls through its Building Department standards and the California Building Code adopted in Municipal Code Title 16, plus zoning provisions for corner visibility. The city's published Block Wall standard plan includes a design for a block wall atop a 2-foot retaining wall, with design parameters (active soil pressure, passive soil bearing, allowable soil bearing) and required footing, rebar/pre-grout, and final inspections. Under California Building Code Section 105.2, a retaining wall is exempt from a building permit only if it is not over 4 feet high measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall and is not supporting a surcharge or impounding flammable liquids — so taller walls, or walls retaining a slope/structure load, require a permit and often engineered plans. In addition, Perris Zoning Code Section 19.02.050 (Corner Clearance) lists retaining walls among the obstructions barred from the corner sight triangle between 42 inches and 8 feet in height. Note that the combined height of a retaining wall plus a fence on top can also push the visible fence portion over the zoning limit, so check both the structural permit threshold and the 19.02.040 height cap. Confirm engineering and permit needs with the Building Department.