Summit County, OH Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit threshold
- 4 feet or higher (Sec. 1307.08(c))
- Residential fee
- $45 application + $60 permit
- Commercial fee
- $67 application + $72 permit
- Permit issuer
- County Building Official
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Summit County only
- Unpermitted work
- 200% penalty fee (Sec. 1307.02)
Summary
A retaining wall four feet or higher in unincorporated Summit County needs an accessory structure permit from the Building Official. Residential projects pay a $45 non-refundable application plus a $60 permit fee, while commercial retaining walls pay a $67 application plus a $72 fee under the same fee schedule.
A non-refundable application fee of $45.00, plus a $60.00 fee shall be paid for residential permits and a non-refundable application fee of $67.00, plus a $72.00 fee shall be paid for commercial permits for the following: ... (c) Retaining wall (4' feet or higher);
Full Breakdown
Sec. 1307.08 sets a $45.00 non-refundable application fee plus a $60.00 permit fee for residential accessory structures, or a $67.00 application plus a $72.00 fee for commercial ones, and item (c) names a retaining wall four feet or higher as one of the listed structures requiring that permit. The same section groups the wall permit with decks, gazebos and pergolas, handicap ramps, chimneys and other accessory structures, all billed under the identical fee tiers. The underlying requirement to obtain any permit at all traces to Sec. 1305.01, which bars constructing or altering a regulated structure without first filing an application with the Building Official. Because this Building Code applies only within the unincorporated area of Summit County under Sec. 1301.14, a retaining wall built inside Akron, Cuyahoga Falls, Barberton, Stow or Hudson is permitted through that city's own building department instead.
Violations & Fines
Building a retaining wall four feet or higher without the Sec. 1307.08 permit draws the 200% unpermitted-work penalty fee under Sec. 1307.02, on top of the base $45 or $67 application fee, and remains a first-degree misdemeanor under Sec. 1301.99, carrying up to $500 and six months in jail with each day of continued violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what height does my retaining wall need a county permit?
How much does a retaining wall permit cost?
What if I build a four-foot wall without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Summit County
Compare Summit County to another location·View the Ohio fence regulations overview
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