In unincorporated Kootenai County a retaining wall taller than four feet above ground level (unless within a setback area) requires a location/building permit, and any wall over four feet must be engineered under the adopted residential code.
Kootenai County Title 7 (Building Regulations) requires a location permit before constructing a 'retaining wall greater than 4' above ground level unless within a setback area' (7.1.105.D.1). The county's adopted amendment R404.0 further states that plain concrete and masonry retaining walls are prohibited and engineering is required where the wall is over four feet above grade; all foundation and retaining walls over four feet from footing bottom to wall top must be engineered. Walls four feet or under generally do not need a county permit but still must not create drainage or erosion problems. Site-disturbance grading rules (Chapter 7, Article 7.1) may separately apply to cuts and fills.
Constructing a regulated wall without a permit violates Title 7 and LUDC 8.8.603 (misdemeanor); the county may require abatement and assess penalties.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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