Rancho Cordova, CA Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Exempt threshold
- Retaining walls under 36 inches, no certification
- Benching trigger
- Required once embankment exceeds 48 inches
- Wood limit
- Not allowed above 2 feet in height
- Director discretion
- Up to 8 feet for unusual topography
- Governing sections
- RCMC §§ 23.731.030(A) and 23.731.080(B)
Summary
A Rancho Cordova retaining wall under 36 inches skips the zoning certification required for fences and walls under RCMC § 23.731.030(A). Taller retained embankments must be benched under § 23.731.080(B) so no single wall face exceeds 36 inches, wood cannot be used above two feet, and the planning director can approve a retaining wall up to eight feet to handle steep topography.
The following fences and walls shall be exempt from RCMC § 23.731.020; however, a building permit may be required. A. Retaining Walls. Retaining walls less than 36 inches in height. ... Retaining Walls. ... An embankment to be retained that is over 48 inches in height shall be benched so at the low side no individual retaining wall exceeds a height of 36 inches above the finished grade and each bench has a minimum depth of 36 inches. Wood shall not be used for a retaining wall over two feet in height. The director may approve retaining walls up to eight feet in height to accommodate topographic change and variation.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4660102; v2 updated 2026-03-02; through 03-02-2026).
Full Breakdown
Two sections work together to regulate retaining walls in Rancho Cordova. 020 otherwise requires for fences and walls, though a building permit can still apply for structural reasons. 080(B) requires the wall to be benched: no individual retaining wall face on the low side can exceed 36 inches above finished grade, and each bench between walls must be at least 36 inches deep, so a hillside lot cannot be held back with one tall wall but instead steps down in a series of shorter, code-compliant walls.
Materials are restricted too: wood cannot be used for any retaining wall taller than two feet, pushing taller walls toward masonry, concrete or engineered systems. For unusual topography the planning director has discretion to approve a single retaining wall up to eight feet in height without the benching requirement, where the site's grade change genuinely calls for it. 060(B) adds a further limit: the retaining wall portion is capped at six feet, and if the wall exceeds six feet, the fence above it must be separated from the wall by at least three feet of landscaped setback.
Violations & Fines
A retaining wall built without required benching, in prohibited wood construction above two feet, or beyond the eight-foot director-approved maximum is a zoning violation under RCMC § 23.173.060, treated as a public nuisance subject to a stop-work order and daily infractions under state law until the wall is rebuilt, benched, or brought under a director-approved height exception.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a retaining wall in Rancho Cordova?
How tall can a retaining wall be on a sloped lot?
Can I build a wood retaining wall?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rancho Cordova
California rules heatmap·Compare Rancho Cordova to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
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Retaining Walls in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sacramento County handle retaining walls.