In unincorporated Larimer County, a retaining wall over four feet high is treated as a special structural item that requires engineered detail sections as part of a building permit submittal. Walls in a floodplain or right-of-way get added Engineering review.
Retaining walls are not exempt yard features once they get tall. Larimer County's building submittal standards call for detail sections of critical construction or special structural items such as decks, porches, and retaining walls over four feet. That means a wall taller than four feet needs engineered plans showing the cross-section and structural design. All structures, including walls, must also comply with Land Use Code setbacks, floodplain rules, easements, and lot coverage. If any portion of the property is in a floodplain, the Engineering Department reviews the plans. Confirm zoning-district setbacks with the Planning Division at (970) 498-7683 before you build.
Building an over-four-foot retaining wall without engineered plans or a required permit is a code violation that can require after-the-fact engineering, permits, or corrective work.
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