Richardson requires a building permit for any retaining wall exceeding 4 feet in height (measured from the bottom of the footing), with engineered drawings for walls over 4 feet or those supporting a surcharge.
Richardson has adopted the International Residential Code and International Building Code as the basis for its construction regulations. Retaining walls over 4 feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall require a building permit and must be designed and sealed by a Texas-licensed professional engineer. Walls supporting a surcharge load (such as a driveway, pool, or sloped soil above) require engineering regardless of height. Walls must be designed for lateral earth pressure, hydrostatic pressure where applicable, and any live loads. Drainage (weep holes, gravel backfill, or perforated drain pipe) is required to prevent hydrostatic buildup. Walls along property lines must not divert water onto neighboring properties, and tiered walls with less than the horizontal distance equal to twice the lower wall's height are treated as a single wall for design purposes.
Specific penalty amounts for this ordinance are not published in a publicly accessible fine schedule. Contact Richardson code enforcement directly for current fines, enforcement procedures, and hearing options.
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