Ridgecrest, CA Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger height
- Over 30 inches
- Permit required
- Separate building permit, Sec. 102-107
- Standard
- Strong, reinforced, with adequate footings
- Violation class
- Misdemeanor under Sec. 102-105
Summary
Ridgecrest, California, in Kern County requires any fence or wall over 30 inches tall, including masonry retaining walls, to be built with strong, reinforced construction and to carry a separate city building permit.
All fences or walls over 30 inches in height not otherwise covered by provisions of the state building standards code, as adopted by the city, constructed from bricks, blocks, tiles, stones or other units composed of concrete, clay, rock, cinders, shale or any other materials shall be constructed in a strong and substantial manner with adequate reinforcing and substantial footings so as not to constitute a hazard.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 6).
Full Breakdown
Ridgecrest City Code § 102-106 requires that any fence or wall over 30 inches high, built from brick, block, tile, stone, concrete, clay, rock, cinders, shale, or similar materials and not otherwise covered by the state building standards code, be constructed in a strong and substantial manner with adequate reinforcing and substantial footings so it does not constitute a hazard: a standard that reaches masonry retaining walls on residential and commercial lots. City Code § 102-107 separately requires a building permit before erecting, constructing, enlarging, or altering such a wall, subject to the building official's approval and any conditions needed to prevent a hazard.
Violations & Fines
Building, enlarging, or altering a fence or wall over 30 inches without a permit, or without adequate reinforcing and footings, is a misdemeanor under § 102-105, enforced by the building official.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Ridgecrest retaining wall need a permit?
At what height do Ridgecrest's wall construction rules apply?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ridgecrest
California rules heatmap·Compare Ridgecrest to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
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Retaining Walls in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Kern County handle retaining walls.