Roswell, GA Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Engineer design required
- Walls 8 feet or taller
- Council approval required
- Walls 6 feet or taller
- Max unbroken wall length
- 100 feet before a break
- Governing section
- UDC § 10.5.2
Summary
Roswell requires an engineer's design for any retaining wall 8 feet or taller and Mayor and City Council review and approval for any wall 6 feet or taller under its Unified Development Code.
C. All retaining walls equal to or greater than 8 feet shall be designed by a qualified registered professional engineer. All proposed retaining walls equal to or greater than 6 feet in height will be subject to review and approval by the Mayor and City Council.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 17 | Unified Development Code: Supplement 5).
Full Breakdown
UDC § 10.5.2 sets the general construction standards for retaining walls: any wall equal to or greater than 8 feet must be designed by a qualified registered professional engineer, and any wall equal to or greater than 6 feet must go through review and approval by the Mayor and City Council, as must any wall not built in substantial accordance with a previously approved site plan. Related provisions in the same section require stone, brick or decorative block facing on tall stormwater walls, cap continuous unbroken wall runs at 100 feet, and require landscaping screening for walls 6 feet or taller.
Violations & Fines
Building a retaining wall 6 feet or taller without Mayor and City Council approval, or one 8 feet or taller without a registered engineer's design, puts the structure out of compliance with UDC § 10.5.2 and subject to the City's permit and construction review process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a retaining wall in Roswell, Georgia need an engineer?
Do I need City Council approval to build a retaining wall?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Roswell
Compare Roswell to another location·View the Georgia fence regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Retaining Walls in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Fulton County handle retaining walls.