Retaining walls under 4 feet are generally permit-exempt. Santa Clarita's hillside areas frequently require engineered retaining walls with proper drainage.
Santa Clarita regulates retaining walls to ensure structural safety and proper drainage. Walls up to 4 feet typically do not require a permit. Walls over 4 feet require a building permit and may need engineered plans stamped by a licensed professional engineer. Surcharge loads from driveways, structures, or slopes above the wall may lower the permit-free threshold. Drainage behind the wall is critical and must be addressed in design. Setback requirements apply to retaining walls near property lines.
Unpermitted walls: stop-work order, required engineering review, potential demolition. Fines $200 to $1,000.
Santa Clarita, CA
Vehicles cannot be parked in the same street spot for more than 72 hours per state law (CVC 22651). RV use as housing prohibited.
Santa Clarita, CA
Santa Clarita restricts large commercial vehicles in residential zones. Heavy trucks, construction equipment, and oversized commercial vehicles may not be pa...
Santa Clarita, CA
Vehicles parked 72+ hours without moving on public streets may be reported as abandoned per CVC §22651. LA County Sheriff and city code enforcement handle co...
Santa Clarita, CA
Santa Clarita enforces street parking rules under SCMC Title 10. Vehicles may not park on residential streets for more than 72 hours. Posted restrictions var...
Santa Clarita, CA
EV charging supported by state mandates. AB 2097 prohibits parking minimums near transit. CALGreen requires EV-ready infrastructure in new construction.
Santa Clarita, CA
Santa Clarita regulates exotic pets through SCMC 17.62 and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) regulations. Many exotic species are prohibited ...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Los Angeles County.
See how other cities in Los Angeles County handle retaining walls.
See how Santa Clarita's retaining walls rules stack up against other locations.
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