780 CMR (Mass Building Code) requires a building permit for retaining walls over 4 feet from footing to top. Walls supporting surcharge or over 4 feet need engineered plans stamped by Mass-licensed PE. Setbacks per local zoning.
Under 780 CMR (Massachusetts State Building Code, 9th edition) R105.2, retaining walls not over 4 feet measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall and not supporting a surcharge are permit-exempt. Walls over 4 feet, or any wall retaining a surcharge (driveway, structure, or sloped soil above), require a building permit and engineered design sealed by a Massachusetts-licensed Professional Engineer. Fall River, New Bedford, and Taunton require drainage details, soil-bearing assumptions, and often geotechnical input for taller walls. Zoning setbacks apply — typically walls cannot sit on the property line without written neighbor consent and must respect side-yard and front-yard requirements of the underlying district.
Unpermitted wall over 4 ft: stop-work order, engineered review required, fines $200 to $1,000 plus potential demolition. Failure to address drainage causing neighbor damage: civil liability plus code enforcement.
Bristol County, MA
Amplified music in Bristol County cities requires entertainment licenses from the local licensing board. Fall River, New Bedford, and Taunton each regulate o...
Bristol County, MA
New Bedford and Fall River ban on-street overnight parking during declared winter snow emergencies. Taunton has no blanket overnight ban but enforces posted ...
Bristol County, MA
EV charger installations in Bristol County require electrical permit under 527 CMR 12. Massachusetts Stretch Code and Specialized Code (780 CMR Appendix 115....
Bristol County, MA
MassWildlife (MGL ch. 131 §5A as amended) prohibits intentional feeding of black bears statewide. Bristol County cities restrict feeding of deer, turkeys, an...
Bristol County, MA
Bristol County is not in a high wildfire-hazard zone like western states, but DCR Bureau of Forest Fire Control enforces MGL ch. 48 §13 open-burning rules. F...
Bristol County, MA
Artificial turf allowed in Bristol County residential yards. No permit unless grading changes. Some Massachusetts communities have restricted synthetic turf ...
See how Somerset's retaining walls rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.