Retaining walls over 4 feet, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top, require a building permit and engineered plans through the St. Joseph County Building Department, which administers Indiana's codes for South Bend.
Retaining walls in South Bend are permitted through the St. Joseph County Building Department, which administers the Indiana building codes for the city. A building permit and stamped engineered plans are required for any retaining wall more than 4 feet high measured from the bottom of the footing to the top, and for a shorter wall that holds back a surcharge such as a driveway or slope above it. Where a retaining wall also functions as a fence, the combined height counts toward the zoning fence limit. Drainage must not be diverted onto adjoining property.
Building an over-4-foot or surcharged wall without a permit and engineering triggers a stop-work order and correction order. A failing wall must be rebuilt to code, and runoff pushed onto a neighbor supports a nuisance claim.
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