St. George, UT Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Front yard height cap
- 4 ft (residential), 6 ft (commercial)
- Max overall height
- 10 ft residential, 12 ft commercial
- Permit trigger
- 4 feet or taller
- Front 10 ft behind sidewalk
- no retaining wall allowed
- Near structures
- geotechnical report required within 10 ft
Summary
St. George caps front-yard retaining walls at 4 feet in residential zones and requires a city permit and engineering documents once any wall hits 4 feet tall.
In a residential zone in the required front yard setback, no retaining wall shall exceed four feet (4') in height. In a commercial or manufacturing zone in the required front yard setback, no retaining wall shall exceed six feet (6') in height. Furthermore, within the front ten feet (10') behind the sidewalk or property line if no sidewalk exists, no retaining wall shall be constructed.
B. The slope from sidewalk grade to face of wall shall not exceed a 10H:1V slope.
C. On a street side, a retaining wall less than four feet (4') in height may be constructed, if set back a minimum of five feet (5'), measured from the back of sidewalk, or back of curb where no sidewalk exists. A combination fence and retaining wall shall not exceed eight feet (8') in height.
D. On a street side, a retaining wall four feet (4') or greater in height may be constructed, if set back a minimum of ten feet (10'), measured from the back of sidewalk, or back of curb where no sidewalk exists. A combination fence and retaining wall shall not exceed ten feet (10') in height.
E. On a street side where a retaining wall is below street grade, the retaining wall shall not exceed maximum height of ten feet (10') nor be constructed within the municipal utility easement or public right-of-way (including, but not limited to, geogrid, footings, etc.).
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-062, passed August 6, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Under City Code section 10-18-2, a retaining wall in a residential front yard setback tops out at 4 feet (6 feet in commercial or manufacturing zones), and no wall of any height may sit within the front 10 feet behind the sidewalk. Overall wall height is capped at 10 feet in residential zones and 12 feet in commercial/manufacturing. Section 10-18-5 requires a city permit for any rockery, segmental block, reinforced concrete, or CMU wall 4 feet or taller, unless it already appears on an approved site development plan. Permit applications must include a site plan, cross-sectional drawings, and a geotechnical report.
Violations & Fines
Building without the required permit or exceeding the height/setback limits is a code violation enforced by the city building department; noncompliant walls can be ordered corrected or removed, and a geotechnical investigation report is mandatory for any wall within 10 feet of a structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a St. George retaining wall?
How tall can my front yard retaining wall be?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. George
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