Vallejo, CA Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Fence-on-wall height cap
- 6 ft (Sec. 16.505.06)
- Grading permit exempt
- Unsupported cut of 5 ft or less
- Grading permit required
- Unsupported cut over 5 ft
- Grading plans
- Sealed by licensed engineer (12.40.050)
- Late-start penalty
- Grading fee doubled (12.40.040.E)
- General penalty
- $100-$1,000 fine, Sec. 1.12.010
Summary
A fence built on top of a retaining wall in Vallejo can't exceed 6 feet, measured from the highest finished grade within 3 feet of the wall's base. Separately, excavating for the retaining wall itself needs a grading permit once the unsupported cut exceeds 5 feet, even with a building permit already in hand.
16.505.06 - Fencing on retaining walls. The height of fences constructed on or attached to retaining walls shall not exceed six feet measured vertically from the highest finished grade within a three-foot radius of the base of the wall to the highest point of the fence or wall directly above as shown in Section 16.104.15, Measuring Height of Fences or Walls. [12.40.030.A:] An excavation below finished grade for basements and footings of a building, retaining wall, swimming pool, or other structures authorized by a valid building permit. This subsection shall not exempt from permit requirements any excavation having an unsupported height greater than five feet after the completion of such structure.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Update 12 - 25).
Full Breakdown
Two chapters govern retaining walls in Vallejo. 15. That 6-foot cap applies to the fence portion sitting atop the retaining wall, not the retaining wall's own structural height. 40, Excavations, Grading and Filling. A exempts an excavation for a retaining wall's footings from the general grading permit requirement only if it's authorized by a valid building permit and the excavation doesn't leave an unsupported cut face greater than five feet after the wall is finished; the subsection expressly states that exemption does not apply to any excavation with an unsupported height greater than five feet after completion.
050 requires plans prepared by a state-licensed engineer showing contours, drainage devices, and the location of structures within fifty feet. 040 layers on plan-checking and grading permit fees set by council resolution, doubled under subsection E if work starts before the permit issues. A low retaining wall built purely under a building permit can skip the grading permit, but a taller wall, or one with more than five feet of unsupported cut, needs both a building permit for the wall and a separate grading permit reviewed by the city engineer.
Violations & Fines
Building a retaining wall with more than five feet of unsupported excavation without the required grading permit doubles the eventual permit fee under Section 12.40.040.E and exposes the owner to Vallejo's general penalty, Section 1.12.010: an infraction ($100-$500 fine) or misdemeanor ($500-$1,000 fine, up to six months in county jail, or both), with each day of unpermitted work counted as a separate offense; a fence atop the wall exceeding the 6-foot cap in Section 16.505.06 is enforced the same way.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can I build a fence on top of my retaining wall in Vallejo?
Do I need a separate permit to build the retaining wall itself?
What if I start grading before getting the permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Vallejo
California rules heatmap·Compare Vallejo to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
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How other cities in Solano County handle retaining walls.