West Des Moines, IA Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)

City Code section 8-2A-10 amends International Building Code Section 1807.2 (Retaining Walls) with a one-to-one setback ratio: the setback distance from the property line must equal the height of the retaining wall above grade, so a four-foot wall needs a four-foot setback and an eight-foot wall needs an eight-foot setback. The same section separately amends 1807.2 to add a fall-protection rule: a guard, meaning a guardrail, must be provided along a retaining wall whenever a finished walking surface such as a sidewalk, patio, driveway or parking area sits within 72 inches of the top side of the wall and the wall itself is 30 inches or more above grade, with the 36-inch measurement point taken horizontally at any point along the open side.

An identical guardrail trigger is written into Section R404.4 of the amended International Residential Code for one- and two-family construction, and the retaining wall setback ratio is repeated there as well, so the same one-to-one setback and 30-inch/72-inch guardrail rule governs both commercial and residential retaining walls citywide. The Building Division within Development Services reviews retaining wall plans as part of the building permit process, checking the wall height, the property-line setback and whether a guardrail is required based on wall height and proximity to a walking surface before issuing a permit.