Worcester, MA Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)

Retaining walls in Worcester County are regulated by 780 CMR 1807 (Foundations/Retaining Walls) of the MA State Building Code, 10th Edition. Walls 4 feet or less in height (measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall) with no surcharge typically do not require a building permit, though local zoning may still apply. Walls over 4 feet require a building permit and engineered plans stamped by a Massachusetts-licensed Professional Engineer. Surcharge loads — sloped backfill, driveways, parking, structures, or adjacent fences above the wall — lower the exempt threshold in practice, as even a 3-foot wall with significant surcharge must be designed to resist the lateral loads. 780 CMR 1807.2 requires proper drainage behind all retaining walls, typically gravel backfill and perforated drain pipe. Setbacks from property lines are set by local zoning — commonly 0-5 feet depending on wall height. Walls within 100 feet of a wetland or 200 feet of a perennial stream require Conservation Commission review under MGL c. 131, §40. Segmental modular block walls over 4 ft typically require geogrid reinforcement per manufacturer specs plus PE stamp. Large retaining walls on commercial sites may require geotechnical investigation. Worcester County towns in hilly areas (Princeton, Westminster, Sterling, Hubbardston) see frequent retaining wall permits. Walls along public ways may require additional MassDOT or municipal DPW coordination.