Yucaipa, CA Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Wall behind the building pad
- Maximum six feet high
- Wall in a side yard
- Maximum four feet high
- Wall adjacent to roadways
- Four feet, or six feet total with two three-foot walls
- Minimum horizontal spacing between walls
- Three feet
- Where it applies
- Hillside Overlay District, slopes averaging over 15%
- Slope map certified by
- Registered Civil Engineer or Professional Land Surveyor
Summary
In the City of Yucaipa, California, hillside projects limit retaining walls to six feet behind the building pad, four feet in a side yard, and four feet beside roadways, or six feet total using two three-foot walls. Yucaipa Development Code § 87.1140(d) sets these caps for the Hillside Overlay District.
(d) Retaining walls in the back of the pad on a lot shall be a maximum of six feet (6') in height. Retaining walls in the side yard of a lot shall be a maximum of four feet (4'). Retaining walls may be used with planters in between the walls to soften the effect within a minimum horizontal spacing of three feet (3'). Adjacent to roadways, retaining walls shall be a maximum of four feet (4') high, or a total of six feet (6') if two (2) three-foot (3') walls are used in combination with a minimum horizontal spacing of three (3) feet.
Full Breakdown
Yucaipa Development Code § 87.1140(d), the earth work and land forms rule in Chapter 11 (Regulation of Hillside and/or Ridgeline Developments), sets the retaining wall limits for the City of Yucaipa. Retaining walls in the back of the pad on a lot shall be a maximum of six feet in height. Retaining walls in the side yard of a lot shall be a maximum of four feet. Retaining walls can be used with planters in between the walls to soften the effect within a minimum horizontal spacing of three feet. Adjacent to roadways, retaining walls shall be a maximum of four feet high, or a total of six feet if two three-foot walls are used in combination with a minimum horizontal spacing of three feet.
Scope matters. Section 87.1110 applies the chapter to lands within the Hillside Overlay District designated on the City of Yucaipa General Plan Hillside Overlay District Map and to prominent ridgelines. Its requirements portion applies to all projects in hillside areas with average slopes over 15%, while the guidelines portion is enforced at the discretion of the Community Development Director based on the significance of the project.
The wall caps work alongside other hillside earth work standards in § 87.1140. Building pads in hillside areas shall have a minimum dimension of 60 feet in width measured at the building setback line, manufactured slopes shall not exceed a slope ratio of 2:1, and the maximum slope height is 30 feet between pads or between roads and pads. Under § 87.1135(d), a slope map must accompany any residential development application, and its topographic map shall be prepared and certified by a Registered Civil Engineer or a Professional Land Surveyor. Section 87.1150(b) separately allows privacy walls and fences not exceeding six feet in height adjacent to structures. Under § 87.1140(e), the Community Development Director can apply the road guidelines in the Hillside/Ridgeline Development Manual.
Violations & Fines
Walls built over these caps violate the Development Code, which makes the offense an infraction or misdemeanor under § 81.0205. A first offense carries a fine of not less than $50 and not more than $100, a second offense not less than $100 and not more than $200, and a third offense is a misdemeanor with fines from $500 to $1,000, six months in jail, or both. Each day is a separate offense, and § 81.0225 lets the City seek an injunction.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a retaining wall be in a Yucaipa hillside backyard?
Can I stack two walls to get more height beside a road?
Which Yucaipa properties are covered by the hillside wall rule?
Does a hillside project need engineered topography?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yucaipa
California rules heatmap·Compare Yucaipa to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
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