Retaining Walls - Construction Requirements
Residential
All walls require a permit. Walls are measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the fill. Walls less than 48” with unbalanced fill is measured up to 4’ behind the wall.
Retaining walls supporting more than 48” of unbalanced fill require: engineered plans, a building permit, and a sealed 3rd party verification letter at inspection.
Walls taller than 30” from grade require a 36” guard or rail at the top for safety.
Commercial
Any commercial wall or system - providing a cumulative vertical relief greater than five feet in height within a horizontal distance of 50 feet including retaining walls or mechanically stabilized earth walls, shall be designed under the responsible charge of the registered design professional.
Design of all retaining walls is to be per NC Building Code section 1806.2.
- Detailed retaining wall design drawings, sealed by a NC Licensed Engineer, will be submitted to the Town of Waxhaw prior to construction.
- A NC Licensed Engineer must perform construction observation, verifying in a sealed letter to the local authority that retaining walls are constructed per the engineered drawings, in compliance with section 1806.2 of the NC Building Code.
Certificates of Occupancy or Certificates of Compliance will only be issued after receipt of the Engineer’s sealed letter by the Town of Waxhaw Planning and Inspections Staff.
Walls built without proper permitting approvals are subject to work stoppage, fines, or potential civil action for removal.
