Retaining Walls in Escondido
In Escondido a retaining wall up to 4 feet tall is exempt from a building permit, measured from the bottom of the footing, unless it holds a Extra load above or behind a wall. The Escondido guideline counts a sloping backfill as a surcharge.. A slope behind the wall counts as one.
At a Glance
- Up to 4 feet, footing bottom to wall top, is exempt.
- Any wall holding a surcharge needs a permit.
- A sloping backfill counts as a surcharge.
- Clay soil makes a soils report worth asking about.
How the City Measures
The Escondido guideline lists retaining walls not over 4 feet as exempt work. The height runs from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, not from the ground you can see. A wall that looks 3 feet tall can measure over 4 once the footing is counted.
The Surcharge Catch
The exemption does not apply if the wall supports a Extra load above or behind a wall. The Escondido guideline counts a sloping backfill as a surcharge.. The guideline says a sloping backfill is a surcharge. Many Escondido yards step up a hill, so a short wall at the base of a slope may still need a permit.
Soil, Drainage and Grading
Expansive clay near Escondido pushes harder on a wall when it gets wet. Ask for a soils report on any wall that holds a slope or sits near a drive. Ask how water gets out from behind the wall, since trapped water adds load.
Engineering handles grading in the city at (760) 839-4651. If the wall goes with cut or fill work, ask them first.
Questions for the Contractor
- How tall is the wall from the bottom of the footing?
- Does anything sit above or behind it, like a slope or a drive?
- Who pulls the permit if one is needed?
- How will water drain from behind the wall?
Common Questions
How tall can a retaining wall be without a permit in Escondido?
Up to 4 feet, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, as long as it does not support a surcharge.
What is a surcharge on a retaining wall?
Extra load above or behind the wall. The Escondido guideline says a sloping backfill counts as a surcharge, so a wall below a slope may need a permit at any height.
Should I get a soils report for a retaining wall?
County records list highly expansive clay near Escondido. For a wall that holds a slope or sits near a driveway, a soils report is worth asking about.