Retaining Walls in San Diego

The 3 Foot Rule

The city code exempts retaining walls 3 feet or less in height from a building permit. The height is measured from the top of the footing to the top of the wall. The exemption ends when the wall supports a surchargeA surcharge is extra weight above a wall, like a sloped yard, a driveway or a building. or holds back flammable liquids.

The city homeowner flyer says the same thing in plain words. A permit is needed for walls more than three feet above the footing, or when they support loads.

What Counts as a Surcharge

A surchargeA surcharge is extra weight above a wall, like a sloped yard, a driveway or a building. is extra weight above the wall. A sloped yard behind the wall, a driveway, a parking pad or a building near the top all add load. A 2 foot wall with a driveway right above it can need a permit when a 3 foot wall in a flat yard does not.

Walls Near the Street

A retaining wall in the public right of wayThe public right of way is city land along the street. It often includes the parkway, the sidewalk, the curb and the driveway approach. is street work. Under IB-165, walls there of not more than 3 feet must be submitted with plans. They do not qualify for Rapid Review.

Drainage and Soil

Water is the most common reason a wall leans or fails. Ask how water behind the wall will drain out. Gravel backfill, a perforated drain pipe and weep holes are the usual answers.

For walls and foundations, ask for a soils report. The County says expansive clayExpansive clay soaks up water and swells, then shrinks as it dries. That movement can lift and crack slabs. occurs mostly in the coastal plains, per its soils report. Clay that swells pushes harder on a wall.

Most walls mean digging. Call 811 at least two working days before you dig, per Government Code 4216.2.

Where This Job Comes Up in San Diego

These communities often call for this kind of work, based on their ground and the age of their homes.

• Black Mountain Ranch Walls at slope edges, where the 3 foot and surcharge rules matter.
• Carmel Valley Walls along rear slopes, where a surcharge from the yard can trigger a permit.
• City Heights Walls on lots near canyon edges.
• Clairemont Walls on canyon rim lots.
• College Area Walls on lots that drop toward the valley rim.
• Eastern Area Walls that turn a sloped yard into usable space.
• Encanto Walls on view lots and canyon edges.
• Fairbanks Ranch Walls on valley slope lots.
• Golden Hill Walls on lots near the four canyons.
• Kensington-Talmadge Walls on slope edge lots.
• La Jolla Walls on hillside lots, often with a surcharge from above.
• Linda Vista Walls on lots near Tecolote Canyon.
• Navajo Walls on hillside lots in Del Cerro and San Carlos.
• North Park Walls on canyon edge lots.
• Ocean Beach Walls on sloped lots on The Hill.
• Pacific Beach Walls on the northern hillsides.
• Pacific Highlands Ranch Walls at slope edges.
• Point Loma Walls on terraced and hillside lots.
• Rancho Peñasquitos Walls on hillside and ridge lots.
• Serra Mesa Walls on canyon edge lots.
• Skyline and Paradise Hills Walls that level view yards.
• Tierrasanta Walls on canyon edge lots.
• Torrey Pines Walls on canyon and slope lots.
• Uptown Walls on canyon edge lots.
• Via de la Valle Walls on steep lots, often with a surcharge.

Related Services

• Slabs and Foundations
• Repair and Replacement
• Driveways