The purpose of all retaining walls is to hold soil behind them. However, the specific needs will vary depending on the project. An approved residential permit by the Building Division might be required for a retaining wall depending on the scope and scale of the wall.
General Guidelines for a Residential Retaining Walls:
Retaining walls that are not laterally supported at the top and that retain in excess of 48 inches (1219 mm) of unbalanced fill, or retaining walls exceeding 24 inches (610 mm) in height that resist lateral loads in addition to soil, shall be designed in accordance with accepted engineering practice to ensure stability against overturning, sliding, excessive foundation pressure and water uplift. Retaining walls shall be designed for a safety factor of 1.5 against lateral sliding and overturning. This section shall not apply to foundation walls supporting buildings.
Note: All work shall comply with the 2021 International Residential Code.