INTRODUCTION

Retaining Walls, including shoring structures, are structural systems that provide lateral
support for vertical or near-vertical slopes of soil. Several common types of Retaining Walls
include: gravity, semigravity, cantilever, soldier pile, sheet pile, proprietary modular block,
mechanically stabilized earth, and soil nail retaining walls however walls constructed of rock
from the earth does not consider rockeries to be Retaining Walls.
DEFINITIONS
Wall Height. For permitting purposes, Retaining Wall height is defined as the height
measured vertically from the finished grade at the exposed toe of the Retaining Wall to the
highest point of the finished wall.
Setback Area Height. For setback purposes, Retaining Wall Setback Area Height is defined
as the height measured vertically from the original grade to the highest point of the Retaining
Wall supporting soil.
GENERAL PERMIT REQUIREMENTS
A Retaining Wall permit shall be required when any of the following conditions apply:
1. Retaining Walls greater than four (4) feet in height to eight (8) feet in height.
Peer review and special inspection are not required for Retaining Walls 8 feet
or less in height unless a special environmental or potentially hazardous
conditions exists
2. Retaining Walls greater than eight (8) feet in height,
Peer review and special inspection are required
3. Retaining Walls of any height located in a designated Critical Area other than
Erosion Hazard area.
Peer review and special inspection are required for all Retaining Walls
located in designated Geologically Hazardous Critical Areas
4. Retaining Walls of any height supporting a surcharge from a street, road, alley,
driveway, parking, building, structure or other surcharge or Retaining Walls that
impound flammable liquids or hazardous materials.
Peer review and special inspections are required for Retaining Walls grater
than 6 feet in height
5. Terraced Retaining Walls are subject to the noted conditions above for permit
requirements and exemptions; the following conditions also apply:
The upper tier shall be setback from the lower tier a distance equal to, or
greater than, the height of the lower Retaining Wall tier.
If the distance between the upper tier and the lower tier is less than the height
of the lower tier then the lower tier shall be considered to support a surcharge
from the upper tier and a permit shall be required and be subject to the
requirements of this handout

RETAINING WALL CONSTRUCTION

For gravity block and modular block retaining walls, the contractor shall follow the
manufacturers recommended installation procedure. For all other types of retaining walls,
the contractor shall follow the plans and specifications prepared by the record.
Keyway
The Engineer of Record shall determine the minimum embedment for all walls in accordance
with the manufacturers recommendations or as required by the International Building Code.
Wall Backfill
For gravity and modular block retaining walls, the backfill material shall be placed in lifts to
an elevation approximately six (6) inches below the top of each course of blocks, until the
uppermost course is placed. Any backfill material on the bearing surface of one block course
shall be removed before setting the next course. For all other types of retaining walls, the
contractor shall follow the approved plans and specifications prepared by the Engineer of
Record.
Backfilling
When fill is placed behind a Retaining Wall, the soil parameters for design are based on the
knowledge of the proposed fill soils and the anticipated control of the compaction. Special
inspection by a licensed geotechnical engineer is required to verify that the soils and
compaction procedures are proper and the compacted soils properties achieve the design
parameters.
Underdrain
A minimum six (6) inch diameter rigid perforated or slotted drainpipe shall be placed in a
shallow excavated trench located along the backside of the Retaining Wall. The pipe shall be
placed on the surrounded by Gravel Backfill for Drains to a minimum height of 1-6
above the bottom of the pipe. A filter fabric shall surround the gravel backfill and shall have
a minimum 1-0 overlap along the top surface of the gravel. This requirement for fabric
may be waived by the Engineer of Record if soils and water conditions make it unnecessary.
The perforated drainpipe shall be connected to the storm drainage system (other than
detention) or an approved outfall.
Terraced Retaining Walls
Each tier of the terraced Retaining Wall shall be installed in accordance with the prescriptive
installation design standards described herein and reflected in the diagrams on the project
specific plans and specifications prepared by the Engineer of Record. For gravity block and
modular block retaining wall installed in accordance with the prescriptive design standards
described herein, the upper Retaining Wall tier shall not be located within a horizontal
distance from the lower Retaining Wall tier equal to the height of the lower Retaining Wall.

DESIGN CRITERIA FOR RETAINING WALLS

General
There are two types of Retaining Walls; one type is protecting, typically used for soils that
are capable of standing by themselves without support and the other type is retaining or
supporting, for soils that are not capable of standing or remaining at the existing slope.
GENERAL INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS
1. If the Retaining Wall is located on private property and is permitted as part of a
building permit or as a separate Retaining Wall permit for the following inspections,
including but not limited to:
Location and Setbacks
Verification of Bearing Soil
Placement of Reinforcement
Wall Drainage (behind wall and to a point one foot away from wall)
Drainage dispersal inspection (inspected by City Engineer for drainage on
foot away from wall to approved dispersal area)
Final Inspection and Height
TYPES OF RETAINING WALLS PURPOSED