Retaining Wall Construction: Do I really need a permit?

Are you thinking of building an Allan Block retaining wall, fence, or courtyard patio? If so, you may be wondering “Do I need a building permit to do this job?” or “How tall can I build this wall before I need a permit?” You are not alone. This is a very common question when it comes to building patios, fences, and retaining walls.

Unfortunately, there is no one simple answer to either of these questions. Every state, city, county, and municipality is varied in what they require a building permit for. Below is an excerpt from the City of Saint Paul on what they require a building permit for. As you can see the city requires a permit for any fence application. When building a retaining wall over four feet tall a building permit is required. A simple Google search ought to turn up similar documents for your local city. You can’t find your local permit requirements via the internet? Try calling your local city offices. Ask to speak to somebody in the Department of Safety and Inspections. Somebody in their office should be able to provide you with your local permit requirements for any and all applications.

Once you’ve sorted out whether or not you need a permit, you might want to consider hiring an AB Certified Contractor. Our Certified Contractors are well versed in how to install all of our AB Products. They are well versed in both our Best Practices and Commercial Installation Manual. This will ensure whether you’re building an AB Fence, Courtyard, or Retaining Wall project it will stand the test of time for many years.