Do You Need a Permit to Build a Retaining Wall in St. George, Utah?

By the team at Beehive Rental & Sales — Serving Southern Utah's contractors and homeowners since 1994.

Building a retaining wall in St. George without knowing the permit rules can cost you thousands in fines, tear-out, and rebuild expenses. Washington County's hillside terrain and expansive soils create unique engineering challenges, and local building departments enforce specific height limits and engineering requirements that many homeowners don't know about until it's too late.

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Quick Answer: In St. George, Utah, retaining walls over 4 feet in height always require a building permit and engineered drawings. Walls under 4 feet generally don't need a permit unless they are in a setback, support a surcharge, or are on a hillside. Contact the St. George Building Department at (435) 627-4120 or BeeHive Rental & Sales at (435) 628-6663 for the equipment you'll need once your permit is approved.

Key Takeaways

• •4-foot rule — Retaining walls over 4 feet (measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall) always require a permit and stamped engineering in St. George
• •Walls under 4 feet may still need permits — If the wall is in a setback, retains a surcharge load (like a driveway), or is on a designated hillside lot, a permit is required regardless of height
• •Engineering is non-negotiable — Any wall over 4 feet must have a licensed structural or geotechnical engineer design it; the city will not issue a permit without stamped drawings
• •Different cities, different rules — St. George, Hurricane, Washington, Ivins, and Santa Clara each have their own building departments with slight variations in requirements
• •Browse retaining wall construction equipment at BeeHive Rental & Sales — excavators, compactors, and skid steers available for daily rental

When a Permit Is NOT Required

Let's start with the good news. You do not need a building permit for a retaining wall in St. George if all of the following conditions are met:

• •The wall is 4 feet or less in height (measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, not from finished grade)
• •The wall does not retain a surcharge — meaning no driveway, structure, or significant load sits on top of or directly behind the wall
• •The wall is not in a building setback (the required distance between the wall and the property line)
• •The wall is not on a designated hillside lot with slope overlay zone requirements
• •The wall is not part of a series of tiered walls that collectively exceed height limits

A simple garden-level block wall or a short landscape retaining wall under these conditions can be built as a DIY project without city involvement.

Important: Even walls that don't require a permit must still comply with property line setbacks and cannot direct drainage onto neighboring properties. Building a wall that causes water to pond against a neighbor's foundation can lead to legal action regardless of permits.

When a Permit IS Required

St. George and surrounding cities require a building permit for retaining walls in the following situations:

Height Over 4 Feet

Any retaining wall exceeding 4 feet in total height (footing base to wall top) requires:

• •A building permit application
• •Engineered drawings stamped by a Utah-licensed structural or geotechnical engineer
• •A site plan showing the wall location relative to property lines and structures
• •Inspections during construction (footing, drainage, and final)

This 4-foot threshold comes from the International Building Code (IBC) Section 105.2, which St. George has adopted with local amendments.

Walls Supporting a Surcharge

If anything heavy sits on top of or directly behind the wall, it's considered a surcharge load. Common surcharges include:

• •Driveways and parking areas — Vehicle weight adds significant lateral pressure
• •Buildings or structures — A shed, garage, or home near the top of a wall increases the load
• •Slopes above the wall — Soil angled down toward the wall pushes harder than level ground
• •Swimming pools — The weight of water behind a wall is enormous

Even a 3-foot wall retaining a driveway will need a permit and engineering in most cases.

Walls in Setback Areas

Every property in St. George has required setbacks — minimum distances between structures and property lines. If your retaining wall falls within a setback, you need a permit and potentially a variance. Setback requirements vary by zone:

• •Front setback: Typically 20–25 feet from the street
• •Side setback: Typically 5–10 feet
• •Rear setback: Typically 15–20 feet

Contact the St. George Planning Department at (435) 627-4206 to confirm setbacks for your specific parcel.

Hillside Overlay Zones

St. George has designated hillside overlay zones covering many neighborhoods in the Bloomington, SunRiver, and Dixie Downs areas. Properties in these zones have additional requirements for any grading, excavation, or retaining wall construction — even for shorter walls. The hillside ordinance is designed to prevent erosion, protect natural terrain, and manage drainage in sloped areas.

Tiered Walls

Some homeowners try to avoid the 4-foot permit rule by building two 3-foot walls stacked with a gap between them. Building departments are wise to this approach. If tiered walls are close enough together that they function as a single retaining system, they are measured as one wall. The general rule: if the horizontal distance between tiers is less than the height of the lower wall, they are treated as a single wall for permitting purposes.

The Permit Process in St. George

If your wall needs a permit, here is what to expect.

Where to Apply

St. George Building Department

• •Address: 175 East 200 North, St. George, UT 84770
• •Phone: (435) 627-4120
• •Online portal: Many applications can be submitted through the city's online permitting system

What You Need to Submit

1. •Permit application form — Available online or at the building department
2. •Site plan — Shows your property boundaries, existing structures, the proposed wall location, setbacks, and drainage patterns. Doesn't need to be professionally drawn but must be accurate and to scale.
3. •Engineered drawings (for walls over 4 feet) — Stamped plans from a licensed engineer showing wall design, materials, reinforcement, drainage, and footing specifications
4. •Property survey (sometimes required) — If the wall is near a property line, the city may require a recent survey to confirm placement

Timeline

• •Plan review: 2–3 weeks for standard residential retaining walls
• •Revisions: If the reviewer has questions or requires changes, add another 1–2 weeks
• •Inspections: Schedule as construction progresses — typically footing inspection before pouring concrete, drainage inspection before backfilling, and final inspection

Fees

Permit fees in St. George are based on project valuation. A typical residential retaining wall permit runs $100–$400. Engineering fees are separate and typically cost $800–$2,500 depending on wall height and complexity.

Permit Requirements in Other Washington County Cities

While St. George's rules apply within city limits, other cities in the county have their own building departments. Here is a quick summary.

Hurricane

• •Building Department: (435) 635-2811
• •Height limit before permit: 4 feet (same as St. George)
• •Hurricane has been experiencing rapid growth in the areas east of town where hillside lots are common — expect scrutiny on retaining walls in these developments

Washington City

• •Building Department: (435) 656-6300
• •Follows IBC standards with local amendments
• •Particularly strict about drainage requirements due to the city's position along the Virgin River corridor

Ivins

• •Building Department: (435) 634-0689
• •Many Ivins lots are in or near the Red Cliffs desert reserve area with additional environmental protections
• •Retaining walls near natural desert washes may require extra environmental review

Santa Clara

• •Building Department: (435) 673-6712
• •Similar 4-foot threshold
• •Historic district near Jacob Hamblin Home may have additional aesthetic requirements

Unincorporated Washington County

• •County Building Department: (435) 634-5700
• •Properties outside city limits go through the Washington County Building Department
• •Generally follows IBC standards, but rural properties may have different setback and drainage requirements

What Equipment You Need for Retaining Wall Construction

Once your permit is approved and plans are in hand, it's time to build. Here is the equipment you'll need, all available for rent from BeeHive Rental & Sales.

Excavation

• •Mini excavator — Digs the footing trench and removes excess soil. Essential for walls over 2 feet where hand digging becomes impractical.
• •Skid steer — Moves excavated material, delivers gravel and backfill, and handles general site work.

Compaction

• •Plate compactor — Compacts the base gravel in the footing trench and each lift of backfill behind the wall. Proper compaction is the most critical factor in long-term wall stability.
• •Jumping jack compactor — For compacting in narrow spaces behind the wall where a plate compactor won't fit.

Material Handling

• •Dump trailer — Hauls in gravel, drain rock, and wall block. Hauls away excess soil.
• •Concrete mixer (if pouring a concrete footing) — For smaller footings where a ready-mix truck isn't practical.

Drainage

• •Trencher — Cuts a trench behind the wall for perforated drain pipe installation.

BeeHive Rental & Sales at 1175 Highland Drive in St. George carries all of this equipment. Call (435) 628-6663 to discuss your project and get equipment recommendations based on your wall design.

Common Retaining Wall Mistakes to Avoid

Building Without a Permit

This is the most expensive mistake. If St. George code enforcement discovers an unpermitted wall (or a neighbor reports it), you face:

• •Stop-work order — Construction halts immediately
• •Fines — Daily fines until the situation is resolved
• •Retroactive permitting — You must apply for a permit after the fact, which means exposing the footing for inspection (possibly requiring partial demolition)
• •Full tear-out — If the wall doesn't meet code, you tear it down and start over at your own expense

Inadequate Drainage

The number one cause of retaining wall failure is water pressure behind the wall. Every retaining wall needs:

• •Perforated drain pipe at the base of the wall, behind the footing
• •Clean drain rock (3/4-inch gravel) filling the space between the wall and the native soil
• •Drainage outlets that direct water away from the wall and downhill
• •Filter fabric separating the drain rock from the native soil to prevent clogging

Skipping Compaction

Every layer of backfill behind a retaining wall must be compacted in lifts (6–8 inch layers). Dumping loose soil behind a wall and walking away guarantees settling, cracking, and eventual failure. Rent a plate compactor and compact every lift.

Wrong Backfill Material

Never backfill behind a retaining wall with clay or topsoil. These materials hold water and expand, creating hydrostatic pressure that pushes the wall outward. Use clean, angular gravel for the drain zone directly behind the wall, and compactable road base material for the remainder of the backfill.

Ignoring the Footing

A retaining wall is only as strong as its foundation. The footing should extend below the frost line (12 inches in St. George), sit on compacted base material, and be sized according to the engineered plans. A retaining wall built on uncompacted native soil will shift and crack within 2–3 years.

FAQ

What height retaining wall requires a permit in St. George, Utah? Any retaining wall over 4 feet in total height (measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall) requires a building permit and stamped engineered drawings in St. George. Walls under 4 feet may also require a permit if they support a surcharge, are in a setback, or are on a hillside lot.

How much does a retaining wall permit cost in St. George? The permit fee itself typically ranges from $100 to $400 depending on project valuation. However, the bigger cost is engineering — stamped drawings from a licensed engineer run $800 to $2,500 depending on wall complexity. Total permitting costs including engineering range from $900 to $2,900.

Can I build a retaining wall myself or do I need a contractor? Homeowners can build their own retaining walls in St. George — there is no requirement to hire a licensed contractor for residential work on your own property. However, walls over 4 feet must be built according to stamped engineering plans, and you are responsible for scheduling all required inspections. For walls under 4 feet, DIY is straightforward with the right equipment.

What happens if I build a retaining wall without a permit in St. George? If code enforcement discovers the unpermitted wall, you may face stop-work orders, daily fines, and a requirement to either obtain a retroactive permit (which may mean partial demolition to expose the footing for inspection) or tear down and rebuild the wall entirely. Neighbor complaints are the most common trigger for enforcement.

What type of retaining wall is best for St. George soil? St. George's caliche and clay soils create high lateral pressure, making engineered segmental block walls or concrete walls the best choices. Timber walls are not recommended — they deteriorate quickly in the desert heat and UV exposure. Gravity block walls (like Allan Block or Versa-Lok) are popular for walls under 4 feet because they don't require mortar and can flex slightly with soil movement.

Building a retaining wall in St. George doesn't have to be complicated, but it does need to be done right. Check with your local building department before you start digging, get engineering for any wall over 4 feet, and plan for proper drainage from day one. When your permit is in hand and you are ready to break ground, BeeHive Rental & Sales has the excavators, compactors, and skid steers to get the job done. Call (435) 628-6663 or view available equipment online to reserve what you need.