Concrete Retaining Walls in Edgewood, WA

Retaining walls in Edgewood: what to know

Many Edgewood properties have grade changes: a back yard that drops away from the house, a cut for the driveway, or ground that falls toward the edge of the upland. A retaining wall can turn that slope into a level, usable area, and several shorter walls in terraces are often a better choice than one tall one.

Dense glacial till doesn’t drain quickly, and water that can’t escape from behind a wall pushes on it every wet season. Footing size, reinforcement, drain rock, and a perforated drain with a working outlet are what let a wall last for decades. A drain with nowhere to discharge just fills up, so we settle the outlet before we pour.

Permits and rules in Edgewood

Walls taller than 4 feet, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top, generally need a permit and engineered plans under Washington’s residential code, and a wall that carries a surcharge such as a driveway above can need one at any height. Steep slopes and other mapped sensitive areas can add review. Edgewood handles permits through its own online portal, and we check the requirements for your parcel before we quote.

Rules change and vary by parcel, so we confirm the current requirements with the city before we start.

How we approach it

Measure height, added load, and slope, and consider terracing
Coordinate engineering and the permit when required
Build the footing, reinforcement, and forms to the design
Backfill with drain rock and install a perforated drain with an outlet

For the full process, see our Retaining Walls page.

Building in the cold months? See our guide to winter concrete pours.

Our retaining walls work, serving Edgewood

Examples of our work. We build retaining walls in Edgewood and the cities around it. See all of our work

Questions from Edgewood homeowners

Would terraced walls be better than one tall wall in Edgewood?

Often, yes. Several shorter walls can stay under permit thresholds in some cases, cost less to engineer, and give you planting beds or level steps. It depends on the slope and the space.

Do I need a permit for a retaining wall in Edgewood?

If it’s over 4 feet from the bottom of the footing, or it supports a driveway or structure, almost certainly. Shorter walls may be exempt, though setbacks and slope rules can still apply.

Can a retaining wall hold up a driveway in Edgewood?

Yes, but that’s a surcharge load and it needs to be designed for it. We’d involve an engineer.