Concrete Retaining Walls in Everett, WA

Retaining walls in Everett: what to know

The one- and two-family exemption sheet exempts a retaining wall that is not over four feet measured from the footing base to the top course, that does not support a surcharge, that sits outside the public right-of-way, and that complies with land use requirements. The sheet does not define surcharge, so we record every load behind each wall before classifying it.

The city’s handout adds three conditions. Walls from four to six feet need textured facing where they show from a public right-of-way or residential zoning. Walls over six feet holding fill fall under the accessory building setback rules unless the planning director approves otherwise. Any wall within 200 feet of a geological hazard area needs a geotechnical report. Each of those items goes into the scope where it applies.

Permits and rules in Everett

We take each wall’s height from its footing base to its top, record every surcharge, and check the height against the four-foot line before quoting. A wall over four feet, or with a surcharge, goes to the Public Works permit track, and the facing, setback, and geotechnical items are scoped where they apply. We verify each measurement on site, and we confirm the geological hazard distance with the city before the design is fixed.

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

How we approach it

Take the wall height from the footing base to the top course
Record every surcharge pressing on the back of the wall
Add textured facing where a four to six foot wall shows from the street
Check the geological hazard distance before the design is fixed

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 Everett

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

Questions from Everett homeowners

What is the tallest Everett retaining wall the exemption covers?

Not over four feet, measured from the footing base to the top course, with no surcharge, outside the public right-of-way, and in line with land use requirements. Anything beyond those limits goes to the Public Works permit track.

Does a bank behind an Everett retaining wall count as a surcharge?

The city’s exemption sheet does not define surcharge, so we treat any load pressing on the back of the wall as a question and confirm the answer with the city before the design is fixed.

Does an Everett retaining wall over six feet need a setback?

Over six feet holding fill, the handout points to the accessory building setback requirements unless the planning director approves otherwise. We check the setback and the wall’s location before the footing is laid out.