Concrete Retaining Walls in Fircrest, WA

Retaining walls in Fircrest: what to know

The city’s building handout lists retaining walls under its heading for work that needs no permit. The item covers walls that are not over four feet in height, taken from the footing’s base, even if buried, up to the wall’s top edge. The exemption ends when a wall carries a surcharge, which the handout defines as any added weight, such as a fence, patio, or structure. A patio or fence set on top of a wall therefore counts toward that test.

A wall that reaches into the right-of-way is a separate question. Fircrest’s Right-of-Way Encroachment permit is for homeowners who want a structure to encroach into the right-of-way, and the city names fences and rock walls as examples. The pages we read give no height ceiling and no permit path for walls taller than four feet, so a taller wall goes to the city for its answer before we design it.

Permits and rules in Fircrest

We confirm with the city whether a wall needs a permit before we quote it. We check three things: the height from the footing’s base, any surcharge on top, and whether any part of the wall reaches the right-of-way. A wall that stays at four feet or less, carries no surcharge, and stays off the right-of-way fits the handout’s item. Anything outside that goes to the city, and we confirm its answer for your address before we price the wall.

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

How we approach it

Set the height from the footing’s base, even if buried, up to the wall’s top edge
List every fence, patio, or structure that would load the top as a surcharge
Check the property line and the right-of-way edge before the footing is set
Route wall drainage only to an outlet that Public Works has confirmed

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 Fircrest

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

Questions from Fircrest homeowners

Does a retaining wall in Fircrest need a permit?

Not when it fits the handout’s item: a wall that is not over four feet high, with no surcharge such as a fence, patio, or structure on top. A taller wall, or one carrying a surcharge, goes to the city first, and we confirm its answer before we price the work.

What is the tallest retaining wall Fircrest allows without a permit?

The handout’s item stops at four feet, measured from the footing’s base, even if buried, to the top edge of the wall. The pages we read give no height ceiling above that line, so a taller wall is one we take to the city first.

Can a rock wall sit in the right-of-way beside a Fircrest lot?

Only through the city’s process. The Right-of-Way Encroachment permit covers a homeowner who wants a structure to encroach into the right-of-way, and the city names fences and rock walls as examples. We confirm that permit with the city before any rock goes in.