Concrete Retaining Walls in Parkland, WA

Retaining walls in Parkland: what to know

Pierce County’s retaining wall bulletin exempts a wall not over 4 feet tall, read from the footing’s underside to the wall’s crest, unless a surcharge lies within a 45-degree angle of the footing. Walls under 2 feet are exempt from permits. Walls over 4 feet without a surcharge need one, and walls carrying a surcharge over 2 feet need one as well.

The county’s wall FAQ is stricter on loads, saying a wall supporting a surcharge always needs a permit. The two county documents do not agree on short walls with a load, so we ask the Development Center which rule governs before a loaded wall under 2 feet is built. Critical area status is checked before the footing is staked, since county guidance on driveways names critical areas as a possible permit trigger.

Permits and rules in Parkland

We measure the footing-to-top height on the section, and we confirm any surcharge with the Development Center before the wall is priced. We check whether the surcharge lies inside the 45-degree zone, and we verify whether the wall holds back a load from a driveway or structure above it.

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

How we approach it

Read the height from the footing’s underside to the crest
Mark any surcharge that falls inside the 45-degree zone
Ask the Development Center which wall rule governs, in writing
Route wall drainage to an outlet kept off the neighbor’s lot

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 Parkland

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

Questions from Parkland homeowners

Does a Parkland retaining wall over four feet need a county permit?

Yes. The county bulletin requires a permit for a wall over 4 feet, with or without a surcharge. We take the height reading from the footing’s underside to the wall’s crest, then confirm it with the Development Center before the scope is written.

Does a short Parkland wall with a load behind it still need a permit?

It may. The bulletin exempts a surcharged wall up to 2 feet, while the county’s wall FAQ says a surcharged wall always needs a permit. Because those two county sources differ, we ask which one applies before a loaded short wall is built.

Where should water behind a Parkland retaining wall drain?

To an outlet on the parcel that does not push water onto a neighbor. We fix the outlet on the site plan before footing work begins, and we check that it stays clear of the road and any stormwater facility.