Concrete Retaining Walls in Poulsbo, WA

Retaining walls in Poulsbo: what to know

The city’s 2018 retaining wall rockery permit form counts total height and exposed height separately. Engineering applies to a wall above four feet total, which the form describes as three feet exposed, and to a rockery above eight feet total, seven feet exposed. The form also lists any retaining structure supporting a surcharge of any kind, so each load pressing on a wall is recorded before the design path is chosen.

A drain behind a wall discharges through an outlet on your own parcel, and we confirm with city staff where that outlet can send its flow before footings go in. We check PMC 16.08 first for any wall inside shoreline jurisdiction, because the shoreline program covers the uplands and waters of Liberty Bay and Dogfish Creek. Walls over the engineering line need plans from an engineer registered in Washington before the permit package is assembled.

Permits and rules in Poulsbo

The wall form’s height lines and surcharge rule set the path, and we measure each wall’s total and exposed height before quoting. We check every load on the wall, including fill, a slope, or a structure pressing against it, and record each one on the wall record. Walls over the engineering line are sent to a Washington State Registered Engineer early, since the form requires plans and calculations wet sealed. We confirm the city’s answer on each wall before the scope is final.

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

How we approach it

Measure total and exposed height for each wall
Record every surcharge or load behind the wall
Send engineered walls to a registered engineer early
Choose the wall drain’s outlet before footings go in

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 Poulsbo

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

Questions from Poulsbo homeowners

What height sends a Poulsbo wall into engineering?

The city’s wall form draws the engineering line at four feet total height and three feet exposed, and at eight feet total with seven feet exposed for rockeries. A retaining structure carrying a surcharge of any kind is listed on the same form, so each load is recorded before the answer is final.

What counts as a surcharge behind a Poulsbo wall?

The form does not define the term in the text we read, so we record any load pressing on the wall, including a slope, fill, or structure, and confirm with city staff how the city treats it before design.

Which outlet can a Poulsbo wall drain use?

An outlet on your own parcel, which we confirm with city staff before the footing is placed. We record the outlet on the wall drawing so the crew sets the fall to it.