The uphill-slope rule
Daly City's handout is explicit: a wall under 48 inches still needs a building permit and a licensed engineer if it supports a surcharge or an excavated uphill slope. Many backyard cuts on hillside lots fall into that category.
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Retaining Walls · Daly City, CA
Retaining Wall Construction in Daly City, CA
Garcia's Landscape & Hardscape builds block, poured concrete and low wood retaining walls on Daly City's hillside lots, with drain rock and pipe behind them. Daly City requires a permit and an engineer's design for walls over 48 inches, and for lower walls that support a surcharge or an excavated uphill slope.
- Daly City 94014, 94015
- 18 years of experience
- Free estimates
Retaining Walls in Daly City
What Daly City homeowners should know
When wood is allowed
Wood walls under 48 inches are permitted if they hold only landscaping backfill and use pressure-treated or decay-resistant lumber. In damp, foggy yards, block or concrete usually lasts longer.
Drainage behind the wall
Daly City's wet winters and clay-heavy hillsides load walls with water. Drain rock, filter fabric and perforated pipe behind the wall relieve that pressure.
Retaining Walls services we offer in Daly City
Block, poured concrete and wood retaining walls that hold back soil on sloped lots, with gravel backfill and drain pipe behind the wall so water can't build up pressure.
- Concrete block (segmental) retaining walls
- Poured concrete walls formed on site
- Low planter and seat walls
- Drain rock, filter fabric and perforated pipe behind the wall
- Steps and terracing on sloped yards
Daly City wall, fence and right-of-way rules
Building Division (650-991-8061) issues wall permits; Engineering (650-991-8064) handles right-of-way, easements and encroachment permits.
| Location / item | Limit |
|---|---|
| Retaining wall over 48 in (bottom of footing to top) | Building permit + licensed engineer design |
| Wall under 48 in holding a surcharge or uphill slope | Building permit + licensed engineer design |
| Wood retaining wall | Under 48 in, landscape backfill only, treated lumber |
| Fence: side and rear yards | 6 ft max (DCMC 17.40.020) |
| Fence: required front yard | 3 ft max |
| Work in the City easement / right-of-way | Check with Engineering; encroachment permit may apply |
Block walls vs. poured concrete walls
| Concrete block (segmental) | Poured concrete | |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Textured block faces and caps | Smooth or formed face; can be clad in stone |
| Typical use | Garden terraces and lower walls | Taller walls, tight lots and walls next to driveways |
| Build | Stacked units, no curing time | Forms, rebar and curing time |
| Drainage | Gravel and drain pipe behind the wall | Gravel, drain pipe and weep openings or a drain |
Our retaining walls process
- 1
Slope and soil check
We look at the height, what the wall will hold back and where the water goes.
- 2
Permit check
Walls over 4 ft from the bottom of the footing, or holding back a driveway, building or slope, need a permit and engineered plans.
- 3
Excavation and footing
We dig the trench and build the footing or leveling pad the wall sits on.
- 4
Build and drain
We set the block or pour the wall, and add drain rock and pipe behind it as it goes up.
- 5
Backfill and finish
We backfill in lifts, cap the wall and restore the planting area.
Retaining Walls in Daly City: FAQ
What retaining walls need a permit in Daly City?
Walls over 48 inches from the bottom of the footing, and walls under 48 inches that support a surcharge or an excavated uphill slope. Both need a building permit and a design by a licensed professional engineer.
Who do I call at Daly City about a wall permit?
The Building Division at 650-991-8061 for wall permits, and the Engineering Division at 650-991-8064 if the wall is near the sidewalk, in an easement or in the right-of-way.
Can a wall be built in a utility easement in Daly City?
Daly City warns that a permanent wall blocking access to an easement can be removed so utilities can reach their equipment. Confirm the property line and easement before building.
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Ready to start your Daly City project?
Garcia's Landscape & Hardscape builds retaining walls projects across Daly City and nearby cities. Estimates are free.