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Retaining wall permit checklist — San Bernardino County, California

Assembled from San Bernardino County’s own published permit rules. Every line below is quoted from a city document and linked to it. Nothing here is generated, estimated, or inferred from another jurisdiction.

Do you need a permit?

San Bernardino County requires a permit for a retaining wall.

San Bernardino County requires a permit for 'Retaining Walls over 4 ft. in height,' matching the California Title 24 baseline; the 4-foot measurement runs from footing bottom to wall top. Walls 4 feet and under are exempt unless they support a surcharge or impound flammable liquids. A retaining wall that involves 100 cubic yards or more of grading also triggers a separate county grading permit, and erosion control requirements apply. On the county's steep mountain and foothill parcels, geotechnical reports and engineered wall designs are routinely required, and seismic design is demanding.

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Sources

• retaining wall — permit rules ↗verified August 2026

Other permits San Bernardino County publishes rules for

Listed because the city publishes a separate rule for each type — not because this project necessarily triggers one. Whether it does depends on your scope of work.

• Deck permit checklist
• Fence permit checklist
• Shed permit checklist
• Water heater permit checklist
• Re-roof permit checklist
• Electrical work permit checklist
• General building work permit checklist

BuildSpec is a reference, not the authority having jurisdiction. Confirm requirements with San Bernardino County before you build.