A retaining wall is a structure that holds back soil or rock from a building, structure or area. Retaining walls are those walls designed to prevent downslope movement or erosion and provide support for vertical or near-vertical grade changes and are generally made of masonry, stone, brick, concrete, vinyl, steel or timber. Further, retaining walls are those walls designed to ensure stability against overturning, sliding, excessive foundation pressure and water uplift are designed against lateral sliding and overturning.
(Ordinance 2009-265 adopted 1/12/09)
Retaining walls that are not laterally supported at the top and that retain in excess of 48 inches (1,219 mm) of unbalanced fill shall be designed to ensure stability against overturning, sliding, excessive foundation pressure and water uplift. Retaining walls shall be designed for a safety factor of 1.5 against lateral sliding and overturning.
(Ordinance 2009-265 adopted 1/12/09)
No retaining wall may be built in the town without a permit. The town administrator or his designee shall issue a permit allowing the construction of any retaining wall in the town that is in conformity to the provisions of this article. An application for a permit shall be filed with the town administrator and shall contain all information relevant to determine the location, construction materials, size and placement of any proposed retaining wall as well as the name, address and phone number of the applicant and, if known, the owners of adjacent property. The applicant also shall provide as a part of the permit application sealed engineering drawings of the proposed retaining wall. An application shall not be considered complete or submitted unless accompanied by an application fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00) and the applicant shall pay for all fees incurred by the town for professional engineering review of the sealed engineering drawings. Professional engineering fees shall be billed to the applicant at one hundred twenty percent (120%) of invoice amounts. Failure to pay the permit fee or any professional invoice amounts shall result in the denial of a permit. For any permit that is denied or otherwise not issued by the town, an applicant may appeal such denial in accordance with those procedures outlined in the town’s building code.
(Ordinance 2009-265 adopted 1/12/09)
Any person found in violation of any of the provisions of this article shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $500.00, and each and every day such violation shall continue shall constitute a separate offense.
(Ordinance 2009-265 adopted 1/12/09)