Residential Retaining Walls

Before beginning your project, there steps to take to make sure your project will be in compliance with State and local regulations regarding land and construction.

Step 1: Determine Special Development Conditions

Before determining if a building permit is required for my project, is there any specific information I need to know from the City of Rocklin?
Yes. You should determine if there are any special development conditions for your project. Please contact the Building Division at 916.625.5120 for general information. In some cases, you may need to contact individual divisions. In addition, you should also determine if there are any CC&Rs (Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions) or other deed restrictions for your subdivision and/or property. You may want to contact your homeowner's association for more information. Once you have determined the applicable conditions for your project, you will need to determine if a building permit is required for your project.

Step 2: Determine If Building Permit Is Required

When does a retaining wall require a building permit?
Retaining walls over 4 feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall and retaining walls of any height that support a surcharge such as a slope or structure require a building permit. I have determined that a permit is required for my project. What plans and forms do I need to submit to the City of Rocklin?
The following forms are provided for your convenience. Original signatures are required to obtain a permit. Please do not fax.

(Please note: Some plans or calculations may not always be necessary. You should contact the Building Division for more specific information or if you have questions regarding your permit application.)

• Application for Permit
• Project Contact Information Sheet Project Contact Information Sheet
• 2 Sets of Complete Building Plans (include Plot Plan) Please note: Some plans require engineering.
• Grading and Erosion and Sedimentation Control Statement
• Owner Builder Verification Form (This form is only for property owners applying for their own permits.)

When the plans and forms are submitted, will I be required to pay a plan check deposit?
Prior to May 1, 2011 a deposit will not be required. Effective May 1, 2011, a plan check deposit will be required at the time of submittal.
Plan Check Deposit Schedule

Where should I submit the forms and plans?
Building Division
Administration Building, 1st Floor
3970 Rocklin Road
Rocklin, CA 95677

Step 3: Project Review

After I submit my plans, what happens next?
At the time of submittal, the project will be assigned a tracking number (plan check number) that will be used to track the progress of the plans and plan review. The plans will then be distributed by Building staff to the necessary City Departments for their review and comment. Upon receipt of the plans, each department will assign a staff member to the project. Each department's staff member will perform an independent review of the project and forward their comments to the person designated on the Project Contact Information Sheet. The contact person is responsible for addressing each department's comments and resubmitting revised plans, as needed. This step will continue until each department's comments have been adequately addressed.

Step 4: Project Approval

After the plans are approved by all required City departments, what is the next step?
Once the reviewing departments approve the project they will notify the Building Division of their approval. At this time final fees due will be calculated and the project paperwork will be prepared for issuance. Once the fees are calculated and the paperwork is ready, the project contact person will be notified.

Step 5: Pay Fees and Permit Issuance

Once I pay any applicable City of Rocklin building permit fees, will my permit be issued?
Yes. Once the plans are approved and all fees are paid, the building permit will be issued.

Step 6: Building Inspections

Once the permit is issued and construction begins, should I request inspections from the City of Rocklin Building Division?
Yes. Inspections that follow the issuance of the permit are provided to ensure that work completed on the project meets current building codes and standards. To learn how to schedule an inspection, please visit our Residential Building Inspection page.

Step 7: Project completion

Once the project passes its final inspection, is there anything else that needs to be done?
No. After your project passes the final inspection, the project will be considered complete.

Related Forms, Links, and Handouts

• Agency Directory
• Residential Project Fee Estimator (Currently Unavailable)

Questions?
Contact the Building Division at 916.625.5120. Please note: Every project is different and the process may vary slightly. The information provided is for general reference only.