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Official Georgia City and County Regulations for Retaining Wall Building Permits and Engineering Requirements

Below is an information table of Georgia counties and cities with the height of a retaining wall that requires permitting and engineering. We have also included the telephone number for each city or county, and in some cases, the building inspector. We make every effort to ensure this information is accurate, however, as codes and regulations change over time, always verify the information with the appropriate city or county personnel in which you plan to build a retaining wall.

Crosstie, Wood & Landscape Timber Retaining Walls

Most Georgia cities and counties have banned the use of railroad crossties altogether as well as specialty wood and landscape timbers for retaining walls over three feet in height.

Poured Concrete & Modular Block Retaining Walls

Poured concrete and modular block retaining walls may be approved when the wall cannot be seen from the street.

Concrete Masonry Retaining Walls

When visible from the street, the preferred material is concrete masonry retaining walls which feature painted stucco, brick or stacked stone. Unlike the other retaining wall materials, concrete masonry retaining walls actually enhance beauty and add value to your property.

N/A = Not Applicable
M = Mandatory

County
City
Requires Permitting Requires Engineering Contact Information
Appling N/A N/A (912) 367-8100
Atkinson 3 Ft. N/A (912) 422-3391
Baker N/A N/A (229) 734-3000
Baldwin 4 Ft. 4 Ft. (478) 445-4791
Banks N/A N/A (706) 677-6200
Barrow N/A 4 Ft. (770) 307-3005
Bartow 3 Ft. 3 Ft. (770) 387-5030
Ben Hill N/A N/A (229) 426-5100
Berrien N/A N/A (229) 686-5421
Bryan N/A N/A (912) 653-3837
Camden N/A N/A (912) 576-5651
Chattooga N/A N/A (706) 857-0700
Cherokee

Canton

Woodstock
3 Ft.

4 Ft.

4 Ft.
4 Ft. (including the footing)

4 Ft.

4 Ft.
(678) 493-6000

(770) 704-1500

(770) 592-6000
Clinch N/A N/A (912) 487-2667
Cobb

Acworth

Kennesaw

Marietta

Smyrna
3 Ft.

3 Ft.

M

4 Ft.

4 Ft.
3 Ft.

3 Ft.

2 Ft.

4 Ft.

4 Ft.
(770) 528-2018

(770) 974-3112

(770) 424-8274

(770) 794-5530

(770) 434-6600
Columbia 4 Ft. 2-4 Ft. (706) 312-7388
Crisp N/A N/A (229) 276-2672
Dawson 4 Ft. 6 Ft. (706) 344-3501
Decatur 4 Ft. N/A (229) 248-3030
DeKalb

Brookhaven

Dunwoody
M

4 Ft.

4 Ft.
M

4 Ft.

4 Ft.
(404) 371-2000



(678) 382-6700
Dodge N/A 5-6 Ft. (478) 374-4361
Echols N/A N/A (229) 559-6538
Effingham M M (912) 754-2123
Elbert N/A N/A (706) 212-1000
Evans N/A N/A (912) 739-1141
Fannin N/A N/A (706) 632-2203
Floyd 4 Ft. 4 Ft. (706) 291-5110
Forsyth

Cumming
6 Ft.

4 Ft.
6 Ft.

4 Ft.
(770) 781-2101

(770) 781-2010
Franklin N/A N/A (706) 384-2483
Fulton

Alpharetta

Atlanta

Johns Creek

Milton

Roswell

Sandy Springs

South Fulton
4 Ft.

4 Ft.

M

4 Ft.

4 Ft.

3 Ft.

4 Ft.

4 Ft.
6 Ft.

4 Ft.

4 Ft.

4 Ft.

4 Ft.

4 Ft. (including the footing)

6 Ft.

6 Ft.
(404) 612-4000

(678) 297-6000

(404) 330-6000

(678) 512-3200

(678) 242-2500

(770) 641-3727

(770) 730-5600

(470) 809-7205
Glascock N/A N/A (706) 598-2863
Glynn N/A N/A (912) 554-7400
Greene 4 Ft. N/A (706) 453-7716
Gwinnett

Buford

Duluth

Norcross

Sugar Hill

Suwanee
4 Ft.

M

3 Ft.

4 Ft.

M

4 Ft.
6 Ft.

4 Ft.

3 Ft.

4 Ft.

4 Ft.

4 Ft.
(678) 518-6000

(770) 945-6761

(770) 476-3434

(770) 448-2122

(770) 945-6716

(770) 945-8996
Habersham N/A 9 Ft. (706) 754-1739
Hall

Gainesville
4 Ft.

M
4 Ft.

4 Ft.
(770) 535-8288

(770) 535-6865
Hancock N/A N/A (706) 444-5746
Haralson N/A 10 Ft. (770) 646-2002
Heard 4 Ft. 4 Ft. (706) 675-3700
Houston N/A N/A (478) 542-2018
Jackson 4 Ft. 8 Ft. (706) 367-6312
Lumpkin

Dahlonega
5 Ft.

4 Ft.
10 Ft.

8 Ft.
(706) 864-3742

(706) 864-6133