Do you need a permit for a retaining wall in Alexandria, VA?
It depends on the details of your project.
Alexandria's soil policy treats walls holding back 2 ft or more of soil as permit work, stricter than the 3 ft line in Virginia's code.
Walls over 5 ft need a soil report.
Walls up to 2 ft may stand in any yard.
A person last checked these rules on October 20, 2026. This is guidance only, so confirm with Alexandria before you build.
Check your exact lot
Your zoning district sets the setbacks, and a flood zone can change the permit answer. Enter your address to see both.
Permits a retaining wall can need in Alexandria
| Permit | When it applies |
|---|---|
| Building permit | Alexandria's 2024 soil policy requires a permit, with a detail package or design, for retaining walls holding back 2 ft or more of soil. Virginia's code sets the line at 3 ft, so ask Code Administration which applies to your wall.Medium confidence |
| Floodplain development permit | Grading and walls in a FEMA special flood hazard area need a permit. |
| RPA review (Environmental Management Ordinance) | In a Resource Protection Area, new structures and paving are not among the uses the city's Environmental Management Ordinance allows outright (Zoning Ordinance § 13-107). They need approval from the Director of Transportation and Environmental Services, usually as an exception under § 13-119 backed by a water quality impact assessment. |
| Board of Architectural Review approval | In Old and Historic Alexandria or Parker-Gray, exterior work visible from a public way needs a certificate of appropriateness from the Board of Architectural Review, even when no building permit is required. |
Limits that apply citywide
| Engineering | 2 to 5 ft: detail package, 1,500 psf design or soil report; over 5 ft: soil report |
|---|---|
| In a required yard | Walls up to 2 ft are allowed in any yard |
| Corner lots | Nothing over 4 ft above curb grade inside the 30 ft corner triangle |
Local details
- Call 811 at least a few days before you dig footings or post holes. Utility locating is free.
- HOA covenants and deed restrictions can be stricter than city rules. Check yours before you build.
How to apply
Common questions
- When does a retaining wall need a building permit in Alexandria?
- Alexandria's 2024 soil policy requires a permit, with a detail package or design, for retaining walls holding back 2 ft or more of soil. Virginia's code sets the line at 3 ft, so ask Code Administration which applies to your wall. A retaining wall holding back less than 2 ft of soil, with no surcharge, needs no permit.
- Where do I apply for a retaining wall permit in Alexandria?
- Apply through APEX permit portal, or call 703-746-4200.
Sources
- City of Alexandria Code Administration, Soil policy (2024). Checked 2026-10-21
[Retaining walls] Under 2 feet of unbalanced fill: no permit. 2 to 5 feet: a detail package, a 1,500 psf design, or a soil report. Over 5 feet: a soil report is required... [New one- and two-family dwellings: a signed and sealed soil report, flagging] expan…
- Virginia USBC, 13VAC5-63-80 Section 108.2, Exemptions from application for permit. Checked 2026-10-23
2. One story detached structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, or similar uses, provided the building area does not exceed 256 square feet... 5. Fences of any height unless required for pedestrian safety as provided for by Section 3306 or used…
- 44 CFR 59.1, definition of development (NFIP). Checked 2026-10-19
Development means any man-made change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to buildings or other structures...
- 44 CFR 60.3, floodplain management criteria. Checked 2026-10-19
Require permits for all proposed construction or other development in the community...
- City of Alexandria Zoning Ordinance Article XIII, Environmental Management, §§ 13-107 and 13-119 (Municode). Checked 2026-10-23
13-107 - Development, redevelopment, and uses permitted in RPAs. The following criteria shall apply in RPAs unless the development, redevelopment, use, or land-disturbing activity is exempted under section 13-123 or granted an exception pursuant to section …
- Virginia Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area Designation and Management Regulations (9VAC25-830-80, -140). Checked 2026-10-21
Land development may be allowed in the Resource Protection Area, subject to approval by the local government, only if it [is water dependent, is redevelopment, or fits the other listed cases]... The 100-foot wide buffer area shall be the landward component …
- City of Alexandria Code Administration, PP 2012-01 When is a permit required (April 12, 2012). Checked 2026-10-20
Other City agencies [Planning and Zoning, Board of Architectural Review, Transportation and Environmental Services, Health Department] may still need to review and approve work even when no building permit is required... For specific requirements, contact t…
- City of Alexandria Zoning Ordinance §§ 7-101, 7-202, 7-801, 7-1101, 7-1102 (Municode, Supp. 103). Checked 2026-10-21
[7-202(A)] Arbors, trellises and pergolas, provided that such structures: (a) Shall not exceed ten feet in height... (c) Shall remain 80 percent open... (10) Walls which do not exceed two feet in height... (12) Structures or mechanical equipment associated …