When Does a Retaining Wall Need a Railing? Safety Advice

Retaining walls are irreplaceable in landscaping. However, some local building codes require a railing on retaining walls if they’re a specific size and location. If you don’t have a railing on certain retaining walls, you’ll risk fines (while also being told to add the railing, which will cost more money added to the fine).

A retaining wall needs a railing when it’s 30 inches high or when it’s dividing property lines between residential homes. You usually don’t need to have a fence around a retaining wall if it’s not used as a property barrier. Fences don’t act as rails because they don’t have the same requirements.

Throughout this article, we’ll break down when a retaining wall needs a railing, whether or not you need a fence around the wall, and why fences don’t replace railing on some retaining walls.

How Tall Can a Wall Be Without a Railing?

A wall can be up to 30 inches without a railing. However, that could change if the wall divides property lines or prevents entry to a hazardous area. For example, you might need a railing on any retaining wall between property lines or around swimming pools (depending on local building codes).

InspectApedia explains you need a closed, secured railing system on any retaining walls over 30 inches tall. You’ll also need to obtain a permit to ensure the railing is upgraded and updated to standard building codes. If it’s not secured to the ground or it doesn’t prevent anything from entering the area, your permit might get denied.

Some people prefer building fences around retaining walls rather than opting for railing. However, there are many different codes for fences and railings. Let’s dive into everything you should know before picking one in the following sections.

Do You Have To Have a Fence Around a Retaining Wall?

While you typically don’t need a fence around a retaining wall, it’s important to know that some residential properties require them. Always ask your HOA or contact local builders to know the correct requirements. In most cases, you can put a fence three feet behind a retaining wall if it’s between properties.

Keep these things in mind beforehand:

• You almost always need a permit to build retaining walls and fences. Never build fences, railings, and other barriers without obtaining a permit. The last thing you want is a fine. Furthermore, you could end up learning a lot more about the local requirements by getting an inspection prior to getting the permit.
• Your fence might need to be slightly inched onto your property line rather than right down the middle. Most city codes want the fence to be on the fence owner’s property line, so it doesn’t affect the neighbor. However, you can get a written agreement from your neighbor to have the fence between property lines.
• Fences need to be at least three feet behind retaining walls unless they’re mounted to engineered retaining walls. DIY Retaining Wall explains most retaining walls need a three-foot gap between them and any nearby fence. However, you can mount a fence to an engineer retaining wall if you want additional support.
• Installing a fence around your property could affect your home warranty. In some cases, it’ll help you out quite a bit because it protects your property. We recommend contacting your home warranty provider before getting a fence, railing, or retaining wall. It’s best to know if your payment will change before getting the permit.

Will a Fence Act as a Railing?

A fence won’t act as a railing because it’s not as sturdy as a railing, it doesn’t have the same weight capacity, and they have different building requirements. Furthermore, a railing is designed to expect force, whereas fences are made as visual barriers. Fences and railings are also built with different materials.

Let’s take a look at each of these five factors in detail below:

1. A railing is much sturdier than a fence. Fences get knocked down by heavy windstorms and people jumping on them, but railings are much more durable. They’re made to withstand strong winds, people, pets, and everything in between. Most railings are made to keep everything out of a specific area for safety purposes.
2. Railings have higher weight limits compared to fences. Fences typically hold a fraction of the weight that railings can hold. For example, a fence might fall over if five or two people push against it, but a railing is sunk into concrete and won’t go anywhere. Well-made railings won’t even budge from the force of several people.
3. Railings have much stricter engineering demands. According to Avcon, railings have to meet ‘additional design criteria’ to suffice. Fences are often purchased and installed in a couple of hours with wood, cement, and nails. On the other hand, railings take a bit longer and are made for much more important purposes.
4. Fences are designed for different purposes. While railings in landscaping are made to keep everything out of a garden, retaining wall, or pool, fences are rarely used in these situations. It’s extremely uncommon for someone to put a full-sized fence around a swimming pool or a garden.
5. These barriers are made out of different materials. Most fences are made with wood, nails, and concrete, as mentioned above. On the other hand, railings often use high-quality, durable steel, concrete, and welding materials. They’re significantly tougher than fences, and they weigh quite a bit more.

While there’s no doubt that a fence provides a barrier, it can’t withstand people jumping on it around the clock. On the other hand, railings are built to last for several decades under constant pressure. Both barriers serve better in specific situations.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know how to use railings and fences with retaining walls, you can choose which one is best for your landscaping project. Keep in mind that fences are better for privacy, while railings are optimal for various retaining walls within your property limits.