BUILDING PERMITS

You must obtain a building permit to construct a retaining wall that holds back more the 2 feet of soil.  To apply for a permit, go to the Permit Application Center at the Herrity Building in Fairfax. To learn more about the permit application process, please refer to our Retaining Walls (PDF) publication.

BUILDING PLANS

You must submit the following during the permit application process.

• Two sets of building plans signed and sealed by a registered design professional licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia.*
• Two copies of the house location plat.

Building plans must meet the current building code and the soil type on your property. For a full list of plan requirements, please refer to our Retaining Walls (PDF) publication.

*Please note: if you agree to build your retaining wall in strict conformance with and within the limitations of the Fairfax County Typical Retaining Wall Details (PDF), you are not required to submit plans during the permit application process.

CONTACT US

If you have any questions, please e-mail us or call 703-222-0801, TTY 711 during our hours of operation. The permit, plan review and inspection processes can also be accessed through the Fairfax Inspections Database Online (FIDO).