Freedom Code Compliance
Commercial

Commercial Retaining Wall

New or altered wall holding back soil at commercial, apartment, or condo property. Use Concrete Footing/Foundation/Wall for nonretaining site walls.

Last updated: Sep 29, 2026

Section 1

Required Documents

Submit these with your initial project package.

Always required

  • Construction Plans
    Construction plans showing retaining wall layout, dimensions, reinforcement, and drainage. Plans prepared by a Florida-registered architect or engineer carry that professional's seal. Plans prepared by a contractor or owner are accepted without a seal unless Florida law or the building department requires professional plans.
  • Site Plan / Survey
    Site plan or survey showing property boundaries, elevations, and retaining wall location

Courtesy screen

Courtesy screen on every plan review

Every plan FCC reviews receives a limited courtesy screen for the items below when they are reasonably visible in the submitted documents. If we see an apparent issue that could cause the plans to fail review by another agency, we will identify it as a Courtesy Comment. Courtesy Comments alone do not cause FCC to fail or return the plan set unless the same condition also creates a building-code compliance issue within FCC's review scope. The responsible agency makes the final determination—for example, Planning and Zoning for setbacks, lot coverage, use, and other lot-compliance matters. The absence of a Courtesy Comment is not approval of those separate requirements.

  1. #01Plan and document coordination

    Obvious clerical, title-block, sheet-index, permit-description, or cross-sheet inconsistencies visible in the submitted documents. A Courtesy Comment on these items does not cause FCC to fail or return the plan set unless the same condition also creates a building-code compliance issue within FCC's review scope.

    FBC-B 107.2.1
  2. #02Zoning and site coordination

    Apparent setback, lot-coverage, use, or site-dimension conflicts visible in the submitted plans that could cause the plans to fail Planning and Zoning review. Planning and Zoning makes the zoning and lot-compliance determination. The absence of a Courtesy Comment is not approval of those separate requirements.

  3. #03Floodplain coordination

    Apparent inconsistencies or missing coordination in flood-zone, design-flood-elevation, finished-floor, or flood-opening information shown on the plans that could cause the plans to fail floodplain review. The floodplain administrator makes the determination. The absence of a Courtesy Comment is not approval of those separate requirements.

  4. #04Fire-authority coordination

    Apparent separately reviewed fire alarm, sprinkler, hood-suppression, smoke-control, or similar coordination issues visible on the plans that could cause the plans to fail fire review. The fire marshal makes the determination. The absence of a Courtesy Comment is not approval of those separate requirements.

Section 2

Approval criteria for this project type

These are the building-code criteria FCC uses to determine the plan-review result. An unresolved item may be issued as a Required Correction and cause the plan set to be returned for correction.

BuildingRequired

  1. #01Wall height, surcharge, and geotechnical assumptionsLife Safety

    Retaining wall design must address wall height, soil type, surcharge load (traffic/structure), and drainage.

    FBC-B 1807.2
  2. #02Footing / foundation designLife Safety

    Footing or foundation design must show dimensions, reinforcement, depth, and connection to the structure above.

    FBC-B 1809
  3. #03Engineer of record seal, when engineeredDocumentation

    When a Florida engineer prepared the structural drawings, the document carries that engineer's seal and signature. Contractor- or owner-prepared structural drawings need a seal only when Florida law or the building department requires one.

    Florida Statutes Chapter 471FBC-B 107.3.5

Section 3

Inspection Walkthrough

Inspections are listed in their typical phase order. Your own inspection list comes from your approved plans. Inspections marked “If in scope” apply only when your plans include that work. Call (772) 222-6679 with questions.

Building

Phase #1

Footing / Grade Beam

  1. Footing dimensionsCritical

    Verify footing width and depth match approved plans

  2. Rebar size and spacingCritical

    Verify rebar size, spacing, and placement per plans

  3. UFER grounding electrodeCritical

    Where the approved electrical design uses a concrete-encased electrode, show the specified material, length, placement, and connection before concrete.

    NEC 250.52
  4. Foundation anchorage layout

    Verify anchor bolt placement for sill plate attachment

Phase #2

Piling / Pile Cap

If in scope
  1. Pile layoutCritical

    Match pile or pier locations and count to the approved structural plan.

  2. Pile size and depthCritical

    Document pile dimensions, embedment, or installation records required by the plans.

  3. Pile cap reinforcementCritical

    Show cap or pier forms, steel, laps, and cover before concrete.

  4. Connection to structureCritical

    Show specified pile-to-cap and cap-to-structure connections.

  5. Engineering documentationCritical

    Have the approved pile design and required installation or test records available.

Phase #3

Fill Cell / Column

If in scope
  1. Vertical rebar placementCritical

    Verify vertical rebar is properly placed and spaced in block wall

  2. Pre-grout cell inspectionCritical

    Show open cells, cleanouts, bars, laps, and cover before grout placement.

  3. Open vertical cellsCritical

    Keep reinforced masonry cells visible before grout is placed.

  4. Column reinforcementCritical

    Verify column or pilaster steel, ties, laps, and cover against the plans.

  5. Cell cleanlinessCritical

    Confirm reinforced cells are clear of mortar droppings and debris.

Phase #4

Building Final

Typical Final
  1. Wall geometry and drainageCritical

    Compare completed wall height, alignment, exposed drainage outlets, and grading with approved plan.

    FBC-B 110.3
  2. Public edge protection

    Where wall adjoins accessible areas, show any approved guards or barriers.