Freedom Code Compliance
Single Family

Single Family Retaining Wall

Build a wall that holds back soil. Use Concrete Footing/Foundation/Wall for a freestanding non-retaining wall.

Last updated: Sep 29, 2026

Section 1

Required Documents

Submit these with your initial project package.

Always required

  • Plans or Detailed Drawings
    Construction drawings showing retaining wall layout, dimensions, reinforcement, and drainage details
  • Site Plan / Survey
    Site plan or survey showing property boundaries, elevations, and retaining wall location

Conditional

  • Construction Plans
    Construction plans for the retaining wall. A wall retaining more than 4 feet of unbalanced fill must be designed in accordance with accepted engineering practice (FBC-R R404.4). 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.
    WhenRequired if retaining wall exceeds 4 feet in height.

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.

BuildingConditional review scope

Conditional review scopePlan review is not required for this scope under FBC 107.3.5. FCC reviews these items only when the building department specifically requires it, or the client opts in.
  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 1807.2FBC-R R404
  2. #02Footing / foundation designLife Safety

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

    FBC-R R403FBC-B 1809
  3. #03Plan review applicability (FBC 107.3.5 minimum criteria)Documentation

    Standalone retaining wall is not in FBC-B 107.3.5 minimum criteria for 1&2 family. FCC performs this review only when the building department requires plan review or the client opts in.

    FBC-B 107.3.5
  4. #04Engineer 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

Items marked Conditional review scope are non-blocking. Per FBC 107.3.5, plan review isn't required for these scopes — FCC reviews them when the building department requests it or the client wants the extra set of eyes.

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

    FBC-R R403.1FBC-R R403.1.1
  2. Rebar size and spacingCritical

    Verify rebar size, spacing, and placement per plans

    FBC-R R403.1
  3. UFER grounding electrodeCritical

    Verify minimum 20 feet of #4 bare copper or rebar is encased in footing

    NEC 250.52
  4. Foundation anchorage layout

    Verify anchor bolt placement for sill plate attachment

    FBC-R R403.1.6
Phase #2

Building Final

Typical Final
  1. Wall and drainageCritical

    Show wall, drain outlets, and grade against engineering.

    FBC-B 110.3