Concrete Work
Retaining Walls
Concrete and block retaining walls that hold back soil on sloped lots, with drainage behind them so water does not push them over, and engineering when the height calls for it.
Retaining Walls
Retaining walls make sloped lots usable: a flat yard, a driveway cut into a hill, a patio that does not slide downhill. They also hold back a lot of weight. Soil pushes sideways on a wall, and wet soil pushes much harder. Most retaining wall failures come down to water that was not allowed to drain out from behind the wall.
Foothill lots around Ojai, Santa Paula, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley often need retaining walls for additions, driveways and yards. We build them in poured concrete and concrete block, from footing to cap, and coordinate engineering when the wall is tall or supports a load above it.
When a wall needs engineering and a permit
Under California's residential code, a retaining wall generally needs a building permit when it is more than 4 feet tall measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, or when it supports a surcharge such as a driveway, a slope or a building above it. Local rules can be stricter. Walls that need a permit need engineering: the footing size, the steel and the drainage are designed for the soil and the load.
Even short walls benefit from proper design. A 3-foot wall holding back a slope with a driveway on top behaves very differently from a 3-foot planter wall.
Drainage behind the wall
Water is what tips retaining walls over. A drained wall has free-draining gravel behind it, a perforated pipe at the base that carries water to a safe outlet, and sometimes weep holes through the wall. A waterproofing layer on the back face protects the wall and keeps stains from bleeding through.
Gravel backfill
Lets water move down to the drain instead of building pressure.
Perforated drain pipe
Carries water along the base of the wall to an outlet.
Waterproofing
Protects the back face and prevents efflorescence on the front.
Concrete or block
Poured concrete walls are strong and can be formed to curves and finished with texture or veneer. Concrete block walls, reinforced with steel and grouted, are common for residential walls and can be stuccoed or veneered to match the house. Segmental retaining blocks that stack without mortar suit shorter landscape walls. We recommend the type based on height, load and look.
From our clients
Real Google reviews from LE Construction clients, quoted word for word.
EXCELLENT
5.0 out of 5, based on 17 Google reviews
Hold the hill back properly
Show us the slope. We will tell you what kind of wall it needs and give you a written price, engineering included where required.
Retaining Walls: FAQs
How tall can a retaining wall be without a permit?
Under the California Residential Code, walls up to 4 feet measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall generally do not need a permit, unless they support a surcharge like a slope, driveway or building. Some cities and the County have stricter rules or hillside requirements. We check before building.
Why is my retaining wall leaning?
Usually because water is building up behind it without a drain, or because the footing was too small for the load. Tree roots and added weight above the wall can contribute. A leaning wall is getting worse, not better. We look at it and recommend whether it can be stabilized or needs to be rebuilt.
How much does a retaining wall cost?
Height, length, material, access, drainage and whether engineering is required drive the cost. Taller walls need larger footings and more steel, and walls on steep or tight sites take more labor. We measure, check the soil and loads, and give you a written price.
Can a retaining wall be built on a property line?
It can, but it raises questions about who owns and maintains it, and setbacks or neighbor agreements may apply. A survey is often needed to locate the line. We recommend sorting that out before building.
Concrete near you
- Santa Paula, CA5–12 min from Santa Paula
- Oxnard, CA20–40 min from Santa Paula
- Carpinteria, CA38–60 min from Santa Paula
- Ventura, CA15–35 min from Santa Paula
- Fillmore, CA15–25 min from Santa Paula
- Somis, CA22–35 min from Santa Paula
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Design
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Seismic & Fire