In the Adelaide and Adelaide Hills region, a retaining wall is a blessing and sometimes a necessity. Retaining walls stabilise sloping land, redirect drainage paths away from your property to reduce runoff and help to prevent soil erosion. But while you may already be aware of the benefits of a retaining wall for your home or business, there might be another question on your mind: do I need council approval for a retaining wall?
Understanding the legal requirements around building retaining walls can prevent delays, fines and lost time. Yet it’s not something the average South Australian has an in-depth knowledge of. That’s why it’s important to work with a local earthworks company that understands engineering, structural and drainage requirements.
One of South Australia’s leading earthworks contractors, Pinnacle Earthworks provides retaining walls that are uniquely suited to challenging areas such as the Adelaide Hills. We’re knowledgeable in all aspects of site preparation including what’s required by local council. Here is the Pinnacle Earthworks guide to the question ‘do I need council approval for a retaining wall?’
What is a retaining wall?
A retaining wall is a structure designed to hold back earth or water, to help create a tiered garden or to level sloping ground for you to build upon. Standing near vertical above ground and frequently found on the edges of terraces and excavations, retaining walls need to be strong enough to hold back an enormous volume of soil or water.
Retaining walls are available in several different varieties, from extremely popular concrete sleeper walls to gabion walls constructed from rocks housed in wire mesh cages. Retaining walls are not only practical and protective solutions for your home or business, they come in a wide variety of modern designs. In the right hands, retaining walls can be beautiful additions to your property that raise both its aesthetic and resale value. With some important work going on behind the scenes before building begins, ‘do I need council approval for a retaining wall?’ is an important question to ask.
Do I need council approval for a retaining wall?
If your retaining wall shares the boundary with your neighbours, you’ll definitely need to consult them first. Financial responsibility falls on the party whose property benefits from the wall. If it’s keeping your elevated soil at bay, you’re the one responsible for its building and upkeep.
Do you need council approval for a retaining wall? The answer is not always, but it’s very likely. A low impact wall that’s less than 1000mm in height doesn’t require approval from the council. However, if your wall is taller than 1000mm, supports higher ground, alters natural drainage or encroaches on a boundary with your neighbours, seeking approval is a must-do.
Council approval is a long process that requires two copies of your engineering design plans, a Certificate of Title, an inspection from a building certifier and two plans showing the height and position of the wall. For DIY applications, approval can take up to 10 weeks.
Approval requirements for retaining walls in South Australia
The regulations around retaining walls can be difficult to navigate because of the different approval requirements. While the 1000mm height rule is a good basic guideline, there are several other factors influencing the requirements for retaining walls including:
Proximity to boundaries
Any wall built on the cusp between one property and another or a short distance away from it requires council approval.
Impact on drainage
Poor drainage is a common factor that causes retaining walls to fail, and walls built on clay or reactive soils require stricter drainage requirements. Council requires these requirements in a document because they affect both the property and its surrounding land.
Location overlays
Retaining wall requirements can change depending on your zone. South Australia has diverse conditions like flood-prone areas and heritage-listed properties, all of which strongly impact the rules around your new wall.
Get a free retaining wall quote with Pinnacle Earthworks
A family-owned and operated earthmoving business, Pinnacle Earthworks understands every aspect of retaining wall site preparation including council approval requirements. Servicing the whole Adelaide area including Adelaide Hills and all the way to Murray Bridge, we construct high-quality retaining walls that are built for this region’s soil conditions.
A team that brings passion and expertise to every project, Pinnacle Earthworks has fully licensed and insured operators, modern equipment and personalised service and a guaranteed commitment to quality. From quote through to completion, you have direct contact with our friendly and professional team. Whether you’re seeking a more detailed answer to the question ‘do I need council approval for a retaining wall?’ or you’re ready to get started building the perfect wall for your property, Pinnacle Earthworks is here to help. Get a free quote, call 0400 084 944 or e-mail admin@pinnacleearthworks.com.