Retaining walls over 4 feet high need a building permit in Dubuque. Walls under 4 feet are exempt unless they support a surcharge like a driveway or steep slope. Here is what you need to know before you build.
The City of Dubuque requires a building permit for any retaining wall more than 4 feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall. Walls 4 feet or shorter are exempt from the permit requirement unless they are supporting a surcharge. A surcharge means the wall is holding back more than one foot of material and either a steep slope, a road, or a structure sits close to the top of the wall.
The city defines a surcharge condition two ways. First, if the slope behind the wall is steeper than 2 horizontal to 1 vertical within a distance equal to twice the wall height, you need a permit even if the wall is under 4 feet. Second, if a road, driveway, patio, or building sits on the retained material within that same distance, the wall is considered to be supporting a surcharge and requires a permit. These rules are in the city ordinance to make sure walls that carry extra loads are built safely.
Building permit applications go through the Inspection and Construction Services Division located in the Historic Federal Building at 350 West 6th Street, Suite 312. You can apply online through the city permit portal, or submit your application by mail, email, or in person. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the phone number is 563-589-4150.
Your application needs to include construction plans or drawings that show the wall height, length, footing dimensions, and drainage details. If the wall is over 4 feet or supports a surcharge, you will need an engineer's stamp on the plans. You also need a site plan showing the lot dimensions, distances from the wall to property lines, and the location of existing structures. The Planning and Zoning Department has to approve the site plan before the building permit can be issued, so allow extra time for that step.
As of July 1, 2024, the minimum permit fee for any building, plumbing, mechanical, or electrical permit in Dubuque is $50. The actual fee depends on the total value of the work being permitted. You calculate that by adding up materials and labor costs. Homeowners who do their own work take the material cost and multiply by two to estimate the permit value.
Once the permit is issued, you have 180 days to start the work or the permit expires. All work must be completed within 365 days from the permit date unless you request an extension and the city approves it. The city will inspect the footing before you backfill and may inspect the finished wall depending on the project. Do not cover the footing or backfill until the inspector approves it, or you may have to dig it back out.
Even if your wall does not require a building permit, you still have to follow setback rules. The Planning Services Department enforces setbacks, which are the minimum distances from your property line to any structure. Setback requirements vary depending on your zoning district and where the wall sits on your lot. A retaining wall along the front, side, or rear property line may have different setback rules.
Check with Planning Services before you stake out the wall location. If you build a wall too close to the property line without a variance, the city can make you move it. That is an expensive mistake. The Planning Services office can tell you the setback for your specific property. Have your property address and legal description ready when you call.
If your property is in Dubuque County but outside the city limits, you deal with Dubuque County Zoning instead of the city. County rules and fees are different. The county zoning office is at the County Courthouse and the phone number is 563-589-7827. County building permits for additions or outbuildings are typically $75, but verify that retaining walls fall under that category and what height triggers a permit requirement in the county.
The county also has setback rules that vary by zoning district. If you are in Asbury, Peosta, Epworth, Farley, or another nearby town, check with that city or town hall for their local ordinances. Each municipality sets its own rules, and they are not all the same as Dubuque.
Also in our network: Cedar Rapids Retaining Wall Permits and Building Rules, La Crosse Retaining Wall Permits: Rules You Need to Know.
Send us a few details and a photo and we will get you a free quote.
Get my free quote
DUBUQUE