Civic Centre

61 Broun Avenue
Morley WA 6062

RETAINING WALL
INFORMATION SHEET
This information sheet relating to Retaining
Walls has been created using the
Residential Building Codes and Building Act
2011 and should only be used as a guide.
WHAT IS A RETAINING WALL?
A retaining wall is a wall or structure designed
and constructed to support soil at a slope
steeper than can naturally be supported.
Whilst retaining walls are primarily designed to
support soil, they may also be placed under
stress from other factors such as buildings,
footings, vehicle loads and/or wind loads on
dividing fencing.
Some pre-manufactured
retaining walls are designed to support only soil
and not other contributing stress factors.
WHEN IS A RETAINING WALL REQUIRED?
Retaining walls may be required during the
construction of dwellings, subdivision of land,
erection of dividing fences and/or for
landscaping purposes.

Whilst the City may require that retaining walls be

constructed as part of building works, other
retaining walls may be necessary depending on
contributing factors as mentioned above. Any land
difference over 150mm is required to be retained,
or battered, so that the ground level at the
boundary is supported or the same level.
COST SHARING FOR COMMON BOUNDARY
RETAINING WALLS
Each land owner has an obligation to retain soil
where necessary resulting from earth works on
their property, (see diagram below). Adjoining
owners who have both undertaken earthworks and
the ground levels have been altered are advised to
attempt to negotiate a proportional based
agreement when retaining walls are required along
the common boundary for support of a dividing
fence, landscaping or other works.
When
agreement cannot be reached through arbitration
and mediation, then legal action may be instigated
by either adjoining owner and can be costly.

The Garden City Quality Lifestyle

Postal Address:
PO Box 467
Morley WA 6943

Telephone: (08) 9272 0622

Facsimile: (08) 9272 0665

Email: mail@bayswater.wa.gov.au
Website: www.bayswater.wa.gov.au

Civic Centre
61 Broun Avenue
Morley WA 6062

POSITIONING OF DIVIDING FENCES

NEAR RETAINING WALLS & TOTAL
HEIGHT OF WALL

Upper ground level

Dividing fences should be positioned on

the higher ground level of a retaining wall
which abuts a common boundary. The
height of 500mm for retaining is measured
overall including terracing.

500mm

Retaining Wall

Lower ground level

Upper ground level

Height of fence
(H) measured
from higher level

500mm

Upper ground level

Lower ground level

Retaining Wall

Retaining
Wall
Retaining
Wall

Terracing
Retaining

Lower ground level

MAINTENANCE OF RETAINING WALLS

When the City is of the opinion that a retaining
wall is structurally inadequate, then the owner
must consult a practising Structural Engineer to
determine what action, if any, is required to
restore the structural integrity of the wall. The
cost for the Structural Engineers services is the
responsibility of the owner.
CITY APPROVAL
A Building Permit is required where retaining is
500mm or greater in height, adjoining a boundary
or being used to support a building. Retaining
500mm or greater is to be signed Structural
Engineer. Certified drawings are to be submitted
with the Building permit application.
ENCROACHMENTS
Where a retaining wall is to encroach over a
boundary, then written consent from the adjoining
land owner is required to be provided to the City
on a BA20 form or a Court Order permitting the
encroachment is to be submitted with the
application.

ADVERSELY AFFECTING LAND

Any retaining wall that is located closer to the
boundary than the height of the retaining wall is
considered to have an adverse affect on the
adjoining land and therefore will require consent
from the adjoining land owner on a BA 20 form or
a Court Order permitting the adverse affect. The
form or Court Oder will need to be submitted with
the application.
BUILDING PERMIT SUBMISSION
REQUIREMENTS FOR RETAINING WALLS
Application form
Site Plan Two copies to a scale not less
than 1:200 indicating site boundaries, existing
and proposed levels and the proposed wall
location.
Two original signed copies of Engineers
Structural details of the proposed retaining
wall (where applicable 500mm or over in
height)
APPLICATION FEE STRUCTURE
Application Fee
As per the prescribed fees for a Certified or
Uncertified application based on the value of
work.
Building Services Levy
As per the prescribed fees based on the value
of work.
CTF Levy: (only applicable to works
valued over $20,000)
0.182% of the estimated value of the work
(including GST)
DISCLAIMER

This information sheet is correct as at April 2012 and may be subject to alteration without notice

The Garden City Quality Lifestyle

Postal Address:
PO Box 467
Morley WA 6943

Telephone: (08) 9272 0622

Facsimile: (08) 9272 0665

Email: mail@bayswater.wa.gov.au
Website: www.bayswater.wa.gov.au