Do I need a permit for retaining wall construction in Murray?
It depends. Whether retaining wall construction needs a permit in Murray comes down to the details of your project.
Utah's adopted IRC R105.2 exempts retaining walls holding back less than 4 feet of unbalanced fill, unless they support a surcharge or require design under IRC R404.4; taller or surcharged walls need a permit (15A-3-202). Before digging, the excavator must notify underground facility operators through the statewide Blue Stakes association at least 48 hours, and not more than 14 days, before excavation begins (Utah Code 54-8a-4). Grading, drainage, and setback rules are set locally and can apply even to a wall that needs no building permit. This wall will hold up a driveway, patio, structure or sloped ground, which puts extra load on it (a surcharge). Model code exemptions for short retaining walls specifically exclude walls supporting a surcharge. Surcharged walls commonly need an engineered design, drainage behind the wall, and an inspection, because a failure can undermine whatever sits above it.
Documents you may need
- Permit application where the wall retains 4 feet or more of unbalanced fill or supports a surchargeSometimes required
- Site plan showing wall location, height, property lines, and drainageLikely required
- Engineered design for walls retaining 4 feet or more or supporting a surchargeSometimes required
- Grading or drainage approval where the city or county requires oneVerification needed
Possible inspections
- Footing or base inspection where a permit is issued
- Drainage and backfill inspection where required
- Final inspection where a permit is issued
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a permit for retaining wall construction in Murray?
- It depends. Whether retaining wall construction needs a permit in Murray comes down to the details of your project. The documents and inspections sections on this page list what the building department typically asks for.
- Who issues the permit in Murray?
- The local building department for Murray handles permitting. This page lists its contact details and online portal. Your mailing city is not always the permitting authority, so confirm the jurisdiction before you apply.
- How do I find out the exact requirements for my project?
- Run the free PermitRoadmap check for your specific project and answers. It returns the likely permits, documents, inspections, and next steps, each linked to its official source.
PermitRoadmap is an independent informational service and is not affiliated with any city, county, state agency, or permitting authority. Results are informational and do not replace confirming requirements with the local permitting authority.