MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR

INFORMATION
Retaining Wall/Level Backfill BULLETIN

CITY OF SAN DIEGO Development Services

1222 FIRST AVENUE, MS 301 SAN DIEGO, CA 92101-4153 221
Call (619) 446-5300 for appointments and (619) 446-5000 for information August 2009

Construction of retaining walls, except those less than

three feet high, measured from the top of the footing Documents Referenced in this
to the top of the wall and not supporting surcharge, Information Bulletin
requires a permit and is regulated by City of San Diego
• 2007 California Building Code, (CBC)
Municipal Code.
Information Bulletin 221 outlines the city’s require- • San Diego Municipal Code, (SDMC)
ments for retaining walls with level backfill. Informa- • Information Bulletin 220, How to Obtain a Per-
tion Bulletin 222 describes retaining walls with slop- mit for a Retaining Wall/Fence
ing backfill. These bulletins are intended to provide a • Information Bulletin 222, Minimum Require-
simple alternative to designing minor retaining walls, ments for Retaining Wall/Sloping Backfill
but should be used only where appropriate soil condi-
tion at the site. See Section VII. SOIL.
For information on how to obtain a permit for a retain- IiI. Cal/osha permit/waiver
ing wall, see Information Bulletin 220. A CAL/OSHA construction activity permit is re-
quired for construction of trenches or excavations
I. Zoning regulations which are five feet or deeper and into which a
Retaining walls heights are also regulated by person is required to descend. For more informa-
the zoning laws of the city as follows: The height tion please contact:
of a retaining wall is measured from grade on
the lower side of the retaining wall to the top of Cal/OSHA Enforcement Unit district office
the retaining wall (Exposed height E), (SDMC 7575 Metropolitan Drive, Ste. 207
113.0270(b)(2)). San Diego 92108
(619) 767-2280
San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 14, Article 2 , Fax (619) 767-2299
Division 3 regulates the location and the height of
the retaining walls in the required setbacks and IV. MASONRY BLOCKS
in the visibility area as follows: Concrete masonry units shall be of sizes shown
1. Retaining walls in visibility areas shall not on drawings and conform to ASTM C90 (CBC
exceed 3 feet in height. (SDMC 142.0340(b)). 2103.1) Medium Weight Units with maximum
2. Two retaining walls with a maximum height linear shrinkage of 0.06%, F’m=1,500 psi grouted
of 3 feet each are permitted in the required solid reinforced cells.
front and street side yard if the two retaining
walls are separated by a minimum horizontal All head and bed joints shall be 3/8” thick. Bed
distance equal to the height of the upper wall. joints of the starting course over the concrete
(SDMC 142.0340(c)(1)) foundation may be between 1/4” and 3/4”. (ACI
3. Two retaining walls with a maximum height of 530.1-05 section 3.3B)
6 feet each are permitted in the required side
and rear yard if the two retaining walls are No special inspection is required for retain-
separated by a minimum horizontal distance ing walls up to 6 feet in height.
equal to the height of the upper wall. (SDMC
142.0340(d)(1)). V. SPECIFICATIONS
Note: Retaining walls higher than 5 feet may A. CONCRETE
require a grading permit. Concrete for footings must have a minimum
compressive strength of 2,500 psi at 28 days.
II. WALL HEIGHT (CBC 1805.4.2.1). Cement shall conform to
For the purpose of designing the wall in this in- ASTM-C150 (ACI 318-05 section 3.2).
formation bulletin, wall height is measured from
the top of the footing to the top of the wall. Note: Plastic (Stucco) cement ASTM C 1328
Walls not shown in Tables A on page 3 must be is not permitted in retaining walls located in
designed specifically for the existing conditions. Seismic Design Category D.
The walls shown here are designed to retain only
level backfill. No building foundation, retaining B. MORTAR
wall, driveway, parking, fence, or other potential The mortar mix must have a compressive
source of loading on the upper level is allowed strength equal to 1,800 psi minimum (CBC
within a distance equal to the height of the wall. Table 2105.2.2.1.2). Mortar for use in masonry
See figure 1.
Printed on recycled paper. Visit our web site at www.sandiego.gov/development-services.
Upon request, this information is available in alternative formats for persons with disabilities.

DS-5221 (08-09)
Page  of 6 City of San Diego • Information Bulletin 221 August 2009

construction shall conform to ASTM C 270 and VII. SOIL DESIGN CRITERIA
shall conform to the proportion specifications This information bulletin is to be used only when
of Table 2103.8(1) or the property specifica- the soils to be retained are not expansive (i.e.
tions of Table 2103.8(2) of the CBC. sandy soils). The design of this information bul-
letin is based on the following criteria:
C. GROUT 1. Soil type: granular, non-cohesive soil backfill.
Grout must have a compressive strength equal 2. Active earth pressure with an equivalent fluid
to 2,000 psi minimum. Grout shall conform to weight of 30 pounds per cubic foot.
Table 2103.12 or to ASTM C 476. When grout 3. Passive earth pressure with an equivalent
conforms to ASTM C 476, the grout shall be fluid weight of 150 pounds per cubic.
specified by proportion requirements or prop- 4. Allowable bearing value of 1,500 psf.
erty requirements (CBC 2103.12) 5. Soil friction factor 0.25.

E. REINFORCING STEEL If existing soil conditions do not meet these

Reinforcing steel must be deformed and com- design criteria or the conditions are unknown,
ply with ASTM A 615 (CBC 2103.13.1), Grade walls should be designed by a State of California
60. When one continuous bar cannot be used, licensed civil engineer or architect. A soil report
a lap or splice of 40-bar diameters is required. may be required.
All bars shall be clean of loose flaky rust,
grease or other materials likely to impair bond. Note: Soil lateral pressure due to earthquake
(ACI 318-05 section 5.7) motion is not included.
Reinforcement in concrete shall be protected
from corrosion and exposure to chlorides. (ACI viIi. INSPECTIONS
318-05 Section 7.7.6). Concrete protection for Inspections must be performed during several
reinforcement shall be at least 3” to earth phases of construction. Please call for inspections
when the concrete is poured against the earth. at the following times:
(ACI 318-05 Section 7.7.1).
One #4 reinforcing bar must be placed longitu- A. A footing inspection is needed when the
dinally within the wall in a bond beam block excavation for a footing has been dug with
every 16 inches as the blocks are laid up. See the steel tied securely in its final position,
Figure 2. and the site is ready for the concrete to be
placed.
F. mortar key
To insure proper bonding between the footing B. A masonry pregrout inspection is required
and the first course of block, a mortar key must when the block has been laid and the steel
be formed by embedding a flat 2x4 flush with is in place, but before the grout has been
and at the top of the freshly placed footing. placed.
It should be removed after the concrete has 1. If cleanout holes are used, block may be
started to harden (about 1 hour). A mortar laid to the full height at the grout pour
key may be omitted if the first course of block before calling for the pregrout inspec-
is set into the fresh concrete and a good bond tion. Grout shall be placed in a continu-
is obtained. ous pour in grout lifts not exceeding 6
feet.
Vi. Wall drains 2. If cleanout holes are not used, a masonry
Wall drains must be placed at 6-foot intervals pregrout inspection is required prior to
along the length of the wall and located just above each grout pour. Block cannot be laid
the level of the soil or paving on the front face of higher than the grout pour. Note that
the wall. The drains may be formed by placing cleanouts are required for all grout pours
a block on its side at 6-foot intervals, by leaving over 5 feet in height.
out the mortar in the vertical spaces between
all the blocks in the first course above the soil or C. After grouting is completed and rock or rub-
paving (head joint) on the front face of the wall, ble wall drains are in place, but before earth
by installing 4-inch diameter drain line behind backfill is placed, call for a backfill/drainage
the wall, or by any other acceptable equivalent inspection.
method. Backfill behind wall drains or open head
joints must be loose rubble or gravel at least 12 D. When all work has been completed, call for a
inches wide and extending from the top of the final inspection.
wall to the top of the footing.
August 2009 City of San Diego • Information Bulletin 221 Page  of 6

Table A / Requirements for Various Wall Heights 1,2,3,4,5

Wall Type I II III

Wall Height (H) 6
3’ - 4” 4’ -0” 4’ - 8” 5’ - 4” 6’ - 0”
Exposed Wall Height (E) 7
2’ - 4” 3’ - 0” 3’ - 8” 4’ - 4” 5’ - 0”
Stem Block Thickness 6” 8” 8” 8” 8” / 12”
Heel Dimension (L) 1’ - 3” 1’ - 7” 1’ - 4” 1’ - 4” 1’ - 9”
Toe Dimension (T) 6” 6” 11” 1’ - 6” 1’ - 4”
Vert Bars (A) #4 @ 24” #4 @ 24” #4 @ 24” #4 @ 16” #4 @ 16”
Vert Bars (B) #4 @ 24” #4 @ 24” #4 @ 24” #4 @ 16” #4 @ 16”
Footing Width (W) 1’ - 9” 2’ - 1” 2’ - 3” 2’ - 10” 3’ - 1”
Footing Bars (C) none none none #4 @ 24” #4 @ 24”
Key Distance from Toe none none 6” 12” 12”
Key (W x D) none none 6” x 8” 8” x 9” 8” x 12”

FOOTNOTES:
1
Tables A makes the following assumptions:
f ’y= 600000psi
Fs= 24000
Solid grouting
Using half f ’m stress
2
Walls not shown in Table A must be designed specifically for the actual conditions.
3
All construction must comply with the specifications shown in this information bulletin.
4
When Wall Type III is required, the first 32 inches of block must be 12-inch wide masonry units.
I=6” Block
II=8” Block
III=12” Block
5
Footing depth shall be 24 inches below finish grade and 12 inches of compacted soil is required on top of foot-
ing to stabilize the wall.
6
For the purpose of the structural design, wall height shall be measured from the top of the footing to the top
of the wall.
7
For zoning requirements fence height shall be measured from finish grade.
Page  of 6 City of San Diego • Information Bulletin 221 August 2009

Figure 1 / Surcharge and Slope Setbacks

Figure 2 / Typical Control Joints

August 2009 City of San Diego • Information Bulletin 221 Page  of 6

Figure 3 / Typical I or II Retaining Wall with Level Backfill

Page  of 6 City of San Diego • Information Bulletin 221 August 2009

Figure 4 / Type III Retaining Wall with Level Backfill