Retaining walls engineered to hold their ground
Sloping blocks, cut and fill and level changes between neighbours all need retaining walls. A well-designed wall keeps soil in place for decades. A poorly designed one can lean, crack or fail, and fixing it can be expensive.
When do you need an engineered retaining wall?
Taller retaining walls, walls carrying extra loads like driveways, buildings or pools, and walls on or near boundaries all need careful design. We engineer retaining walls to suit your soil, height, drainage and what’s sitting above them.
Do I need approval for a retaining wall in SA?
According to the Legal Services Commission of SA, development approval generally isn’t needed if a retaining wall holds back a difference in ground level of one metre or less. Above that, approval is usually required.
There are a few catches:
We’ll check what applies to your site and take care of approvals if they’re needed.
- If you’re building tiered walls, it’s the total difference in ground level that counts, not each wall on its own.
- If a fence sits on top of the wall and the combined height is more than 2.1 metres from the lower side, approval is needed.
- Your council may have extra requirements depending on your zone.
What we design
[CLIENT TO CONFIRM: wall types they design and/or build.]
- Concrete sleeper and steel post walls
- Masonry block walls
- Reinforced concrete walls
- Boundary retaining walls
- Walls supporting driveways, homes and pools
- Drainage behind the wall, which is critical to how long it lasts
Retaining walls and your neighbours
In SA, responsibility for a retaining wall generally depends on who changed the natural ground level. If both neighbours benefit, costs can be shared. If your work affects the stability of neighbouring land, you may need to give formal notice before starting. We’ll help you understand what applies to your project.
Designed with your site plan
Retaining walls are designed alongside your site levels, footings and drainage, so everything works together.
Frequently asked questions
How high can I build a retaining wall without approval?+
Generally up to a one-metre difference in ground level, but check with us or your council first, as other rules may apply.
Why does drainage behind a retaining wall matter?+
Water building up behind a wall adds pressure. Without proper drainage, even a well-built wall can fail.
