Retaining Walls
August 2025
Constructing, replacing or materially altering a retaining wall, no matter the size, requires a building permit and may also require an application for planning permission. This Guidance Note explains how to apply and which documents to include.
My retaining wall is damaged or at risk of collapse. What should I do?
If a retaining wall has collapsed, is damaged, or leaning, it should be made safe immediately. In such cases, you should:
o brace the wall as soon as possible to prevent danger or further damage; and
o hire a registered Structural Engineer or a qualified contractor to advise on the best approach.
You do not need to contact the Department of Planning to carry out emergency bracing, however all necessary approvals should be obtained, or you should obtain written confirmation from the Department that no applications are required, before a wall is constructed, replaced or altered.
What Type of Application Do I Need?
✅ Retaining walls no higher than 4 Feet (48”) above the adjacent grade and the replacement of a retaining wall of any height are normally considered ‘permitted development’ under the Development and Planning (General Development) Order 1999 (the ‘GDO’). Therefore, you do not need to obtain full planning permission unless:
o your property is listed;
o your property is located within a Historic Protection Area;
o the wall is located within a Conservation Zone (i.e. a Woodland Reserve or Agricultural Reserve);
o the wall would be located within a Nature Reserve or Coastal Reserve Conservation Base Zone; or
o in the case of replacements, more than 60% of the original volume of the structure has been destroyed.
The Department of Planning’s zoning map can be used to ascertain the above. Other than the exceptions noted above, you will need to apply for either a Residential or Commercial Permitted Development Permit (PDP), depending on your property type. A PDP may be submitted for repairs and minor alterations even for the exceptions noted above in some cases; the Department of Planning should be consulted in such instances as each case must be considered on its own merits in respect of whether the proposal would pose any material impacts.
⚠️ New retaining walls over 4 Feet (48”), as well as any wall which falls within one of the four categories set out above and cannot be approved via the PDP process, will require:
o A planning application, and
o A building permit if planning permission is granted.
Design Recommendations
Regardless of the size of the retaining wall, it is important to ensure that it is properly designed so that it is structurally sound and does not pose detrimental impacts on the appearance of an area of the amenity of neighbouring properties.
Residential retaining walls under 8 feet which are not supporting roads or other infrastructure should be designed in accordance with Chapter 5 of the Bermuda Residential Building Code 2014/25 (BRBC). If your design does not follow the BRBC, a Structural Engineer will need to be appointed to provide a custom solution and confirm the structural integrity of the wall.
Retaining walls over 8 feet, walls on commercial property or retaining walls supporting a road or other infrastructure must include drawings which are approved by a registered Structural Engineer.
How do I apply?
All applications must be submitted through the Department of Planning Customer Self-Service (CSS) portal.
👉 Don’t forget: You must have a registered account on the CSS before submitting
What should I include in my application?
Please refer to the Department’s Guide to Submitting Planning Applications if an application for planning permission is needed.
If the retaining wall is a part of a larger project, submission drawings, details and specifications should follow the guidance set out in Section 34 – Appendix A of the Bermuda Residential Building Code 2014/25.
Building permit applications proposing only a retaining wall must include the following (drawings shown are for illustrative purposes only).
1. Permit Description
Provide details of the extent of the fence.
Example: “New maximum 4’ high retaining wall along north and west boundaries”
2. Location Plan
o An area plan of the site showing roads, access points and neighbouring properties, including a north arrow
o The boundary of the subject property must be outlined in red
3. Site Plan (to scale)
o Property boundaries and dimensions (outlined in red)
o Exact location and layout of the retaining wall
o Dimensions of the location of the wall relative to property boundaries and buildings, in feet and inches
4. Wall Construction Detail
o Height and thickness of wall, in feet and inches
o Type and size of materials
o Reinforcement and drainage details
For detailed submission requirements, refer to Section 34 – Appendix A of the Bermuda Residential Building Code 2014/25.
Letters of objection and/or representation should be emailed to planningfrontdesk@gov.bm referencing the PLAN or SUB number in the subject line.