All self-installed vertical-rectangular retaining walls shall be subject to the following minimum requirements:
(a) All self-installed vertical-rectangular retaining walls are to be constructed of building block, cut stone or bricks. Retaining walls to be constructed of materials other than those set forth herein shall require the submission of sketches of such retaining wall, which shall be approved by the City Engineer. Such sketches shall be kept on file in the Division of Building, Engineering and Inspection under the address of the lot.
(b) The construction of all self-installed vertical-rectangular retaining walls shall conform to the following minimum standards from the top of the foundation of such wall:
(1) From two and one-half feet to four feet in height, the wall shall have a thickness of not less than twelve inches;
(2) From four feet to six feet in height, the wall shall have a thickness of not less than sixteen inches;
(3) All walls over six feet in height shall require the submission of plans and specifications for approval by the City Engineer;
(4) Retaining walls two and one-half feet to four feet in height shall have a foundation eight inches thick and twenty inches in width of poured concrete;
(5) Retaining walls four feet to six feet in height shall have a foundation eight inches thick and twenty-four inches in width of poured concrete;
(6) The bottom of the foundation shall be two feet below finished grade;
(7) Retaining walls shall have a minimum of three-inch weep holes every six lineal feet center to center;
(8) Adequate gravel, slag, cinder or equivalent backfill shall be laid parallel to the wall and lead to weep holes;
(9) All retaining walls, except those walls constructed of cut stone, shall be capped and the height of the retaining wall shall not include the thickness of the cap.
(10) The center line of the retaining wall at its base shall be a minimum of one-half the thickness of the wall plus four inches from the property line;
(11) The retaining wall shall have a one on twelve slope toward the rear of such wall;
(12) The foundation and weep hole construction shall be inspected and approved by the Division prior to completion of the wall above the elevation in which the weep holes are installed;
(13) The retaining wall, after completion, shall not reverse the flow of surface water runoff;
(14) All retaining walls shall not have a surcharge located less than the height of the wall away from the top of the wall, unless approved by the City Engineer; and
(15) The foundation and lower portion of the wall on all self-installed retaining walls shall be interconnected by a row of spaced steel rods or their equivalent, having a maximum spacing of two feet center to center.
(c) The design of all triangular and trapazoidal retaining walls and all bearing walls shall be approved by the City Engineer.
(d) Plans and specifications of all retaining walls installed by a contractor shall be approved by the City Engineer.
(e) No permit shall be issued without the applicant first presenting to the Division a survey of the property line adjacent to which the retaining wall shall be constructed, or, in the alternative, an agreement with the adjacent property owner or owners expressing their approval and consent to the location of such retaining walls.
(f) Prior to the issuance of a permit for the construction of a self-installed retaining wall, the applicant shall submit a sketch for approval to the Division. The sketch shall be kept on file in the Building Division under the address of the lot.
(g) All present vertical-rectangular retaining walls, if rebuilt, shall comply with the provisions of this section.
(h) All retaining walls shall be maintained by the owner in good repair.
If upon inspection by the Division it is determined that a retaining wall is not in good repair and is unsafe or in a hazardous condition, the owner shall upon written notice from the Division repair the same within ninety days.
(Ord. 50-2004. Passed 9-27-04.)