OR 375-A-2 Regulating construction of retaining walls AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF COPPELL, TEXAS
ORDINANCE NO. 87375A2
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF COPPELL, TEXAS, AMENDING CHAPTER 15
OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF COPPELL BY ADDING THERETO
A NEW SECTION 15-1-4 REGULATING THE CONSTRUCTION OF RETAINING WALLS
WITHIN THE CITY OF COPPELL, TEXAS; PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF PERMITS
AND COLLECTION OF FEES THEREFOR; REPEALING ALL PARTS OF ORDINANCES
IN CONFLICT WITH THIS ORDINANCE; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE;
PROVIDING A PENALTY OF FINE NOT TO EXCEED THE SUM OF FIVE HUNDRED
DOLLARS ($500.00) FOR EACH OFFENSE AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COPPELL, TEXAS:
SECTION 1. ADDING NEW SECTION 15-1-4 TO CHAPTER 15 OF THE CITY
CODE OF ORDINANCES REGULATING THE CONSTRUCTION OF
RETAINING WALLS WITHIN THE CITY
Chapter 15 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Coppell is hereby amended
by adding thereto a new Section 15-1-4 to read as follows:
RETAINING WALL ORDINANCE - Page i
"Sec. 15-1-4 RETAINING WALL REGULATIONS
A. RETAINING WALL REQUIRED
Retaining walls shall be constructed when the soil slope will exceed
a three (3) horizontal to one (1) vertical (3:1) ratio. The slope will
be measured from the outside edge of the finished building to the
property line.
B. PERMIT REQUIRED FOR RETAINING WALL
Except as otherwise exempt pursuant to the height provision provided
in subsection "C 1" below, a permit from the City of Coppell shall
be required before construction is begun on any retaining wall in
the City of Coppell. Permit fees shah be Twenty-five Dollars
($25.00) for each one hundred (100) lineal feet of retaining wall, or
portion thereof, that is erected.
C. STANDARD PROVISIONS
All construction relating to retaining walls in the development or
improvement of subdivisions, lots or property within the City of
Coppe]] shall conform to the following Standards and Requirements:
1. A permit from the City of Coppell will be required on any
retaining having with a vertical face of more than four (4)
feet in height.
2. All retaining walls constructed with a vertical face over four
(4) feet in height shah require a design plan which shah be
submitted to the Building Official and shall bear the seal and
signature of the Professional Engineer qualified in the
technical field and registered in the State of Texas,
responsible for such design
3. The design of the retaining wall shall remain the responsibility
of the builder and owner of the property on which it is
constructed and the engineer responsible for such design.
4. The retaining wall design plan shall identify the backfill
procedure to be used to a point within one and one-half (1½)
feet of the top of the wall. The remaining top fill material
to be used shall be specified. The placement of backfill
materials shall be in uniform layers placed without voids.
Where weep hole drains are required, the placement of a free
draining material shall be specified in the design.
5. The design plan for any retaining wall shah be designed for
the particular location on the property where it is to be
constructed, showing lot lines, easements, building line set
backs and right-of-way and lot drainage. A standard plan
adaptable to multi-locations will not be acceptable. No
retaining wall designd to use railroad tie materials shall be
considered for approval that exceeds a six (6) foot height in
RETAINING WALL ORDINANCE - Page 2
a single vertical face unless the design utilizes piers for
structural support incorporated into the design plan by the
responsible design engineer.
6. In determining the applicability of this ordinance to a stair
step retaining wall, a stair step retaining wall having a
setback, as shown on Exhibit i attached hereto, of less than
six (6) feet shall be considered as one (1) retaining wall, the
total height of which shall be the combined height of each
step. A design plan bearing the seal and signature of a
professional engineer qualified in the technical field and
registered in the State of Texas shall be required for any
stair step retaining wall having any setback of less than six
(6) feet.
D. RESPONSIBILITY OF OWNER OR BUILDER
The owner of the property and builder of the structure shall be
responsible for the completion of the retaining wall in accordaice
with the design plan.
E. BUILDING PERMITS TO BE WITHHELD
No building permit shall be issued, nor Certificate of Occupancy or
final building inspection approved for any construction,
reconstruction, or development which is not in conformity with the
requirements and intent of this section. Anyone who violates any
of the terms and provisions of this section shall be denied a building
permit until the violation is corrected.
F. INSPECTIONS
Inspections by the Building Official or his authorized representative
(hereinafter called City) are required on all retaining walls required
to be permitted under this section.
1. Inspections by the City are required before any backfill
material is placed.
2. Inspections of walls located in the front and rear yards are
required before the final building inspection.
G. DUTIES OF THE BUILDING OFFICIAL AND APPEAL TO THE
BUILDING CODE BOARD OF APPEALS
Interpretation of the applicability of this section shall be made by
the Building Official. Any person adversely affected by the decision
of the Building Official may, within ten (10) days from the date of
such decision, file an appeal in writing to the Building Code Board
of Appeals. Such appeal shall be filed with the Building Official
and shall define the specific areas of appeal."
RETAINING WALL ORDINANCE - Page 3
SECTION 2. REPEALING CLAUSE
All ordinances, or parts of ordinances, inconsistent or in conflict with the
provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed.
SECTION 3. SEVERABILITY CLAUSE
If any article, paragraph or subdivision, clause or provision of this ordinance
shall be adjudged invalid or held unconstitutional, the same shah not affect the validity
of this ordinance as a whole or any part or provision thereof, other than the part so
decided to be invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 4. PENALTY CLAUSE
Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this ordinance
shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a
penalty of fine not to exceed the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for each
offense, and each and every day such offense is continued shall constitute a new and
separate offense.
SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE
This ordinance shall take effect immediately from and after the publication of
its caption, as the law in such cases provides.
DULY PASSED by the City Council of the City of Coppell, Texas, this the
,t
2 t~ -.E~ day of Li ~ , 1988.
APPROVED:
ATTEST:
Y SECRETARY
FACE OF RETAINING WALL
T~I£
EXHIBIT 1