Before you build a retaining wall in La Crosse, you need to know the permit rules and which city office handles your application.
Most retaining wall projects in the city of La Crosse require a building permit. The city code requires permits for construction work, and retaining walls fall under that rule. If you start work without a permit, the city can triple the permit fee, so it pays to do this right from the start.
The City of La Crosse Building and Inspection Department handles permits. Their office is in City Hall at 400 La Crosse Street on the 4th floor. You can call them at 608-789-7530 or email inspection@cityoflacrosse.org with questions. Their lobby is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to noon.
If your property is outside the city limits in La Crosse County, you deal with the county instead. Contact the La Crosse County Zoning, Planning, and Land Information Department at 212 6th Street North, Suite 1300, or call 608-785-9722. County permit rules are different from city rules, so make sure you know which jurisdiction your property is in before you apply.
You will need to submit a completed building permit application. The city wants to see a site plan or lot survey that shows where the wall will go, how far it sits from property lines, and the dimensions of the wall. If the wall is tall or holds back a lot of soil, they may ask for structural calculations or an engineer's stamp.
Retaining walls over 4 feet tall usually require engineering. An engineer designs the footing, specifies the drainage system, and calculates whether the wall needs geogrid reinforcement buried in the backfill. Engineering costs typically run $800 to $1,800 depending on the complexity of the wall. The city will not issue a permit for a tall wall without those stamped plans.
You also need an erosion control plan if your project disturbs soil. La Crosse has steep slopes and silt loam soil that washes away easily during a rainstorm. The city wants to see how you will control runoff and keep mud from washing into the street or storm drains during construction. Erosion control permit fees depend on the size and slope of the site.
In most parts of La Crosse, you need to stay at least 6 feet from side property lines and 15 to 30 feet from the front property line depending on your zoning. Rear setbacks are usually 20 percent of your lot depth or a minimum of 15 feet, with a maximum required setback of 30 feet. If your retaining wall sits right on the property line or crosses onto a neighbor's land, you will have permit problems. Check your lot survey and talk to the Building and Inspection Department about setbacks before you design the wall.
If your property is near the Mississippi River, Black River, or La Crosse River, you may be in a shoreland or floodplain district. Those areas have extra rules. Shoreland permits may be required from the county even if you are inside city limits. The City Engineering Department at 608-789-7505 can tell you if your lot has floodplain restrictions.
Drainage is not optional. La Crosse gets heavy rains, especially in spring and summer. The city will not approve a retaining wall design that dumps water onto a neighbor's property or blocks natural drainage. Your plan needs to show where runoff goes and how the wall's drainage system connects to the existing grade.
Once you have your permit, the city requires inspections at different stages of the work. You call for an inspection after excavation and before you pour the footing or set the first course of block. The inspector checks that the trench is deep enough, the base is level and compacted, and drainage pipe is in place. If you cover up that work before the inspection, the inspector can make you dig it back up.
There is also a final inspection when the wall is done. The inspector looks at the finished height, checks that backfill and drainage are complete, and makes sure the site is cleaned up. You cannot backfill or finish the job until the inspector signs off. The city allows 10 business days to process permit applications and complete plan review, so do not wait until the last minute if you want to start on a specific date.
Permit fees vary by project size. Smaller walls might cost $85 to $171 depending on how much area you disturb and the slope of the land. Larger projects with engineering and erosion control can run several hundred dollars in permit fees. Remember that working without a permit triples the fee, and the city can issue a stop-work order if they catch unpermitted construction.
If you live in the towns of Onalaska, Shelby, Holland, or other parts of La Crosse County outside city limits, you get your zoning and occupancy permit from La Crosse County Zoning. County rules require permits for almost any construction in shoreland districts within 1,000 feet of a lake or 300 feet of a river. Even a small retaining wall may need a county permit if you are near water.
Building permits in the county come from your town, not the county. Each town has its own building inspector. For example, the town of Bangor uses Randy Sullivan at 608-269-5858. You need both a county zoning permit and a town building permit for most projects. The county zoning office can tell you which inspector covers your township.
County permit applications need a site sketch showing all existing structures, the proposed wall, lot lines, and setback dimensions. The county wants to see that you meet setback rules and are not building in a floodplain or wetland without proper approval. These rules change from time to time, so confirm current requirements with the county zoning office at 608-785-9722 before you start your project.
Also in our network: Cedar Rapids Retaining Wall Permits and Building Rules, Dubuque, IA Retaining Wall Permits: Rules and Requirements.
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