Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Jan 04, 2011 10:55 pm Hi everyone,
I have a new subdivision next to my house. The block itself is quite big and as they had to level it, they built a retaining wall. My house has a wall on right on the boundary. So, the retaining wall is just next to it. Does anyone know any building codes/standards/regulations that specify how far a retaing wall should be from the wall of an existing property ? Thank you. Re: Retaining wall - what's the minimal distance from the ho 2Jan 07, 2011 7:36 am Hi, Suggest you contact your Local Council http://www.npsp.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=179 a and have a read of your Council's Development Plan (downloadable PDF file on this page) http://www.npsp.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=926 Hope this helps. Re: Retaining wall - what's the minimal distance from the ho 3Jan 07, 2011 2:56 pm What I would be concerned about, is they appear to plan on using your house as part of their retaining wall. The second picture shows their retaining wall only covers a little part of your wall and stops. So they are ether going to use your house or the fill won't be that deep in that area. If its the later I don't think you have much to worry about as there won't be much pressure on the wall. If they plan on filling it up to the top of that wall I'd be asking what they intend on using to retain the back half. I'm also surprised you have been allowed to build right on the boarder of your property. No set backs at all? Re: Retaining wall - what's the minimal distance from the ho 4Jan 07, 2011 3:48 pm Have a planning officer from the council come out. My concern would be around that part of your brickwall which is exposed to fill. Unless you have elevated damp-proof coursing, it may have longer term impacts. Re: Retaining wall - what's the minimal distance from the ho 5Jan 08, 2011 10:31 am Thanks for your help.
The retaining wall has not been completed yet. Once it is done it will be stretching all the way to the old gray fence, i.e. to the full extension of the yellow brickwall. Re: Retaining wall - what's the minimal distance from the ho 6Jan 08, 2011 12:55 pm As well as the proximity of the retaining wall to your garage, I would also be concerned about a developer building up the land next your block by 800mm. What will that mean for drainage? A new subdivision went behind my parents' place which was only built up by about 300mm but it took my parents several years to fix the drainage in their place (at their own expense) so it didn't flood every time it rained. Re: Retaining wall - what's the minimal distance from the ho 7Jan 09, 2011 10:23 pm kb46 As well as the proximity of the retaining wall to your garage, I would also be concerned about a developer building up the land next your block by 800mm. What will that mean for drainage? A new subdivision went behind my parents' place which was only built up by about 300mm but it took my parents several years to fix the drainage in their place (at their own expense) so it didn't flood every time it rained. so in other words, as your parents had to fix it at their own expense, it means that they did not have any legal rights to insist on having it done by the builder/developer who actually altered 'natural ground level'. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Re: Retaining wall - what's the minimal distance from the ho 8Jan 10, 2011 6:31 am In my Shire, engineered plans need to be submitted with the DA to place a retaining wall of any height right on a boundary. You need to check with your Council about this. As an adjoining property owner you would / should have received notification of the proposed development (including some drawings etc) prior to it being approved. You clearly have concerns over the wall and what affect it will have on your property now and in the future. IMO I would be contacting Council today and get them out there quick smart. Re: Retaining wall - what's the minimal distance from the ho 9Jan 10, 2011 8:03 am KnockItDown You clearly have concerns over the wall and what affect it will have on your property now and in the future. IMO I would be contacting Council today and get them out there quick smart. Thanks for your advise. I will try to discuss this issue with a builder first. My understanding is that the proposed retaining wall can be easily built 500mm from the brickwall. If it is not going to work, I will definitely contact my local council. Re: Retaining wall - what's the minimal distance from the ho 11Jan 31, 2011 11:19 am My experience is that my local council (Maroondah) does not allow a retaining wall of ANY kind to be part of the boundary wall unless it is a wall or part thereof of a non habitable room (garage basically) I think that wall is too close to the boundary and as pointed out earlier, I would also be concerned about the part they have not retained. You should ask the builders to provide evidence of engineered design (Maroondah requires this for all walls over 600mm height above natural ground level.) You should also ask for proof of adequate drainage and waterproofing of the section that currently is against YOUR garage. 300mm is the usual depth of drainage aggregate required as a minimum. (300mm +200mm of wall = 500mm) The top of the wall should only lean toward the material it is retaining. not away from it. Ours is 5° toward mt neighbor (holding his side up/he is higher than us) A quick look through the council link provided above tells me that a retaining wall is required for more than 200mm difference in height but your approval is not required for under 1000mm. It also says that the council won't settle any dispute so long as all works meet the relevant code. Section 60 of this document http://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/LZ/C/A ... .55.UN.PDF will help you figure what is required but from my understanding ( I could be very wrong here but ) You should have been given 28 days notice of their intent to build the wall. This should have been served to you not via a standard board posting out the front of the block. You are entitled to have the builder conform to all relevant building codes and legislation. If the builder fails to the owner of the land (having employed the builder) faces up to $10,000 per infringement. Any registered building inspector should be able to help you with your attempts to find out if it meets code. GLGLGLGL Thank you again Simeon.. I will call my certifier for that. Have a good day 4 5628 Found the answer. The recommended distance is .... 1 6030 Yeah my reasoning is just that those house posts are designed for vertical load not lateral. I just didnt want to risk interfering with the existing house… 4 11568 |