Retaining Walls in Plano, Where Most Homes Were Platted in Three Decades
Plano is home to 293,028 people. All but 5,705 of them live on the Collin County side.
The city had grown to 72,000 residents by 1980, and corporate headquarters moves in the 1980s spurred more growth after that. Toyota Motor North America moved its U.S. headquarters to Plano.
In the city’s subdivision records, 27% of platted single-family detached units were platted in the 1970s, 22% in the 1980s and 32% in the 1990s. By build year, 28.6% of Plano’s homes went up in 1990–1999, 21.6% in 1980–1989 and 13.8% in 1970–1979, with 17.6% from 2000–2009 and only 12.0% from 2010–2019. 59.8% of all units are 1-unit detached homes.
The city covers 71.696 square miles of land. Six ZIP codes each cover 12% or more of it: 75023, 75024, 75025, 75074, 75075 and 75093.
A Plano call can be about a new wall, a repair, or taking out a wall that has failed. Tell us which one when you call or send the form.
Plano’s Permit Exemption, Word for Word
Plano adopted the 2024 International Residential Code with its own amendments in Ordinance 2025-6-15. Item 3 of its list of work exempt from permit reads: “Retaining walls that are not over 4 feet (1219 mm) in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge.”
Where a permit is needed, the city’s fee schedule splits the fence and retaining wall fee into a $65 residential permit fee and a $10 day laborer fee.
We found no published engineering height for retaining walls in Plano beyond that adopted code, so that question goes to the Building Inspections Department.
Pools Near Retaining Walls in Plano
Section 328.1.1 of the same ordinance says a swimming pool or spa’s depth must keep a 1:1 ratio from the nearest building foundation or retaining wall footing. The exception is a sealed engineered design drawing.
If a pool and a wall are both in your plans, mention both when you call.
Creek Trails Across Plano
Three of Plano’s trails follow water. The Legacy Trail runs along White Rock Creek. The Cottonwood Creek Greenbelt traces the city’s eastern edge from Richardson to Allen. The Chisholm Trail follows a creek through central Plano. On the east side, Bob Woodruff Park sits near Rowlett Creek.
Plano’s floodplain pages did not give us readable rules to cite. A homeowner whose fence line faces one of these trails should put that question to the city.
Next Steps for a Plano Wall
For prices by wall type, see the retaining wall cost page. For a wall that is already leaning or cracking, see retaining wall repair.
Your price is set at the free on-site estimate. Phone us Mon–Sat 8–6 about your Plano yard.