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RETAINING WALL – CONSENT REQUIRED OR NOT? One of our most common questions we get asked is whether or not you need a consent for a retaining wall. Auckland City Council recently updated their guidance on retaining walls. Whether a retaining wall consent (for Auckland Council) is required can be summarised into 3 categories. 1. Retaining wall less than 1.5m high with no surcharge – NOT REQUIRED. 2. Retaining wall less than 1.5m with a surcharge – REQUIRED. 3. Retaining wall greater than 1.5m with or without a surcharge – REQUIRED. Often confusion lies around retaining structures less than 1.5m and what is a surcharge. A surcharge is a downward pressure exerted on the soil that causes a subsequent outward pressure on a retaining wall. Even when like-for-like structures are replaced, if a surcharge is exerted from a structure on the ground it may cause the soil to shift or even fail during replacement. This is why consulting a structural engineer may be important for replacing retaining walls that is supporting a building, footpath or boundary.Read more about Auckland Council’s guidelines on consent from December 2025. www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/…/ac2231-retaining…