Retaining Wall Permit Cost in New Braunfels, TX (2026)

Retaining wall permit fees for the City of New Braunfels, Texas (Comal and Guadalupe counties), pulled directly from Appendix D of the Code of Ordinances - the Building Permit Fee Schedule A Residential. The schedule prints one retaining-wall line: Retaining Walls (over 24 inches) = $0.50 per linear foot. The fee is triggered only when the wall is over 24 inches (2 feet), and it scales with the length of the wall, not its height. A typical 100-linear-foot backyard wall is a $50.00 building line (100 × $0.50). Adding one $35.00 inspection and the 3% technology fee, then applying the Sec. B(k) round-down, produces a modeled all-in estimate of about $87.00. Texas has no statewide permit levy. Two cautions control this page: walls 24 inches and under have no printed fee line (confirm whether a permit is even required), and the adopted fees are more than two years old (last amended October 9, 2023).

Retaining Wall Rate (over 24 in)

$0.50 per linear foot (exact printed line)

Typical 100 ft Wall

$50.00 building line (100 × $0.50)

Walls 24 in and Under

No printed fee line - confirm if a permit is required

Inspection Fee

$35.00 per residential inspection

Technology Fee

3% on review, building, zoning and development fees

Fee Schedule Effective

Fees date to Oct 9, 2023 - verify current

What This Guide Covers - and What It Does Not

This guide covers: The City of New Braunfels, Texas (Comal and Guadalupe counties) residential retaining-wall permit line as printed in Appendix D, Building Permit Fee Schedule A Residential - "Retaining Walls (over 24 inches)" at $0.50 per linear foot. That per-linear-foot rate is exact from the published schedule. The $87.00 all-in figure is a modeled estimate for a 100-linear-foot wall: it assumes one $35.00 inspection and the 3% technology fee apply, then rounds down per Sec. B(k).

The fee is triggered by height but priced by length: the schedule charges the $0.50 rate only for retaining walls over 24 inches (2 feet), and then bills per linear foot of wall length. A taller wall is not charged more per foot; a longer wall is. Measure the run of the wall to estimate the building line. The schedule does not state whether "over 24 inches" is measured as exposed height or total height including the buried footing - confirm that with the Building Division.

Walls 24 inches and under are not on this line: the schedule prints a fee only for walls over 24 inches. It does not print a fee - or a stated exemption - for shorter walls. Do not assume a short garden wall is free or permit-exempt; confirm with the Building Division whether a permit is required for a wall 24 inches or less.

The $50.00 application fee and 25% plan review are not added to a stand-alone wall: the schedule prints those "for all new construction, additions and substantial alterations." A stand-alone retaining wall is normally none of those, so they are excluded from the estimate here. If the Building Division classifies the wall as part of new construction or a substantial alteration, they could apply - a conditional case.

Source-age caution - fees are more than two years old: the building-permitting fee section was last amended by Ordinance No. 2023-76 on October 9, 2023 - over two years before this guide - and the city has publicized development-fee amendments effective April 1, 2024. Treat every figure here as a starting point and confirm the current rate with the Building Division before budgeting.

This guide does NOT cover: engineered structural design (walls over 4 feet, or walls retaining a surcharge or slope, commonly require engineered drawings under the residential code); drainage, weep, and backfill requirements; tiered or terraced wall systems (which the department may treat as a single taller wall); geotechnical or grading review; retaining structures in the public right-of-way or an easement; concrete, block, and labor costs; impact fees and New Braunfels Utilities (NBU) charges; and any separate Comal or Guadalupe county fees.

Key Takeaways

New Braunfels, Texas prints one retaining-wall line - "Retaining Walls (over 24 inches)" at $0.50 per linear foot - in Appendix D, Building Permit Fee Schedule A Residential. That per-linear-foot rate is the exact printed figure.
The fee is triggered by height (only walls over 24 inches) but billed per linear foot of length. A 60-foot wall is a $30.00 line, a 100-foot wall is $50.00, and a 150-foot wall is $75.00. Measure the run of the wall to estimate the building line.
The modeled all-in estimate for a 100-foot wall is about $87.00: ($50.00 + $35.00 inspection) x 1.03 technology fee = $87.55, rounded down to $87.00 under Sec. B(k). This is a labeled estimate, not a printed total.
Walls 24 inches and under have no printed fee line and no stated exemption - do not assume a short wall is free or permit-exempt; confirm with the Building Division. Walls over 4 feet, or walls holding back a slope or surcharge, commonly require engineered drawings.
The $50.00 application fee and 25% plan review are printed only for new construction, additions, and substantial alterations, so neither is added to a stand-alone retaining wall. Texas has no statewide percentage permit levy, though New Braunfels applies a 3% technology fee.
The adopted building-permit fees date to October 9, 2023 (Ordinance No. 2023-76) and the city has publicized development-fee amendments effective April 1, 2024 - confirm current amounts with the Building Division. For same-city context, see the New Braunfels driveway permit guide and the New Braunfels fence permit guide.

Open the Permit Fee Calculator All New Braunfels Permit Fees

New Braunfels Retaining Wall Fee Structure

The retaining-wall permit is a single per-linear-foot line at $0.50 for walls over 24 inches - the exact printed rate. There is no flat minimum on the wall line itself and no statewide levy. To model a realistic out-the-door cost, one $35.00 inspection and the 3% technology fee are added to the per-linear-foot building line, then Sec. B(k) rounds the total down to the nearest whole dollar. The $50.00 application fee and the 25% plan review are printed only for new construction, additions, and substantial alterations, so they are shown below as NOT added to a stand-alone wall. Every line in the table is exactly as printed on the schedule.

Item	Fee	How It Is Calculated
Retaining wall line (over 24 inches)	$0.50 / linear ft	Exact per-linear-foot building line on Schedule A Residential, for walls over 24 inches. Multiply the wall length by $0.50 - e.g. 100 ft = $50.00.
Walls 24 inches and under	No printed line	The schedule prints a fee only for walls over 24 inches. It states neither a fee nor an exemption for shorter walls - confirm with the Building Division whether a permit is required.
Residential inspection fee	$35.00	Per residential inspection. Re-inspections are $35.00, doubling for each subsequent re-inspection. One inspection is assumed in the all-in estimate.
Technology fee	3%	Applied to all review, building, zoning and development related fees - so 3% on the wall line plus inspection in the estimate.
Permit application fee	$50.00 - not added	Printed only for new construction, additions, and substantial alterations. A stand-alone retaining wall is normally none of those, so it is excluded from the estimate.
Plan review fee	25% - not added	25% of permit cost (max $2,500.00), also tied to new construction, additions, and substantial alterations. Excluded for a stand-alone wall.
Engineered design (tall walls)	Separate	Walls over 4 feet, or walls retaining a slope or surcharge, commonly require engineered drawings. Engineering cost is separate and is not this building line.
Sec. B(k) round-down	To nearest $1	Applied once at the end. $87.55 rounds down to $87.00.
State / city percentage levy	None	Texas has no statewide permit levy. The only percentage add-on is the city's 3% technology fee.

Source: City of New Braunfels (TX) Code of Ordinances, Appendix D - Fee Schedule, Sec. B(a) Building Permit Fee Schedule A Residential; building-permitting section last amended by Ordinance No. 2023-76 on October 9, 2023. The $0.50 per linear foot retaining-wall line (over 24 inches), the $35.00 inspection fee, the 3% technology fee, the $50.00 application fee, the 25% plan review, and the Sec. B(k) round-down all appear on the city schedule. The all-in figures assume the application fee and plan review do NOT apply to a stand-alone wall - confirm the current rate and that classification with the Building Division, especially given the fees date to October 9, 2023.

Worked Examples - Real Retaining Wall Projects in New Braunfels

Because the retaining-wall permit is $0.50 per linear foot, the building line scales with the length of the wall, not its height. Each all-in estimate adds one $35.00 inspection and the 3% technology fee to the per-linear-foot line, then rounds down. Every figure below is direct arithmetic from the published schedule, with the exact per-linear-foot line and the modeled estimate labeled separately. Each example assumes the wall is over 24 inches, which is what triggers the fee.

Example 1: Short garden wall, 60 linear ft

A homeowner builds a 60-foot block retaining wall about 30 inches tall to level a back garden - over 24 inches, so the fee applies.

Retaining-wall building line: 60 × $0.50 = $30.00
Residential inspection fee: $35.00
Subtotal: $65.00 × 1.03 technology fee = $66.95
Sec. B(k) round-down: $66.95 → $66.00
All-in estimate: $66.00

The $30.00 building line is exact arithmetic ($0.50 x 60 ft); the $66.00 is a modeled estimate assuming one inspection and the 3% technology fee. A wall this height usually does not need engineered drawings, but confirm with the department.

Example 2: Backyard wall, 100 linear ft

A 100-foot terraced-lot retaining wall around 3 feet tall - the same $0.50 per linear foot line.

Retaining-wall building line: 100 × $0.50 = $50.00
Residential inspection fee: $35.00
Subtotal: $85.00 × 1.03 = $87.55 → round down $87.00
All-in estimate: $87.00

A longer wall means a larger building line, because the rate is per linear foot. A wall around or over 4 feet may require engineered drawings - a separate cost the department will flag.

Example 3: Long or terraced wall, 150 linear ft

A longer engineered wall running roughly 150 feet along a sloped property line.

Retaining-wall building line: 150 × $0.50 = $75.00
Residential inspection fee: $35.00
Subtotal: $110.00 × 1.03 = $113.30 → round down $113.00
All-in estimate: $113.00

The permit building line for a 150-foot wall is $75.00, and about $113.00 all-in. Engineered design, drainage review, and any tiered-wall treatment are separate from this line - a taller or terraced wall may draw structural review the department handles separately.

When This Estimate May Not Apply

The $0.50 per linear foot covers the residential retaining-wall building line as printed for walls over 24 inches, and the all-in figures are modeled estimates. Route your project to the Building Division before relying on these figures if any of the following applies:

Your wall is 24 inches or shorter. The schedule prints a fee only for walls over 24 inches and states no exemption for shorter walls. Confirm with the Building Division whether a permit is required for a wall 24 inches or less.
Your wall is over 4 feet or holds back a slope or surcharge. These commonly require engineered drawings under the residential code. The engineering cost, and any structural plan review, are separate from the $0.50 building line.
The adopted fees have been amended since October 9, 2023. The building-permit schedule was last amended by Ordinance No. 2023-76 on October 9, 2023, and the city has publicized development-fee amendments effective April 1, 2024. Confirm the current rate before budgeting.
The Building Division ties the wall to a larger project. If the wall is part of new construction, an addition, or a substantial alteration, the $50.00 application fee (plus the 3% technology fee) and the 25% plan review may apply. A stand-alone wall is normally none of those.
Your wall is tiered or terraced. Multiple stacked walls may be treated as a single taller wall for structural and permitting purposes - confirm how the length and height are measured.
Your job needs more than one inspection. The estimate assumes a single $35.00 inspection. Re-inspections are $35.00, doubling for each subsequent re-inspection.
Impact, utility, or county fees apply. Impact fees, New Braunfels Utilities (NBU) charges, and any separate Comal or Guadalupe county fees are outside the building-permit line.

Engineered structural design, drainage and backfill requirements, tiered-wall treatment, grading and geotechnical review, right-of-way and easement rules, and concrete or block material and labor costs are excluded from the figures on this page, and the page-standard disclaimer applies. Because the adopted fees date to October 9, 2023, always verify the current rate with the New Braunfels Building Division before budgeting.

New Braunfels Retaining Wall Permit Cost vs Other Verified Texas Cities

Not every Texas city prints a separate retaining-wall line. New Braunfels does; some peers fold retaining walls into a department determination instead. Scope differs, so each figure below notes its basis, and each department should be verified separately.

City	Retaining Wall Fee Basis	Residential Retaining Wall Permit
New Braunfels, TX	Per linear ft line (over 24 in) + $35 insp, ×1.03 tech fee	$0.50 / linear ft (~$87 for 100 ft)
League City, TX	No separate printed retaining-wall line	Not a printed line - confirm with city
Conroe, TX	No separate printed retaining-wall line	Not a printed line - confirm with city

Scope note: New Braunfels charges retaining walls over 24 inches per linear foot at $0.50, so its cost scales with the length of the wall (a 100-foot wall is a $50.00 building line, about $87.00 all-in). The League City and Conroe residential schedules do not print a separate retaining-wall line, so a retaining wall in those cities falls under a department determination. Compare the basis, not just the number, and confirm current figures with each department - New Braunfels' adopted fees date to October 9, 2023.

Next Step

See New Braunfels' full residential fee schedule, or price other New Braunfels projects.

All New Braunfels Fees → New Braunfels Driveway Guide New Braunfels Shed Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a retaining wall permit cost in New Braunfels, TX?

The residential retaining-wall line is $0.50 per linear foot for walls over 24 inches, on Appendix D of the New Braunfels Code of Ordinances - the exact printed rate. A 100-linear-foot wall is a $50.00 building line. Adding one $35.00 inspection and the 3% technology fee, then rounding down per Sec. B(k), gives a modeled all-in estimate of about $87.00. Note the adopted fees date to October 9, 2023 - confirm current amounts with the Building Division.

Do I need a permit for a retaining wall under 24 inches?

The schedule prints a fee only for retaining walls over 24 inches, and it does not print a fee - or a stated exemption - for shorter walls. That silence is not the same as "no permit required." Do not assume a wall 24 inches or under is permit-exempt; confirm directly with the New Braunfels Building Division whether a permit is needed for a short wall on your property.

Is the fee based on the wall's height or its length?

Both, in different ways. Height is the trigger: the $0.50 rate applies only when the wall is over 24 inches. Length is the multiplier: once the wall qualifies, you are charged $0.50 for each linear foot of wall length. So a taller wall is not charged more per foot, but a longer wall costs more overall. Multiply your wall length by $0.50 for the building line, then add the inspection and technology fee.

Does a tall retaining wall need engineered drawings?

Commonly, yes. Retaining walls over 4 feet in height, or any wall holding back a slope or surcharge (like a driveway or pool), typically require engineered structural drawings under the residential code. That engineering is a separate professional cost and is not part of the $0.50 per linear foot building line. This page does not state an engineering or structural-review fee - the Building Division will tell you whether your wall needs one.

Are the $50 application fee and 25% plan review added to a wall?

Not for a stand-alone wall. The schedule prints the $50.00 application fee and the 25% plan review "for all new construction, additions and substantial alterations." A stand-alone retaining wall is normally none of those, so both are excluded from the $87.00 estimate. If the wall is part of a larger project the department classifies as new construction or a substantial alteration, they could apply - ask the Building Division.

What is the 3% technology fee?

The technology fee is 3% applied to all review, building, zoning and development related fees on the New Braunfels schedule. In the 100-foot wall estimate it is charged on the $50.00 wall line plus the $35.00 inspection - so $85.00 x 1.03 = $87.55, which Sec. B(k) rounds down to $87.00. It is a city fee, not a state levy; Texas has no statewide permit percentage.

Does the permit cover drainage, tiered walls, or right-of-way work?

No. The $0.50 per linear foot line is the building permit for the wall itself. Drainage and backfill requirements, tiered or terraced wall systems (which may be treated as one taller wall), grading and geotechnical review, and any retaining structure in the public right-of-way or an easement are handled separately by the department. Confirm those requirements before you build.

How current are these New Braunfels retaining wall fees?

They come from Appendix D of the Code of Ordinances, with the building-permitting section last amended by Ordinance No. 2023-76 on October 9, 2023 - more than two years before this guide. The city has publicized development-fee amendments effective April 1, 2024, so the adopted building-permit amounts may have changed. Treat every figure here as a starting point and confirm the current rate with the Building Division before filing. See all New Braunfels permit fees and all Texas cities.

Who to Contact

Department	City of New Braunfels, Texas - Building Division
County	Comal and Guadalupe counties, Texas
Phone	830-221-4000
Ask them	Whether a permit is required for a wall 24 inches or under, how "over 24 inches" and the wall length are measured, whether your wall needs engineered drawings, and whether the adopted fees have changed since October 9, 2023
Fee schedule	New Braunfels Code of Ordinances - Appendix D, Fee Schedule (Municode)

Sources

Official Sources - Recorded July 2026

City of New Braunfels, TX - Code of Ordinances, Appendix D (Fee Schedule) New Braunfels, TX (Comal and Guadalupe counties) - official Code of Ordinances on Municode, Sec. B(a) Building Permit Fee Schedule A Residential. Primary source for the $0.50 per linear foot retaining-wall line (over 24 inches), the $35.00 inspection fee, the 3% technology fee, the $50.00 application fee, the 25% plan review, and the Sec. B(k) round-down. Building-permitting section last amended by Ordinance No. 2023-76 on October 9, 2023; recorded July 2026 Fees date to Oct 9, 2023 - verify current
Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 214 Texas statute (.gov) confirming municipal building-regulation authority and that Texas imposes no statewide percentage building-permit levy. Context for the "no statewide levy" statement. Verified July 2026.

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Always verify current retaining wall permit fees directly with the City of New Braunfels (TX) Building Division before budgeting or filing. The figures on this page come from Appendix D of the Code of Ordinances, with the building-permit section last amended by Ordinance No. 2023-76 on October 9, 2023 - more than two years ago. The schedule prints a $0.50 per linear foot retaining-wall line for walls over 24 inches; the all-in figures are modeled estimates adding a $35.00 inspection and a 3% technology fee, rounded down under Sec. B(k). Walls 24 inches and under have no printed fee line. The city has publicized development-fee amendments effective April 1, 2024, so confirm the current rate and whether your wall needs engineered drawings before submitting.

Disclaimer: All fee information on PermitPrice is for informational purposes only and is not an official permit quotation. Actual permit fees are determined by the City of New Braunfels, Texas Building Division at the time of application. The $0.50 per linear foot retaining-wall line (over 24 inches), the $35.00 inspection fee, the 3% technology fee, the $50.00 application fee, and the 25% plan review are as printed in Appendix D of the Code of Ordinances, Building Permit Fee Schedule A Residential; that section was last amended by Ordinance No. 2023-76 on October 9, 2023 - more than two years before this guide - and the city has publicized development-fee amendments effective April 1, 2024, so confirm current amounts. The per-linear-foot building lines ($30.00 for 60 ft, $50.00 for 100 ft, $75.00 for 150 ft) are exact arithmetic on the $0.50 rate; the all-in figures ($66.00, $87.00, $113.00) are modeled estimates that assume one $35.00 inspection and the 3% technology fee apply, rounded down under Sec. B(k). Walls 24 inches and under have no printed fee line and no stated exemption - confirm whether a permit is required. The $50.00 application fee and the 25% plan review are printed only for new construction, additions, and substantial alterations, so they are excluded from a stand-alone wall estimate. Engineered structural design for tall walls, drainage and backfill requirements, tiered-wall treatment, grading and geotechnical review, right-of-way and easement rules, impact fees, NBU charges, any Comal or Guadalupe county fees, and material and labor costs are separate and excluded. Verify all fees directly with the department before filing.

Written by: Munib Ur Rehman

Data verified against official fee schedule documents.