Planning a wall in West Seneca, Orchard Park or Hamburg? Patrick walks the slope with you, and we build landscape and retaining walls on a proper base, finished with plants or sod. The estimate is free.
Who decides: town, village or city
In the Southtowns, building permits come from the local code office for the place you live. That is the first thing to sort out, because a mailing address and a municipality are not always the same.
Orchard Park, Hamburg and Lancaster each have both a town and a village, and the villages run their own building departments. If your home is inside the village line, call the village. East Aurora is a village within the Town of Aurora, so the same applies there. Lackawanna is a city with its own offices. Your tax bill names the municipality you belong to, which is the quickest way to check. Once you know the right office, the questions below get you a clear answer fast.
West Seneca
In West Seneca, permits go through Code Enforcement at Town Hall, 1250 Union Road, Room 210. The phone is (716) 558-3242. The town's Code Enforcement page describes a building permit as permission to start a construction project and lists items such as new structures, additions, renovations and foundations. It also notes that building, plumbing and electrical permits must be issued by an inspector.
That page does not mention retaining walls by name. So before a wall goes in, call the office with the height, length and location and ask whether it needs a permit or a review. The office keeps limited hours, so check the town website before you go in person.
Orchard Park
The Town of Orchard Park Building Inspector and Code Enforcement office is in the Municipal Center on South Buffalo Street, in the village. The town's page lists deck and patio work, fences, and excavation and fill among the projects that need a building permit. It also warns that starting work before getting a permit means a double fee.
Retaining walls are not named on that list. A wall often involves excavation and fill, though, so it is worth calling before you start. If you live inside the Village of Orchard Park, the village has its own Building and Code Enforcement office, and that is where to ask instead.
Hamburg
Town of Hamburg Building Inspection is at 6100 South Park Avenue, and the phone listed is (716) 649-6111, extension 2210. The town's Building Permits page says permits are needed for building activity including, but not limited to, fences, pools and decks. That wording means other projects can need one too.
The same office points out that cutting trees and clearing vegetation needs a permit under Town Code Chapter 243, which can matter if a wall project means clearing a slope. Retaining walls are not named, so call ahead with your plans. The Village of Hamburg runs its own building and code enforcement office for homes inside the village.
Lancaster, Elma, East Aurora, Lackawanna and Grand Island
We have not confirmed a written retaining wall rule for these communities, so we will not guess at one here. Instead, call the right office before you dig.
In Lancaster, that is the Town of Lancaster building department, or the Village of Lancaster Building Department if you live inside the village. In Elma, call the Town of Elma building office. In East Aurora, ask the Village of East Aurora first, or the Town of Aurora if you live outside the village. In Lackawanna, call the City of Lackawanna building office. On Grand Island, ask the Town of Grand Island building department. Each one can tell you whether your wall needs a permit, a plan review or nothing at all.
What to have ready when you call
The office will want a few basics: how tall the wall will be at its highest point, how long it runs, and how far it sits from property lines, the house, the road and any driveway. Mention if the wall will hold up a driveway, patio or slope near a building, or change how water leaves your lot.
A simple sketch with measurements helps. Call 811 a few days before any digging so buried lines get marked. When we walk your yard for a retaining wall, Patrick will talk through those same details with you, so you know what to bring to the office. For pricing, see our retaining wall cost guide.
The short version
- Permits come from your town, village or city code office, so confirm which one covers your address.
- West Seneca Code Enforcement is at Town Hall, 1250 Union Road, Room 210.
- Orchard Park lists patios, fences and excavation and fill among permit projects, with a double fee for starting early.
- Hamburg requires permits for building activity including fences, pools and decks, and for tree clearing under Chapter 243.
- Have the wall's height, length and setbacks ready, and call 811 before digging.
Quick answers
Do I need a permit for a retaining wall in West Seneca?
Ask West Seneca Code Enforcement at (716) 558-3242. Their page lists building projects that need permits but does not name retaining walls, so call with the wall's height and location.
Does Erie County issue retaining wall permits?
Building permits in the Southtowns are handled by the local town, village or city code office. Start there for any wall question.
What happens if I build without a permit?
It depends on the town. The Town of Orchard Park, for example, says work started before a permit is issued carries a double fee. Other offices may require changes or removal.
Does a small garden wall need a permit?
Often the answer turns on height and location, but rules vary by town. A quick call to your local building office settles it before you buy any block.
Want this done for you? Patrick comes out, looks at the yard and talks through the options. The estimate is free.