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June 21, 2008
Backyard Building Codes
We are planning to excavate our currently tiered back garden to make it one level. This will require underpinning both neighbors gardens with a retaining wall and extending existing brick walls around the yard. We are essentially converting our back garden into a somehwat sunken walled garden. Is anyone aware of any building code restrictions etc pertaining to backyards walls and/or gardens(height, surfaces, etc)?
Comments
Walls -- max 8' high, must be non-combustible. The underpinning work is its own can of worms.
Posted by: Smokychimp at June 21, 2008 11:54 AM
thanks. existng walls are 6' and we were counting on another 4' of excavation, 2' for retaining and another 2' for footings.
any idea of code (besides good neighborly relations) regarding what the neighbor see? or we just going to have to grab our fishing poles?
Posted by: Todgie at June 21, 2008 12:43 PM
If you're digging along your neighbor's foundation there is another whole level of permitting + procedures your going to need to go through Particularly if you're in a landmark district is there are special procedures intended to protect historic buildings.
Posted by: guest at June 21, 2008 5:44 PM
Go to: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dob/html/reference/code_internet.shtml and type in "retaining walls" in their search engine. This is not a job to take lightly. Ecavation work at this time in NYC is being heavily inspected and Stop Work Orders are common.
Posted by: guest at June 22, 2008 10:52 AM
Thanks. All helpful advice. It seems we should be OK given there will be no work around either of our neighbors foundations (just their flower beds) and we are excavating to exisiting grade (the same grade as 1/3 of the current backyard.)
Posted by: Todgie at June 22, 2008 2:54 PM
It's your responsibility to make sure there is no drainage issues happening in your neighbors yards. Otherwise your aloud to dig down and not let your fences be hirer than 6' at existing ground level.
Posted by: Brook Landscape at June 22, 2008 3:01 PM
Sorry BL - 6' from ground level prior to excavation or after excavation?
We have pre-existing walls at 7'2" at the grade we expect to bring the entire backyard to so would assume we could continue that wall?
Posted by: Todgie at June 22, 2008 3:08 PM
Todgie, your engineer is not giving you answers on this?
Posted by: Smokychimp at June 22, 2008 3:34 PM
You don't have to change pre-existing walls. You can build small retaining walls, walls that act as planters, and can sometimes get away with going above 6' if your neighbors don't care. You may be against code but won't have to dill with it until the house sells. My expeditor told me, raised structures or patio's away from the house must be filed. We have done recessed gardens and all you should worry about is protecting the structural integrity of your neighbors yard-fence-wall and the drainage on all properties.
Posted by: Brook Landscape at June 22, 2008 5:46 PM
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