# When does a retaining wall need a soils report?

> Learn how soils reports inform retaining wall design and when existing reports need review. Bring your Los Angeles property records and questions to Strata.

URL: https://stratalosangelesretainingwalls.com/guide/retaining-wall-soils-report/

A soils report supplies site-specific geotechnical information for the work it addresses. Whether one is required depends on the wall and property conditions; Los Angeles guidance calls for geotechnical reporting for walls retaining sloping ground. An old report must be checked for relevance to the proposed wall and current scope.

[Strata Los Angeles Retaining Walls](/) manages retaining-wall construction within the City of Los Angeles using appropriately licensed and insured contractors. We help connect the intended construction scope with the information it needs. A ground investigation is a distinct professional task, not something a contractor can replace with a photograph.

## A soil description is not yet a design input

Calling the ground clay, rock or fill does not provide all the information a retaining-wall designer may need. The relevant questions include how the ground behaves under the proposed structure, what is known about retained material and whether water or slope conditions affect the work. A neighborhood description cannot establish those answers for a parcel.

For [hillside retaining walls](/hillside-retaining-walls/), the investigation should relate to the actual wall location and retained ground. We do not assume that all Los Angeles properties have the same soil or groundwater conditions.

## Understand the geotechnical professional’s role

Geotechnical work addresses ground conditions within a defined investigation and reporting scope. Structural design uses appropriate site inputs to develop the wall system. Construction then needs to follow the relevant documents and inspection requirements. Those roles need coordination, but they are not interchangeable.

The [engineer-or-contractor guide](/guide/retaining-wall-engineer-or-contractor/) explains the distinction. Ask who is responsible for arranging the investigation, who receives its recommendations and how those recommendations will be reflected in the wall plans. A report should not be ordered as an isolated paperwork item with no connection to the design.

## Check the local requirement against the actual proposal

The [LADBS retaining-wall design bulletin](https://dbs.lacity.gov/sites/default/files/efs/forms/pc17/retaining-wall-design-ib-p-bc2020-083.pdf) calls for a geotechnical report for walls retaining sloping ground. Other site and project conditions can also affect the information required. The appropriate professionals and reviewing department need to establish what applies to the proposed work.

Keep this separate from a generic height assumption. A small visible face does not describe the entire retained condition, buried foundation or nearby loading. The [permit guide](/guide/retaining-wall-permits-los-angeles/) explains why the physical context matters when framing an approval inquiry.

## Do not assume an earlier report covers a new wall

An existing report may be helpful, but check its property reference, date, investigation area and intended project. A report prepared for a building or another part of the site may not answer every question for a new retaining wall. Later grading, water changes or alterations also need to be considered.

Provide the complete document, including appendices and subsequent correspondence if available. The [records guide](/guide/existing-retaining-wall-permit-records/) helps match documents to physical work. The responsible professional should determine whether the information is adequate, needs an update or requires further investigation.

## Ask how recommendations affect the construction scope

Geotechnical recommendations can influence the design assumptions and the construction requirements that follow from them. The owner needs to understand how those requirements appear in the proposal, including relevant excavation, material handling or verification tasks. They should not disappear between the report and the price.

Use the [proposal comparison guide](/blog/understanding-wall-proposals/) to identify exclusions. If an estimate was prepared before the report, ask which assumptions may change and how a revision will be handled. This is more useful than treating the initial price as final while the ground information remains unresolved.

## Groundwater and drainage need their own explanation

A visible wet patch does not establish groundwater conditions throughout the property. Conversely, a dry face on one visit does not prove water is irrelevant behind the wall. Investigation findings, site observations and the proposed drainage route need to be considered together.

Our [drainage guide](/guide/retaining-wall-drainage-outlets/) separates the collection system from its discharge destination. A soils report is not a reason to leave the outlet route undefined. The design and construction documents should identify how the relevant water-management requirements are addressed within the approved scope.

## Keep the report through construction and handover

Make sure the people pricing and building the project have the applicable documents, not just a short summary passed through several conversations. Identify any required observation or testing and who coordinates it. When site conditions differ from the assumptions, the project needs an appropriate response rather than an informal field redesign.

The [timeline guide](/guide/retaining-wall-construction-timeline/) shows where investigation and review fit before dependent work. Keep the final report, revisions and relevant construction records afterward so future owners or professionals can understand the basis on which the wall was planned.

## Questions about when does a retaining wall need a soils report

### Can soil from a neighboring property be used to design my wall?

Nearby information may provide context, but it does not establish the conditions at your wall location. The geotechnical and structural professionals should determine the information needed for the actual site and proposed scope.

### Does a soils report include the retaining-wall construction drawings?

Do not assume it does. Reporting on ground conditions and designing the retaining structure are related but distinct scopes. Confirm exactly which documents each professional will provide and how their work will be coordinated.

### Can a wall be priced before the geotechnical work is complete?

An initial proposal may be possible with clearly stated assumptions. It should identify what remains uncertain and how new findings could change the design, construction scope or price. Avoid treating an assumption-based figure as a complete final scope.

## Continue planning the work