Standards and Guidelines 2023-0607

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City of South Bend and St. Joseph County Historic Preservation Guidelines 13 Residential Standards: Fencing and Retaining Walls Repair an existing retaining or garden wall • Historic retaining walls should be repaired with the same materials from which they are constructed including the replication of details that give it its character . • Repointing should be done when necessary, using a mortar mix that is like that used historically and applied in a joint design that matches the original . Install a new retaining or garden wall • Preserve distinctive grading features of a site avoiding grade changes greater than 12”. • Any grade changes need to take into consideration impact to adjacent sites and the overall character of the district . • New walls should be compatible with the character of the property and district . • New walls should be constructed out of materials that match the house or building . • Walls should be no taller than four feet and include a masonry cap . • A retaining wall that defines the sidewalk edge or is used in the front yard, should be no taller than thirty-six inches. The following is not recommended and generally not approved by the Commission: • Unfinished concrete, concrete block or interlocking brick retaining or garden walls. • Chain-link, barbed wire, or vinyl fencing. • Horizontal board fencing . Return to the Table of Contents