Do I Need A Permit To Add Dirt To My Yard? (Find Out Now!)

Jessica Allen
by Jessica Allen

Many landscaping projects require you to add dirt to your yard. Adding dirt is usually a pretty simple process and doesn’t always require a professional. But before you jump into this DIY project, do you need a permit to add dirt to your yard?

You’ll generally need a permit if you disturb 2500 square feet of soil, or for smaller sections adding to 2500. You’ll also need a permit if you’re changing the grade by adding or taking away more than 24 inches. Smaller projects, like evening out your yard or adding dirt to plant shrubs, generally do not require a permit.

In this article, we’ll go over the general rules of adding dirt to your yard. We’ll also talk about different reasons why you might want to add dirt to your yard. Finally, we’ll discuss some landscaping projects for which you’ll always need a permit.

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Is A Permit Needed To Add Dirt To My Yard?

You might need a permit to add dirt to your yard, depending on the rules in your county and state. The general rule is that you need a permit if you’re disturbing 2500 square feet (or more) of soil.

You also need a permit when you’re changing the grade of the soil by more than 24 inches. Changing the grade refers to both adding 24 inches to the grade and taking away 24 inches from it.

Therefore, any small projects like filling in gaps or adding a flowerbed generally don’t require a permit. It’s typically only when you’re making drastic changes that you’ll need to get one. There are also a few special considerations that we’ll talk about later in the article.

Why Add Dirt To My Yard?

There are several reasons why you might want to add dirt to your yard. One is simply filling in gaps in your yard with a layer of soil. You could level out uneven ground by adding dirt. You could also add soil where new grass can grow.

Low-Maintenance Lawn

Adding high-quality rich topsoil to your yard improves drainage. It can also help turf survive periods of drought. It even reduces the soil’s need for fertilizer, making it more low-maintenance.

When you add soil to your yard, its nutrients are infused into the existing turf. This can improve your yard’s overall texture, making it a better environment for grass and plants to thrive.

Better Environment For Plants

You could also add dirt to serve as a flowerbed or garden. Or maybe you want to set up an area where you can plant shrubs or trees. As long as you’re affecting a total of less than 2500 square feet, no permit is necessary.

Less Water Damage

Another reason you might add dirt is to create a slope that makes water roll away from your home’s foundation. This way, the water won’t pool up against the foundation, helping to prevent water damage and flooding.

Which Landscaping Projects Require A Permit?

There are a few landscaping projects that you’ll need a permit for, no matter where you live. One of these is adding a permanent swimming pool and a pool deck. You’ll need a building permit and potentially electricity and gas permits as well.

Another project you’ll need a building permit to do legally is building a retaining wall that’s more than two feet tall. Installing a footer to support a deck post or wall also requires a permit. Installing gas lines, plumbing, or electrical does as well.

A couple more projects that require permits are tree removal and building a fence. Generally, this refers to front yard fences higher than four feet or backyard fences taller than six feet.

Special Considerations

Some specific locations and site characteristics may require multiple inspections and engineering plans in addition to permits. We’ve listed a few of these below.

If you find that your property meets any of these considerations, contact a landscape architect. They can evaluate your property and figure out if any additional action is needed. Landscape architects are there to help you work within the guidelines while making your vision into a reality.

Steep Slopes

One specific consideration is if your property has steep slopes and you’re planning on adding retaining walls for terracing. In this situation, you’ll probably need to have a global stability study done.

This study requires professionals to drill down 20 feet so they can take core samples of the soil. If the results show the soil isn’t stable enough, you might have to replace it with a substrate.

Environmentally Sensitive Land

Depending on where you live, your home may be near a Resource Protection Area or RPA. This is a section of environmentally sensitive land near a waterway. If this is the case for you, you’ll need a complete site survey with RPA delineation.

Loose Backfill Soil

Wanting to add a driveway or build walls on your property? You’ll need to check that your soil is high-quality enough to build on top of it. This is something to note because you’ll often find loose backfill soil around newer homes.

If you have especially poor soil quality, you might need to add as much as 48 inches of substrate. Generally, though, the depth for substrate is only 24 inches.

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Related Questions

Is dirt considered yard waste?

Dirt may or may not be considered yard waste, depending on where you live. Some counties do not accept soil, sod, or dirt as yard waste because of their weight. Others do accept dirt as yard waste. You’ll need to check with your county’s garbage and recycling services to know for sure.


Why is my yard dirt and weeds?

Identifying the type of weeds you have can help you determine what’s wrong with your soil. For instance, if you have bindweed, your soil is likely compacted or crusty. Meanwhile, crabgrass shows up when your soil is lacking nutrients, especially calcium. Dandelions can indicate poor soil that is both compacted and low in calcium.


Why is my yard dirt cracking?

Cracking dirt has to do with soil type and dryness. If the soil receives little or no water, it will contract, and cracks will form. Clay soil is especially susceptible to cracking when dehydrated.

Jessica Allen
Jessica Allen

With a lifelong passion for writing plus strong enthusiasm for home improvement and DIY projects, joining the team at Upgraded Home was an easy choice. Jessica Allen likes to share helpful information with current and aspiring homeowners. Aside from writing, Jessica loves doing yoga, playing the piano, and dabbling in graphic design.

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