What is the purpose of "retaining walls" as per building codes?

The primary purpose of retaining walls, as outlined in building codes, is to hold back soil and prevent erosion. Retaining walls are structures designed to restrain soil to unnatural slopes. They are essential in areas where the landscape has significant elevation changes, as they provide stability to the soil and help manage the forces of gravity that could lead to landslides or soil erosion.

These walls are engineered to counteract the lateral pressure exerted by the soil they hold back. Without properly constructed retaining walls, soil can shift or wash away, which can lead to serious structural damage to buildings and landscapes. Furthermore, they assist in managing the movement of groundwater and surface water, yet their primary function remains soil retention.

While aesthetics, additional living space, and drainage might be considerations in specific projects involving retaining walls, they are not their fundamental architectural purpose as defined in building codes.