In　urban　construction,　retaining　walls　are　usually　constructed　adjacent　to　existing　structures,　and　the　width　of　the　backfill　is　limited.　In　such　cases,　classical　earth　pressure　theories,　such　as　those　by　Coulomb　or　Rankine,　are　unsuitable.　The　active　earth　pressure　acting　on　the　retaining　wall　of　a　narrow　backfill　under　the　translation　mode　was　explored　in　this　study　using　a　finite　element　limit　analysis.　The　results　show　that　due　to　the　boundary　conditions,　reflective　shear　bands　occur　in　the　backfill　when　it　is　failing.　The　number　of　reflective　shear　bands　is　determined.　Moreover,　a　theoretical　method　is　proposed　using　the　limit　equilibrium　method　to　estimate　the　active　earth　pressure　acting　on　the　retaining　wall　of　the　narrow　backfill.　The　influence　of　the　parameters　on　the　failure　mechanisms　and　the　active　earth　pressure　is　also　discussed.　(C)　2018　Production　and　hosting　by　Elsevier　B.V.　on　behalf　of　The　Japanese　Geotechnical　Society.