The earth pressure of retaining structure adjacent to the action of local overload is one of the common problems in the development of high-density urban area. The influence of local overloading on the earth pressure of adjacent retaining structures under different displacement modes was investigated via model test, and the rationality and applicability of existing calculation theories were analyzed. The relations of scale and distribution of earth pressure against displacement mode of retaining structure was acquired, and the test results were compared with the existing theoretical calculation results. Conclusions were obtained as follows: for cohesionless soil, the distribution form and scale of earth pressure of retaining structure under local overload are related to the displacement at each point, declining exponentially with the growth of displacement. The main influence range of local overload on earth pressure obtained by the present method was consistent with that by standard method, but the standard method and the proposed simplified method are not suitable in some areas, which is related to the displacement mode of retaining structure. The earth pressure calculated with elastic method can cover all kinds of displacement modes of the adjacent retaining structure under local overload. Its distribution pattern is consistent with the measured value, which is safe, but can be modified and reduced when it is larger than the main influence range of local overload.