Hackensack, NJ Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Base lot coverage cap
- Set by district in §§ 175-7.3/175-7.4
- Multifamily accessory-building allowance
- Up to 15% of total land area
- Below-grade accessory buildings
- Excluded from coverage count
- Street-yard paving width cap
- 20 feet
- Street-yard paving area cap
- 50% of yard area
Summary
Hackensack sets its maximum lot coverage percentages by zoning district in the bulk tables at Sections 175-7.3 and 175-7.4, but City Code Section 175-12.4 adds citywide rules: accessory buildings can add up to 15% more coverage on multifamily lots, and street-facing yard paving is capped at 20 feet wide and 50% of the yard.
§ 175-12.4. Supplemental lot coverage regulations. ... The maximum percentage of lot coverage by buildings or structures and the required area of front, rear and side yards shall be as noted in the §§ 175-7.3 and 175-7.4. ... Where a lot is developed for use by dwelling units for three or more families, the maximum coverage at § 175-7.3 or 175-7.4 shall apply solely to the principal building. Accessory buildings may be constructed in excess of the principal building coverage, provided that the accessory building or buildings do not occupy more than 15% of the total land area. ... Paving of required yard areas. For a one- or two-family dwelling, no yard abutting a public street shall be paved in excess of 20 feet in width, and in no case shall paving in any yard abutting a public street exceed 50% of the area of that yard unless such additional paving is otherwise permitted by this chapter.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4592721; v20 updated 2026-01-06; through 01-06-2026).
Full Breakdown
4 for the base maximum lot-coverage percentage and required yard areas in each zone, so the numeric cap itself varies district by district rather than being a single citywide figure. B(1). C separately regulates paving in the yard of a one- or two-family dwelling that abuts a public street: that paved area cannot exceed 20 feet in width, and in no case can paving in a street-facing yard cover more than 50% of that yard's area, unless the chapter permits more elsewhere; the curb cut itself is capped at no more than two feet wider than the driveway.
Together these rules mean a homeowner cannot simply pave over a front yard for extra parking even where the base lot-coverage percentage in the district table would technically allow it, because the paving-specific limit controls that surface separately from building coverage.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the district's lot-coverage percentage, the 15% accessory-building allowance on multifamily lots, or the yard-paving width and area limits is a zoning violation under Section 175-3.6: a fine of up to $1,250, imprisonment of up to 90 days, or both, on conviction, with each day of continued violation a separate offense. The Zoning Officer enforces Chapter 175 and investigates written complaints.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum lot coverage allowed in Hackensack?
Can an apartment building's accessory structures exceed the coverage limit?
How much of my front yard can I pave for parking?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hackensack
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