Cherry Hill, NJ Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- R1 & RA zone max height
- 35 feet
- R20 High Rise zone height
- 6 to 16 stories
- Rooftop exception cap
- 10% above zone limit
- General penalty (§ 1-5.1)
- up to $2,000 or 90 days
- Fine-cure threshold
- 30 days if fine exceeds $1,250
- Permits issued by
- Township Zoning Officer
Summary
Cherry Hill Township zoning caps building height by district in Chapter 40's bulk requirements tables. Single-family zones RA and R1 hold structures to 35 feet, while the R20 High-Rise Multi-Residential zone reaches 16 stories. Section 40-401G lists narrow exceptions for spires, penthouses and rooftop equipment, capped at 10% above the district's limit.
Exceptions to height limitations. The height limitations of this Ordinance shall not apply to church spires, belfries, cupolas, domes, monuments, parapets, solar panels, chimneys, smokestacks, flagpoles, masts and aerials, barns, silos, stairways, elevator penthouses, stair towers, skylights, ventilating fans, air conditioning, mechanical infrastructure or similar equipment required to operate and maintain the building which may be erected above the height limits prescribed by this Ordinance, but in no case shall such extension exceed 10% of the maximum height otherwise permitted in the zone.
Full Breakdown
Cherry Hill Township, Camden County, New Jersey sets maximum building height zone-by-zone in the Chapter 40 zoning bulk tables rather than in one townwide number. In the Residential Agriculture (RA) zone, the bulk requirements table at Cherry Hill Township Code § 40-402D lists "Maximum height (feet)" as 35 for both residential and nonresidential uses on inside and corner lots. The Residential (R1) zone's bulk table at § 40-404D sets the identical 35-foot maximum height for single-family homes on 13,000-square-foot interior lots. At the other end of the scale, the Multi-Residential 20 (R20) High Rise zone's bulk table at § 40-409E fixes a minimum height of 6 stories and a maximum height of 16 stories, applicable to both inside and corner lots, since that district's minimum requirements table covers "All Uses" rather than a residential/nonresidential split.
Section 40-401G, "Exceptions to height limitations," then carves out specific features from every district's numeric cap: church spires, belfries, cupolas, domes, monuments, parapets, solar panels, chimneys, smokestacks, flagpoles, masts and aerials, barns, silos, stairways, elevator penthouses, stair towers, skylights, ventilating fans, air conditioning and similar mechanical equipment needed to operate the building may rise above the zone's height limit, but the extension itself cannot exceed 10% of the maximum height otherwise permitted in that zone. 2, and a property owner seeking relief from a height limit that does not fit any § 40-401G exception must apply to the Zoning Board of Adjustment for a variance rather than build first and argue later.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 40 sets no zoning-specific fine, so the townwide general penalty at Cherry Hill Township Code § 1-5.1 governs: a court conviction can bring a fine up to $2,000, imprisonment up to 90 days, or community service up to 90 days, at the Municipal Court judge's discretion. An editor's note to § 1-5.1 requires that before any zoning or housing code fine over $1,250 is imposed, the owner gets a 30-day period to cure the violation and a hearing before the court. Under § 1-5.5, each day the oversized structure remains is a separate violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a house be in Cherry Hill Township's R1 zone?
Does Cherry Hill exempt any features from its height limits?
What is the tallest building allowed in Cherry Hill Township?
What happens if a Cherry Hill structure exceeds its zone's height limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cherry Hill
Compare Cherry Hill to another location·View the New Jersey building setbacks & zoning overview
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