New Brunswick, NJ Fence Regulations: Height Limits (2026)

Section 17.03.070 requires every fence in every zone to comply with Table 1 and § 17.07.060, and bars any fence in a residential front yard that restricts visibility. Table 1 prints a front yard maximum height of 4 for R-1 through R-7, C-1 through C-4 (including the C-2A through C-3D districts), IN-1, IN-2 and the row labeled C. It prints 6 for C-5, C-6, O-1 and O-2, and 12 for I-1 and I-2. Side and rear yard maximums are 6 in the residential, commercial, office and institutional rows and 12 in I-1 and I-2.

The only unit mark in the table is the prime for feet in the R-1 through R-4 entry, so the figures are feet. The Front Yard Open Design Standards column prints 50% for R-1 through R-7. In the Front Yard Fence Setback column the R-1 through R-4 rows print 5 with a public side yard note of 4′, and R-1 through R-5C carry the note "No chain link fences in front yard." Fences must sit within the property lines and the finished side faces adjoining properties or the public right-of-way.

A fence at the intersection of two streets cannot exceed thirty (30) inches inside a required sight triangle. On corner lots only the primary frontage counts as the front yard. Boulevards, avenues, Albany, French, George, Hamilton, New, Somerset and Suydam Streets define primary frontage, the fence sits no closer than thirty (30) feet to the primary frontage front lot line, and it stays behind the rearmost corner of the primary structure. A residential lot next to an I-1, I-2 or I-2E property, or an industrial or mechanic/repair use, can request up to an eight foot fence through a zoning permit application, not within thirty (30) feet of an intersection. Retaining walls and steps are exempt.