Old Bridge, NJ Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)

Township Code § 164-4 lists six prohibited fencing materials for any residential lot in Old Bridge Township: barbed wire; sharp-pointed materials of any type used to form the top of a fence; canvas; cloth; electrically charged fencing; and temporary fencing such as snow fences, expandable fences and collapsible fences, when the lot already has a dwelling or structure on it. The one exception for temporary fencing is protective use, guarding a hazardous condition or an excavation, which remains allowed. The residential ban does not reach every property in the Township, though: § 164-10, Subsection B, carves out an exception for farm uses, permitting barbed wire and electrically charged fences in conjunction with farming, provided that where either type sits within 100 feet of a residential property, the farm must post permanent signs identifying the fence type every 100 feet.

Nonresidential fences generally are capped at 10 feet in height and must be open above six feet under § 164-10, Subsection C, a 2022 amendment, Ord. No. 2022-30. Every fence, including those built from permitted materials, must present its finished side toward adjacent properties under § 164-5, and must not restrict natural drainage or cause ponding under § 164-7. Because Chapter 164 has no material-specific penalty, a prohibited-material fence falls under the Code's general penalty in § 1-3, a fine up to $1,250 or up to 90 days of imprisonment or community service.