East Brunswick, NJ Fence Regulations: Neighbor Fence Rules (2026)

Section 228-226 of the East Brunswick Township Code puts the neighbor-facing fence rules in three subsections. Subsection K is the boundary rule: fences shall not be erected on the property line without the approval of the adjacent property owner submitted in writing with the application for a fence permit. The approval travels with the application to the Zoning Officer or the designee who issues the permit under subsection A, so a permit application for a line fence without the neighbor's written approval is incomplete.

Subsection E decides which side of the fence your neighbor sees. All fences must be constructed with the face, or finished side, away from the property and the structural side toward the interior. The posts and rails belong on the builder's side, and the finished face points outward to the adjoining lot or the street.

Subsection G covers hedges and screening. Living fences or screening must be planted no closer than three feet to the property line and kept in a neatly trimmed condition. Subsection H protects the neighbor's yard from water: fences are erected in a manner that permits the flow of natural drainage and cannot cause surface water to be blocked or dammed to create ponding.

Section 228-226 addresses approval, orientation, planting distance and drainage. Height still follows the same section: six (6') feet is the cap for a lot except industrially zoned properties, and a residential front yard fence must be less than fifty percent solid and no greater than four feet. Section 228-223 keeps corner sight lines clear for neighbors and traffic by capping obstructions at two and one-half (2 1/2) feet within twenty five (25) feet of the corner.