Trenton, NJ Fence Regulations: Neighbor Fence Rules (2026)

Section 132-62 of the Housing Code, Yards and accessory buildings, addresses two distinct cross-boundary vegetation problems added by Ordinance No. 06-020 in 2006. Under subsection G, if a hedge extends beyond the established property line or through a fence, the property owner on whose property the hedge originates is responsible for trimming back all growth extending beyond the yard boundaries and removing the cuttings; that owner must get permission to enter the adjacent property to do the work. Subsection H covers trees: if a tree in a yard has branches extending over the property line and the tree could damage the adjacent property by falling or scraping the roof covering, the branch or tree must be removed at the expense of the property owner on whose land the tree originates.

But where the tree itself is located on the established property line, the expense of removal, and the responsibility to order it, is split between both property owners. These provisions sit alongside the general accessory-building standard in the same section, which requires fences and other accessory structures to be kept in good repair and free from health, fire, and accident hazards (§ 132-62D), and requires yards generally to stay reasonably clean and free of hazards (§ 132-62A).