Bergen County fence permits are issued by each of its 70 municipalities. Most require zoning permits for all fences; NJ UCC (N.J.A.C. 5:23) requires building permits for fences over 6 feet and pool barriers.
Bergen County does not issue fence permits at the county level; all 70 municipalities regulate fences through local zoning. Nearly every Bergen borough — Paramus, Hackensack, Teaneck, Ridgewood, Fort Lee, Englewood, Fair Lawn, Bergenfield — requires a zoning permit for any fence, regardless of height. Fences over 6 feet and all masonry or retaining walls require a building permit under the NJ Uniform Construction Code (N.J.A.C. 5:23). Pool barrier fences must comply with the NJ Barrier Subcode (N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.14(b)). Bergen County's many historic districts — Ridgewood's West Side, Rutherford, Tenafly — require Historic Preservation Commission approval for fences under N.J.S.A. 40:55D-107. A boundary survey is strongly recommended given Bergen's small lots and narrow setbacks.
Unpermitted fence: stop-work order, removal, retroactive permit with 2-3x fee. Historic district violation: $500-$2,000 plus restoration. UCC violation: NJ DCA enforcement.
See how Bergen County's permit requirements rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.