Hackensack, NJ Fence Regulations: Fence Permit Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit trigger height
- Over 18 inches
- Issuing office
- Construction Official
- Permit type
- Building permit
- Fences 18 inches or under
- Not treated as accessory structures
- Review includes
- Height, setback, sight-triangle, materials
- Max fine for violation
- $1,250 per day
Summary
A fence, wall, or enclosure over 18 inches high in Hackensack counts as an accessory structure under the zoning code, and no person may erect or alter any structure without first securing a building permit from the Construction Official. Fences 18 inches tall or under fall outside this accessory-structure threshold.
No person shall construct, erect, repair or make any alteration to or restoration of any structure or swimming pool until he shall be applied for and secured a building permit from the Construction Official. ... Fences, walls, or other enclosures in excess of 18 inches in height shall be considered accessory structures to principal permitted uses.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4592721; v20 updated 2026-01-06; through 01-06-2026).
Full Breakdown
3A classifies fences, walls, or other enclosures in excess of 18 inches in height as accessory structures to the principal permitted use on a lot. 2A, which states plainly that no person shall construct, erect, repair, or make any alteration to or restoration of any structure until a building permit has been applied for and secured from the Construction Official. 3 before it can be lawfully built. In practice this means a Hackensack property owner planning any fence taller than 18 inches needs to apply to the Construction Official's office, and the application is checked against the height limits by district, the corner sight-triangle rule near intersections, and the list of prohibited materials before a permit is issued. 4 for building permits generally.
Violations & Fines
Erecting a fence without the required permit, or in a manner that departs from an issued permit, is enforced under Section 175-3.6: a fine of up to $1,250, imprisonment up to 90 days, or both, with each day the unpermitted or noncompliant fence remains standing counted as a distinct violation, and the Zoning Officer or Chief Building Inspector can pursue abatement after investigating a written complaint.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build a fence in Hackensack?
Who issues a Hackensack fence permit?
Is a low garden fence exempt from Hackensack's permit rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hackensack
Compare Hackensack to another location·View the New Jersey fence regulations overview
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