Bayonne, NJ Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)

Bayonne treats retaining walls as part of the Building Subcode fee schedule administered by the Construction Agency created under Section 15-1.1. Section 15-3.1a(7) specifically requires a permit once a retaining wall reaches four feet in height or above, and the City extends that trigger to shorter walls, too, whenever a wall under four feet is found to have a negative impact on a foundation, meaning a wall retaining soil against a house or accessory structure. The fee is tied to the wall's footprint rather than a flat rate: a minimum of $100 applies to retaining walls under 550 square feet of surface area, rising to a minimum of $190 for anything larger.

Because the Construction Agency's Building Subcode Official reviews these permits under the Uniform Construction Code framework in Section 15-1.1, an applicant must submit plans through the same permit process used for other structural work, and the full construction permit fee is due before the Construction Official issues the permit, per Section 15-3.1's general rule. A retaining wall built without the required permit is treated the same as any other unpermitted construction work under that section, drawing the fine that applies under the Uniform Construction Code when work needing a permit starts before it issues.