Hackensack, NJ Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential yard retaining wall cap
- 4 feet
- Nonresidential retaining wall cap
- 7 feet
- Sightline requirement
- Must not obstruct automobile vision
- Max fine
- $1,250, or 90 days jail
Summary
Hackensack caps accessory retaining walls that project into a required front, side, or rear yard at four feet in height under City Code Section 175-12.3.E(7), and the wall cannot block driver sightlines. Nonresidential lots get a taller allowance under a separate section.
Projection into required yards. Certain features may project into required yards as follows: ... Self-supporting walls and fences may project into any required yard, provided that any accessory retaining wall or fence is not higher than four feet in height and shall not obstruct automobile visions.
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
' That four-foot cap and the sightline requirement apply to the general residential yard-projection rule that governs most lots citywide. A exempts retaining and decorative walls and fences from the standard five-foot lot-line clearance required of other accessory structures, provided those walls or fences 'do not exceed seven feet in height,' meaning a commercial or industrial property can build a retaining wall closer to the property line and taller than a residential one before it counts as an ordinary accessory structure. A still applies before construction begins, and the Chief Building Inspector confirms zoning compliance, including the height cap, as part of that review.
Violations & Fines
A retaining wall built over the four-foot residential yard limit, over the seven-foot nonresidential limit, or one that blocks automobile sightlines is a zoning violation under Section 175-3.6: a fine of up to $1,250, imprisonment of up to 90 days, or both, on conviction, with each day of continued violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a retaining wall be in my Hackensack yard?
Is the retaining wall limit different for a business property?
Do I need a permit to build a retaining wall?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hackensack
Compare Hackensack to another location·View the New Jersey fence regulations overview
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