Jackson, NJ Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)

Jackson Township Code § 162-4A(7) sets the Uniform Construction Code permit fee for a retaining wall built on a Class 3 residential structure at $225 when its surface area exceeds 550 square feet, or $115 when it is 550 square feet or less. A retaining wall built anywhere other than a Class 3 residential structure is billed on the estimated cost of construction, with a $105 minimum fee. Because the fee schedule sits inside § 162-4, the same section that funds the Division of Inspections' review of all subcode permits, a retaining wall permit application is reviewed the same way as any other building subcode permit: the applicant submits cost data (an architect's, engineer's or contractor's estimate) so the Construction Official can set the final fee.

Jackson Township Code § 244-6 defines a retaining wall as 'a structure erected between lands of different elevation to protect structures and/or to prevent the washing down or erosion of earth from the upper slope level,' the same definition used throughout the Land Use and Development Regulations chapter when a retaining wall is proposed as an accessory structure on a lot. Enforcement follows § 3-74G: the Construction Official can issue a notice of violation for an unpermitted wall, typically allowing 30 days to correct it before a state-set UCC fine is assessed. Homeowners building near a slope, driveway or pool should apply for a permit and submit the required cost estimate before construction starts.