Linden, NJ Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)
Key Facts
- Max height
- 6 feet, § 26-21.6.b
- Setback rule
- 1 extra foot per 6 inches over grade
- Engineering required
- calculations sealed by NJ-licensed engineer/architect
- Grading plan
- approved before construction permit issues
- Engineering review fee
- $100-$500 depending on lot size
- Max fine
- $500 per violation, § 26-21.8
Summary
Linden caps retaining walls at six feet under § 26-21.6.b, and requires extra setback from the property line for every six inches above that: one foot of setback per six inches of height at the toe of the wall. A grading plan showing the wall goes to the City Engineer before a construction permit issues, and any structural retaining wall needs calculations signed and sealed by a licensed New Jersey engineer or architect.
Grading Permit Application for Engineering Review of Individual Plot House Location/Grading Plans for Fill Over Ten (10) Cubic Yards. ... Lot area less than 7,500 square feet: $100.00 ... Retaining walls shall not exceed six (6) feet in height provided that for each six (6) inches in height above the pre- or post- construction grade at the toe of the wall, a retaining wall shall be set back one (1) foot from the property line to which it is adjacent. ... If the lot grading plan contains a structural retaining wall, a copy of the structural calculations, signed and sealed by an engineer or architect licensed in the State of New Jersey shall accompany the plans. ... The failure of an owner of property to comply with an approved lot grading plan for such property, including any temporary measures to be taken during the performance of construction work, shall subject the owner to a maximum fine of five hundred ($500.00) dollars per violation.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4586096; v16 updated 2025-12-16; through 12-16-2025).
Full Breakdown
Linden regulates retaining walls through the lot grading standards in Chapter 26, Article IV, not through the zoning ordinance. b, a retaining wall cannot exceed six feet in height, and for every six additional inches of height above the pre- or post-construction grade at the toe of the wall, the wall must step back an additional one foot from the adjoining property line, measured at right angles on straight runs and radially on curves. g, before the City Engineer will approve it. a requires the lot grading plan to be approved by the City Engineer before the Construction Official issues a construction permit.
5 acres or more, with higher tiers for non-residential grading plans. 6, which runs $100 to $175 for a one- or two-family lot depending on the wall's surface area, or $32 per $1,000 of construction cost for other use groups. 8.
Violations & Fines
An owner who builds or maintains a retaining wall that does not match the grading plan the City Engineer approved is liable for up to $500 per violation under § 26-21.8. The City Engineer will not certify a certificate of occupancy until the wall and the rest of the site match the approved plan, per § 26-21.11.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a retaining wall be in Linden?
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What does a retaining wall permit cost in Linden?
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Linden
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Retaining Walls in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Union County handle retaining walls.