Ridgewood, NJ Fence Regulations: Retaining Walls (2026)

Section 190-97J, added and amended by Ordinance No. 3120 on May 14, 2008, sets up a dedicated permit track for retaining walls separate from the general fence permit in § 190-97B. A zoning permit issued by the Zoning Officer is required before construction, reconstruction or alteration of any retaining wall, except that walls of two feet or less in height, measured under § 190-124F, are exempt from the permit step itself, though they must still meet every applicable substantive requirement. Applications go to the Engineering Department for review, and the Village Engineer can require construction details, structural calculations, soil reports, foundation details, compaction certificates and grading plans, all signed and sealed by a New Jersey licensed professional engineer, before approving a wall as designed to avoid failure, falls, drainage or erosion problems.

Every retaining wall permit requires a filing fee under § 145-6, and 'major' retaining wall permits additionally require an escrow deposit to cover the Village's professional review costs under § 190-23A and § 145-6. A denial can be appealed to whichever of the Planning Board or Board of Adjustment has jurisdiction, following the same appeal procedures set out in §§ 190-28 through 190-34, and any variance application before the Board of Adjustment involving a major retaining wall must first be referred to the Planning Board for comment, with the Board of Adjustment barred from acting until that review is complete or 35 days pass.