Fence Contractors in Rutherford, NJ

Fence contractors in Rutherford work under fence rules the borough publishes in plain terms, and we design every job around them from the first sketch. The borough's Building Department FAQ spells out maximum heights by yard, a front-yard openness rule and a survey requirement. Getting those right on paper first means fewer surprises when the zoning office reviews your application.

The numbers that matter

According to the borough's posted FAQ, fences in all residential zones may be:

• Up to 6 feet in the rear yard
• Up to 4 feet in the side yard
• Up to 3 feet in the front yard

The same page says a front-yard fence must be 50% open, which rules out privacy fencing at the front of the house. If a pool is on the property, the building section of the UCC application has to be filled out along with the zoning section, and a survey of the property must be included with the application.

What that means for your design

Because front fences top out at 3 feet and must be half open, Rutherford front yards suit spaced pickets, aluminum or ornamental styles. A solid six-foot privacy fence belongs in the rear yard. The side yard, at 4 feet, is where we most often see questions: owners who want privacy along the side of the house sometimes choose a 4-foot solid section there and a 6-foot run starting at the rear yard. We mark the transition points on your survey so the application shows exactly where each height applies.

Bring your survey

The survey is not optional here. If you have one from your purchase, we use it to lay out the fence and attach a marked copy for the zoning application. If you cannot find it, the borough's Building Department, at Borough Hall on Park Avenue, can explain what it will accept. The zoning office's posted contact is 201-460-3042, and the department is open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm.

Houses from the 1920s boom

Most of Rutherford's current housing was built during a 1920s building boom, and the borough counted 7,370 housing units in 2020. Houses from that period often sit on modest, rectangular lots with detached garages and narrow driveways. Old fences may have been replaced piece by piece over the decades, so we check whether any existing posts are worth keeping. With the homeowner vacancy rate at 0.6% in 2020, buyers who just closed on a house often want a tired fence replaced before moving in.

Historic houses around town

Rutherford's National Register listings include Iviswold on Montross Avenue, the Kip Homestead on Meadow Road, the William Carlos Williams House on Ridge Road and the Yereance-Berry House on Crane Avenue, home of the Meadowlands Museum. On streets near older homes like these, an open picket or ornamental front fence fits both the 3-foot limit and the character of the block.

Fences we install in Rutherford

• Wood picket fronts and wood privacy rears
• Vinyl privacy and picket fencing
• Aluminum and ornamental fences, including pool-rated styles
• Chain link for rear and side lines
• Fence repair and gates

Before digging, we request a utility markout through New Jersey One Call at least three business days ahead, as state rules require for fence work.

Call (551) 212-8142 or

Get a Free Estimate

. We will measure, mark the heights on your survey, and give you a written estimate you can file alongside your zoning application.