Fence Permits in Washington Township, NJ: What You Need

Washington Township, NJ requires a permit for almost every new fence. This is one of the most-asked questions we get at quote time from homeowners in Sewell, Turnersville, and the rest of Washington Township: do I really need a permit, and what does it actually involve? Short answer: yes, and not much. Here is the field guide.

Do you need a permit for a fence in Washington Township NJ?

Yes. Washington Township requires a zoning permit for the construction or replacement of any fence on residential property. This applies whether you are putting up the first fence on the property or replacing an existing one in the same location.

The permit is administered by the Washington Township Department of Community Development. The current fence permit application is a one-page form that asks for the property address, the property owner, the contractor (us), the fence material, height, and a site plan showing the fence location.

What the permit fee actually is

The fence permit fee in Washington Township is a flat amount in the $50 to $150 range as of our last filing. The exact number drifts year to year, so we confirm at the time we file. We pull the permit as part of every job, and the fee shows on the quote as a line item.

Height rules

Side and rear yards

• Maximum height: 6 feet.
• Most privacy fences come stock at 6 feet, so this is rarely an issue.

Front yard

• Maximum height: 4 feet.
• This is the rule homeowners get wrong most often. If you want a 6-foot privacy fence on a corner lot where the "side yard" actually faces a street, the township treats that street-facing portion as a front yard.
• Solid privacy fences are restricted in front yards. Picket or open-style fences only.

Setbacks

Standard fence setback in Washington Township is essentially zero from the property line, except:

• You cannot extend into a public sidewalk or right-of-way.
• Corner lots have a sight-triangle requirement (no fence over 30 inches tall within the triangle formed by the curb intersection out 25 feet each way).
• Easements (drainage, utility) on your property may restrict where a fence can be set. We check the survey for these.

The sight triangle is the single most common reason a fence install gets re-scoped at measure time. If you are on a corner lot, do not assume the property line is fair game.

Survey requirement

Washington Township does not require a stamped, current survey for most residential fence permits. They will accept the existing survey from when the property was bought (assuming it shows the lot boundaries clearly). If no survey is available and the neighbors disagree about where the property line is, the township may require a new one. New residential surveys in our area run $500 to $900.

HOA approval (the layer the township does not handle)

If your property is inside an HOA (and large parts of newer Washington Township developments are), the township permit is only half the equation. Your HOA may require:

• An architectural review submission.
• A specific approved material list (vinyl-only or wood-only in some).
• A specific color or stain on wood.
• A sample photo of the proposed fence.
• 1 to 3 weeks for review.

We have done enough HOA submissions in our service area to know the drill. If you give us your HOA contact, we file the application for you and follow up.

Timeline from "we need a fence" to "fence is up"

Realistic timeline for a Washington Township fence install:

• Week 1: We come out, measure, and write the quote.
• Week 1 to 2: You sign, we order material, we file the permit.
• Week 2 to 3: Permit comes back (usually 5 to 10 business days), HOA review wraps if applicable, material delivers.
• Week 3 to 4: Install day(s). 811 markout is called 3 business days before we dig.

So plan on 3 to 4 weeks start to finish if the schedule is uncomplicated. Spring rush (March through May) can push that to 5 to 6 weeks.

Where homeowners get burned

• Hiring an unpermitted contractor. If the township catches an unpermitted fence (and they do catch them), you are responsible for tearing it down or paying a penalty. The contractor is long gone.
• Misreading the corner-lot sight triangle. Worst case, you have to move the entire run after install.
• Not checking the HOA before signing. The HOA can require you to remove a fence the township approved.

What we handle as part of the job

• The permit application and fee.
• The 811 utility markout call.
• Sight-triangle and setback compliance.
• HOA submission (if you give us the contact).
• Final inspection coordination.

Want a Washington Township fence quote?

Call (856) 361-8709 or send us your address and what you are thinking. We measure, check the township and HOA rules for your lot, and write a real quote on the spot. Browse our fencing services for materials we install.