REQUEST FOR FENCE APPROVAL IN TOWN CENTER
Please be advised that for installation and/or replacement of fencing in Town Center the following
attachments provide guidance on the procedures to follow and any approvals required prior to installing
and/or replacing any fence in Town Center. These attachments are also available on line. Please go to
the Township web page at Robbinsville.net and from the home page click on Town Center Design
Guidelines and view the referenced sections.
Front Yard Fence
Township of Robbinsville Land Use Code
Town Center Zoning and Design Regulations
Attachment 5-5, Paragraphs 5-5.A.12.1 and 5-5.A.12.2
Please see in particular the first sentence of the 5-5.A.12.1 which indicates that front yards (private)
must be clearly defined from the public right of way.
Rear Yard Fence
Township of Robbinsville Land Use Code
Town Center Zoning and Design Regulations
Attachment 5-3, Paragraphs 5-3.B.3.F. (ii) and 5-3.B.3.F.(iii)
The two sections cited above (under Rear Yard Fence) provide guidance regarding rear walls,
fences, and/or trellises. The two sections above should answer any questions you may have.
Zoning Permits
Note that generally a zoning permit is not required for replacing an existing wooden fence when the
replacement fence occupies the same footprint as the existing fence and it is made of either the same
material or vinyl. When a zoning permit is not required, please email a copy of your survey showing
the location of the existing fence and a copy of fence specification provided by the installer or
manufacturer, to the Zoning Officer for approval prior to installation. The email should explain that you
are replacing the existing fence in the same footprint with a new fence and provide the proposed height.
The email should request approval for the replacement fencing. A reply to your email will provide
either the approval from the Zoning Officer or a request for additional information.
If you have any additional questions, please e-mail the Zoning Officer, Ann Bell, at
[email protected].
Town Center Zoning and Design Regulations
Attachment 5-5, Paragraphs 5-5A.12-1 and 5-5.A.12.2
12) Walls, fences, and hedges (front yard). [Amended 7-12-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-20]
1. All lots shall have a front yard clearly defined by landscaping, hedging, picket fencing,
or a wall that defines the transition from public to the private front yard space. Fences,
hedges, and walls shall be limited to a maximum of 3 1/2 feet in height and provide
sense of semiprivate space. Entrances, gates, and corners must be articulated with
decorative post treatment. Specific design emphasis should be given to the pattern of
the pickets and post finials. Home buyers should have a choice of patterns.
2. Walls and fences shall be architecturally compatible with the style, materials and colors
of the principal building on the same lot. Front yards may have the following
treatments: stone walls or brick walls with a stone or caststone cap, wood picket fences,
decorative metal, or cast iron fences, masonry or stucco walls, and stone piers. Solid
wooden fences are permitted in rear and side yards only. Highway-style guard rail,
stockade, or contemporary security fencing such as chain link, barbed or razor wire are
prohibited. Refer to photos.
Attachment 5-3, Paragraphs 5-3.B.3.F.(ii) and 5-3.B.3.F(iii)
(ii) Replacement of existing fences in rear yard areas. Property owners shall be
permitted to replace any existing wooden fence without obtaining a zoning permit
when the replacement fence is either made of the same material, same style, same
height and thickness and will occupy the same footprint of the existing wooden
fence or is replaced with a fence made of white vinyl that is the same style, or
similar to, the existing style of fence to be replaced and will occupy the same
footprint and be the same height of the fence to be replaced. All replacement vinyl
fencing, whether or not a zoning permit is required, shall have a six-inch bottom
and top rail and a minimal thickness of the vinyl structural members to be 0.125
inches or approved equal. In instances where the property owner meets the
requirements set forth herein, the property owner shall first obtain written
approval from the Zoning Officer prior to installation of the replacement fencing.
In instances where the property owner fails to meet the requirements set forth
herein, a property owner shall be required to obtain a zoning permit before
installing any replacement fencing. A manufacturer’s specification sheet must be
submitted with any zoning application for a zoning permit or request for written
approval, as applicable, for such replacement fencing.
(iii) Rear walls, fences, or trellises may not be closer than seven feet to the alley right
of-way. In the case of walls, fences or trellises, the height of such yard or patio
enclosures shall be five feet to seven feet high. Portions of fencing below five feet
shall be of solid material and above five feet in height must be made of a trellis or
other semitransparent material and shall be suitable to provide privacy and screen
views of neighboring uses, except that the height of any replacement vinyl fencing
that does not meet the requirements of Subsection f(ii) above shall be permitted to
be a maximum of six feet in height and shall be of solid material and above six
feet in height must be made of a vinyl, white trellis or other vinyl, white
semitransparent material and shall be suitable to provide privacy and screen views
of neighboring uses. Each upper floor apartment dwelling should be provided with
a terrace consisting of a minimum of 64 square feet, recessed inside the exterior
building wall of the dwelling, or a balcony of 72 square feet projecting on the
outside of the building wall. If a terrace or balcony is not provided for upper floor
apartments, each dwelling shall be provided with access to a conveniently located
common space, park, or green with a minimum size equal to or greater than the
total of all combined balconies which should have been provided to serve those
residential units which do not have the same. An additional 100 square feet of area
per unit shall be included in the common open space. Such additional space shall
be designed to accommodate hard surfaces, with places for grills, movable chairs,
tables and the like. [Amended 7-12-2001