Fence Installation in Paramus, NJ

Most people know Paramus for what sits along Routes 4 and 17 — Garden State Plaza, Paramus Park, and one of the busiest retail corridors in the country. The residential Paramus behind that corridor is a different place: quiet, tree-lined streets of ranches, split-levels, Cape Cods and colonials, and newer, larger homes on the bigger lots toward the Saddle River side of town, near Van Saun County Park. Those neighborhoods are where fences get built — and Paramus regulates them with one of the most specific front-yard fence rules in Bergen County.

Solanos Fence installs vinyl, aluminum, WPC composite, wood, post-and-rail and chain link fencing in Paramus, NJ. We also sell fence materials for pickup at our Fairfield location. Paramus is part of our Bergen County service area.

Paramus's Fence Rules: § 429-40

Paramus regulates fences and walls in § 429-40 of its Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 429, Article VIII). A fence requires a Building Permit, with a site survey showing the proposed fence highlighted on it. The Borough fee schedule lists a $25 zoning permit fee for fences and walls; because a Building Permit is also required, the total permit cost for your property is confirmed at permit time. The main rules in § 429-40:

  • The 35-foot front-yard rule (§ 429-40A) — the rule that shapes most Paramus projects. In all districts, no portion of any fence or wall exceeding 3 feet 6 inches in height may be placed within 35 feet of the front property line. If the solid area of that fence exceeds 25% of its total area within that zone, the height drops to 3 feet maximum. The Building Department states it the same way: in the 35-foot front-yard setback, a solid fence (stockade, board-on-board, or chain link with privacy slats) is limited to 3 feet / 36 inches, while a “see-thru” fence (post-and-rail or open chain link) may go to 3 feet 6 inches / 42 inches.
  • Six feet six inches in side and rear yards (§ 429-40B). A fence or wall running from the building line back to and along the rear property line may not exceed 6 feet 6 inches, unless otherwise provided in the ordinance or required by the Land Use Board. Tennis court fences are set at 10 feet under the same subsection — a separate standard, not a general fence height.
  • A fence can sit on the property line. Per the Building Department, a fence may be placed right along the property line, as long as it is entirely on the homeowner's own property — which is why the highlighted survey matters.
  • Good side faces out (§ 429-40F). A fence that is not identical on both sides must be built so the side facing an adjoining property owner is of equal or better aesthetic and visual appearance than the side facing the owner's own property. In the Building Department's words: the good side faces your neighbor.
  • Fences on or next to retaining walls (§ 429-40D). A fence on top of, or adjacent to, a retaining wall may not exceed 10 feet in total, measured from the lowest point of the wall to the highest point of the fence, and may not protrude beyond the face of the wall.
  • Corner-lot sight triangle. On a corner lot, within the triangular area at the street corner, no wall or fence may exceed 2 feet 6 inches above the gutter grade(trees only if branches are trimmed to at least 7 feet above the gutter grade). That triangle is measured from points 75 feet from the intersection along each street center line — a large clear zone on top of the 35-foot rule.
  • Decorative pillars cap at 3 feet (§ 429-40E) and may not sit in the street right-of-way.
  • Flood hazard areas (§ 429-40C). Fences in NJDEP-defined flood hazard areas must conform to N.J.A.C. 7:13 — a real check near the Saddle River and its tributaries.
  • Pools need at least a 4-foot barrier. A private pool must be completely surrounded by a fence or wall, minimum 4 feet high, meeting the current Building Code for pools. For an in-ground pool, gates must be self-closing and self-latching and swing outward, away from the pool.

Borough reference: Borough of Paramus Code, Chapter 429, Article VIII, § 429-40 — Fences and Walls (ecode360) and the Paramus Building Department handout: Sheds, Fences, Pools, Patios, Decks & Driveways (PDF).

Fencing Paramus Properties

The practical starting point in Paramus is measuring 35 feet back from the front property line. On many residential lots — especially in the R-50 and R-75 zones, where houses sit relatively close to the street — that zone covers the entire front yard and can reach partway along the side yards. A six-foot privacy fence cannot start at the front corner of the lot; it has to begin behind that line, usually at or behind the front of the house, and enclose the side and rear yards from there. Any fence inside the 35-foot zone has to work within the split limit: see-thru styles up to 3 feet 6 inches, solid styles capped at 3 feet.

Corner lots take the most planning. A corner lot effectively has two frontages, the 35-foot rule is quoted again and again in Board of Adjustment fence cases for corner properties, and the 2-foot-6-inch sight-triangle limit at the corner itself is stricter still. Homeowners who want to enclose the street side of a corner lot are the ones most likely to need a variance, so we flag that at the estimate stage, before anything is priced as a standard install.

The 6-foot-6-inch side and rear maximum is more generous than the 6-foot cap in many neighboring towns: a standard six-foot privacy fence sits comfortably under it, with a small margin for grade changes. Where a fence sits on or next to a retaining wall, it must also satisfy § 429-40D's combined cap — 10 feet from the lowest point of the wall to the top of the fence — on top of the yard height limits above; that combined cap is an additional limit, not a substitute for them. Lots near the Saddle River get the flood-hazard check under § 429-40C. During a free estimate we walk the lot with you, work from your survey, measure the 35-foot line, and flag which rules your project touches before anything is priced.

Fence Styles for Paramus Homes

Black Aluminum Fencing

Black aluminum fencing is the open, see-thru style that fits Paramus's front-yard math best: an open picket profile is the style built to fall under the 25% solid-area threshold — the exact solid-area figure depends on the picket spacing of the panel you choose, and we confirm it for your style before a low front-yard run is priced at the 3-foot-6-inch limit — and it keeps sight lines open near corners and driveways. In the backyard, our 54-inch black aluminum pool-barrier style is the standard choice around pools: it clears Paramus's 4-foot minimum height, and pool compliance is judged on the complete installed barrier — height, picket spacing, ground clearance, and self-closing, self-latching gates that swing outward, away from the pool.

White Vinyl Privacy Fencing

Behind the 35-foot line, where Paramus allows up to six feet six inches, white vinyl privacy fencing is the low-maintenance way to close in a backyard. Our standard panels are six feet high by eight feet wide with 2-inch by 7-inch rails — under the maximum with room to spare. Vinyl is finished the same on both sides, which satisfies the good-side-out rule in § 429-40F automatically, and we step or rack panels to follow the grade within the limit.

WPC Composite, Wood, Post-and-Rail and Chain Link

WPC composite fencing gives a modern privacy look in black, teak or gray for side and rear yards. Wood styles such as stockade and board-on-board are solid fences — fine at full height behind the 35-foot line, but capped at 3 feet inside it. Post-and-rail is the classic see-thru option the Borough names for the front-yard zone, and chain link remains practical for side and rear boundaries and dog runs — just note that chain link with privacy slats counts as solid in the 35-foot zone (3-foot limit), while open chain link counts as see-thru (3 feet 6 inches). We price these styles after reviewing your footage, gates and terrain.

Fence Installation Prices in Paramus

Current installation specials start at $23 per linear foot for six-foot white vinyl privacy fencing and $28 per linear foot for 54-inch black aluminum pool-barrier fencing. Both offers require a 150-linear-foot minimum project and are subject to service-area restrictions. Gates and removal of existing fencing are priced separately. Low front-yard sections built to the 3-foot and 3-foot-6-inch limits, specialty styles and retaining-wall layouts are priced by individual estimate.

See our fence installation deals for current terms.

Fence Materials for Paramus DIY Projects

Installing it yourself? Our Fairfield shop stocks white vinyl panels and posts, black aluminum panels and posts, and WPC packages. Bring your measurements or a copy of your survey — Paramus will ask for a highlighted survey for the permit anyway — and we can help build a materials list that respects the 35-foot limits before you dig. Call ahead to confirm stock and pickup.

Browse fence materials for sale.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fences in Paramus

How tall can a fence be in my front yard in Paramus?

It depends on how solid it is, under § 429-40A. Within 35 feet of the front property line, no fence may exceed 3 feet 6 inches — and if more than 25% of its area in that zone is solid, the limit is 3 feet. In the Building Department's terms: a solid fence (stockade, board-on-board, slatted chain link) is limited to 3 feet / 36 inches in the front-yard setback, while a see-thru fence (post-and-rail, open chain link) may reach 3 feet 6 inches / 42 inches. Full-height fencing starts behind that line. On a corner lot, the sight triangle is stricter still — 2 feet 6 inches above the gutter grade.

How tall can my fence be in the side and rear yards — and can it go on the property line?

Up to 6 feet 6 inches, under § 429-40B, for a fence running from the building line back to and along the rear property line. Yes — the Building Department allows a fence right along the property line as long as it sits entirely on your own property, which is why the permit requires a highlighted survey. And under § 429-40F, if the fence isn't identical on both sides, the better-looking side must face your neighbor.

Do I need a permit for a fence in Paramus?

Yes — a Building Permit, with a site survey showing the proposed fence highlighted on it. The Borough fee schedule lists a $25 zoning permit fee for fences and walls; the total permit cost for your property is confirmed by the Building Department at permit time. Pool fences have an added standard: at least 4 feet high, meeting the current Building Code for pools, with self-closing, self-latching gates that swing outward, away from the pool.

Request a Free Fence Estimate in Paramus, NJ

Call 973-220-7638 or contact Solanos Fence online. Tell us your approximate footage, the style you're considering and whether your lot is on a corner, slopes, or sits near the river — we'll plan the next steps around your property and Paramus's rules.

Solanos Fence, LLC| 1275 Bloomfield Ave, Building 3, Suite 51, Fairfield, NJ 07004 | NJ Home Improvement Contractor Lic. #13VH06388200