Fences and walls in Livingston: the local rules

Each rule below links to the section of the Livingston Municipal Code it was read from, with the code text one click away (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

What Livingston's code says

Livingston code What Livingston's code adds
Corner visibility	No fence or hedge over 36 inches within 5 feet behind the sidewalk or side street line, whichever is greater. Applies: Corner lots that are not reversed corner lots. § 5-4-2 · code text On corner lots which are not reversed corner lots, no fence or hedge exceeding 36 inches in height shall be permitted closer than five feet behind sidewalk or along side street lot line, whichever is greater. No fence or hedge over 36 inches within 20 feet of the side street lot line. Applies: Reversed corner lots. § 5-4-2 · code text On reversed corner lots, no fence or hedge exceeding 36 inches in height shall be permitted closer than 20 feet to the side street lot line. No fence or plants may materially block vision between 2½ and 10 feet above centerline grade. Applies: Sight distance area on corner or reversed corner lots in any district. § 5-4-2 · code text On a corner lot or reversed corner lot in any district, no fence shall be erected or plants permitted to grow in such a manner as to materially impede vision between the height of two and one-half feet and ten feet above the centerline grades in the sight distance area. No fence, hedge, wall or obstruction 3 feet high in the vision triangle, measured 20 feet along each street line. Applies: Corner lots. Also applies to rear street side property lines. § 5-4-2 · code text No fence, hedge, wall or obstruction three feet in height shall be erected within the “vision triangle” of a corner lot created by measuring the appropriate distance, set forth as follows: 20 feet along the front street property line and 20 feet from the side street property line starting from the point at which the front street property line intersects the side street property line.
Front yard height	No more than 36 inches. Applies: Front yards in residential districts. Residences may go to 48 inches if the fence is open. § 5-4-2 · code text Front yards. Maximum height above grade shall not exceed 36 inches except that the fence may be erected to a maximum height of 48 inches for residences, or 72 inches for nonresidential uses that are permitted or conditionally permitted in residential districts, provided that any fence which exceeds 36 inches is uniformly open to the extent of 33-1/3%. Up to 48 inches. Applies: Front yards of residences in residential districts, if the part above 36 inches is uniformly 33-1/3% open. § 5-4-2 · code text Front yards. Maximum height above grade shall not exceed 36 inches except that the fence may be erected to a maximum height of 48 inches for residences, or 72 inches for nonresidential uses that are permitted or conditionally permitted in residential districts, provided that any fence which exceeds 36 inches is uniformly open to the extent of 33-1/3%.
Side and rear yard height	No more than 6 feet above grade. Applies: Rear yards in residential districts. § 5-4-2 · code text Rear yards. Maximum height shall be six feet above grade. No more than 6 feet above grade. Applies: Side yards in residential districts. § 5-4-2 · code text Side yards. Maximum height shall be six feet above grade.
Permit	Yes, for masonry and brick fences and walls over 6 feet and all fences with electrical wiring. Applies: A building permit and/or inspection, as appropriate. § 5-4-2 · code text The following fences shall require a building permit and/or inspection as appropriate for compliance with adopted fencing specifications: Yes. An encroachment permit and a hold harmless agreement are required. Applies: Fences in the street right-of-way. § 5-4-2 · code text An encroachment permit and hold harmless agreement shall be required to permit installation of fences, subject to city code, within the street right-of-way.

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How tall can a fence be in Livingston?

In residential districts, front yard fences are limited to 36 inches, or 48 inches if 33-1/3% open; side and rear fences, 6 feet.

Fences and walls in Livingston

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What Livingston's code says

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