By Joanne Degnan, Staff Writer
ROBBINSVILLE An ordinance that takes effect Monday allows Town Center residents to replace their aging fences with a wood or vinyl one in the same style as the original without paying $20 for a zoning permit.
The ordinance is designed to cut the red tape and clarify procedures for replacing the hundreds of white-painted wooden fences on private property in Town Center. The 720 homes do not have a homeowners association and must follow the municipal code’s requirements for fences in the Town Center District.
Approved by the Township Council on Aug. 26 and signed into law by Mayor Dave Fried on Aug. 31, the ordinance takes effect Monday, Sept. 20.
Under the new ordinance, Town Center homeowners are required to obtain pre-approval from the township zoning officer for all replacement fences, but permits would not be required if the fence is the same material, height, thickness, and in the same place as the original fence.
White vinyl fences similar in style to the original wooden fences can be used as long as they have a 6-inch bottom and top rail and the vinyl is at least 0.125 inches thick. Replacement vinyl fences can be installed under the same pre-approval process.
Town Center homeowners are required to submit the fence manufacturer’s specification sheet for review when seeking the zoning officer’s pre-approval for a replacement fence.
Homeowners who want to replace their backyard fences with a style that is different from what they currently have would still need to obtain a permit.
Under the ordinance, backyard wooden fences in Town Center could be between 5 feet and 7 feet high. The lower 5-foot portion of each fence panel must be made of a solid material and any part of the fence exceeding 5 feet must be made of either a trellis or other semi-transparent material.
White vinyl fences could have a solid section up to 6 feet high, with the top 12 inches of the fence made of a white vinyl trellis or semi-transparent material.
The fence ordinance applies only to homes in Town Center; it does not affect fence permit requirements that apply to properties located elsewhere in the township.

