Landscaping in Franklin Lakes, NJ
Franklin Lakes is one- and two-acre lots with long driveways and big backyards. Our projects here are full backyard builds: patio, walls, fire feature, lighting, and planting sequenced by one crew.
Working in Franklin Lakes
Franklin Lakes covers almost 10 square miles, and nearly 5 percent of that is water. Bakers Pond, the Blauvelt Lakes, Crystal Lakes, and Hopper Lake are all local place names, and the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook runs along the borough. The center of town sits at about 522 feet of elevation, and many lots have real grade changes between the house, the driveway, and the rear yard.
Residential lots are large and wooded, and the borough regulates trees closely. Any tree 7 inches in diameter or more, dead or alive, needs a removal permit, and the code defines a critical root zone that grows with the trunk diameter. We keep equipment out of those root zones.
Large lots mean long runs: long driveways, long fence lines, and big rear yards where water travels a long way before it reaches a drain. Where a property has a septic system, we locate the tank and field before any machine goes on the lawn. Borough zoning also keeps retaining walls, berms, and regrading that need a soil permit at least 15 feet from every property line, which decides where grade changes can go.
What we build in Franklin Lakes
Terraced walls instead of one tall wall
Franklin Lakes code says that where a wall taller than 4 feet is needed, it should be terraced where feasible so each section stays at 4 feet or less with plantings between. That is how we build every wall. We step the grade, drain behind each course, and hold the walls 15 feet off the lot lines when the work needs a soil moving permit.
Hardscape & LightingDeer fence around the rear yard
The borough allows deer fence in the rear yard only, up to 8 feet, made of polypropylene mesh or metal core covered in polypropylene. It needs a permit from the Construction Enforcement Department, and a sample of the material goes in with the application. We submit the sample, set the posts, and tie the deer fence into gates at the driveway side.
Fencing & PrivacyPerimeter fence under the 5 foot cap
Residential fences in Franklin Lakes are capped at 5 feet, except on the side of a property facing Route 208 or Route 287, and the finished side has to face the neighbors. Opaque fences are not allowed in the required setbacks of the A-22.5, A-40C, A-40, and A-130 zones or in any front yard setback. For privacy on those lines we use an open fence with evergreen screening planted behind it.
Fencing & PrivacyOutdoor kitchen and fire feature
Big rear yards here have room for a cooking counter and a separate fire pit or fireplace. We build the masonry on a compacted base, and a licensed plumber and electrician run the gas and power before the counters are capped. We place the fire feature so smoke carries away from the seating.
Outdoor Kitchens & LivingRegrading a large lawn with a soil permit
The borough requires a soil permit from the Borough Engineer to move more than 100 cubic yards, change a contour by more than 6 inches, or regrade in a way that changes runoff to a neighbor or the road. Most drainage fixes on a big lot cross one of those lines. We figure the cut and fill before we quote, file the permit when it applies, and route water to drywells or an outlet away from any septic field.
Drainage & ExcavationFall leaf cleanup with removal
Franklin Lakes does not pick up leaves at the curb, and its leaf compost facility on DeKorte Drive is for residents only, with no landscapers allowed. Our fall cleanups include clearing the beds and lawn, loading the leaves, and taking them off the property.
Seasonal & SpecialtyText a few photos of the area or send the form. We come out, walk it with you, and send a written scope and a fixed price.
Before you build in Franklin Lakes
Permits and rules in Franklin Lakes
The Construction Enforcement Department handles construction permits under the Uniform Construction Code and issues the permit for deer fences. Other fences go through a zoning permit with the fee set in Chapter 495 of the borough code. Columns, pillars, piers, and walls at a driveway entrance count as accessory structures and need a building permit, except functional retaining walls that rise no more than one foot above grade.
Soil permits come from the Borough Engineer, and the soil code bars that work on Sundays and before 6 a.m. or after 6 p.m. Tree removal permits go through the Tree Specialist: an inspector visits within 14 days of the application, the permit expires 90 days after approval, and it has to be posted in a window visible from the road. The borough lists its fee as $100 for the first five trees and $25 for each tree after that, and replacement planting applies in most cases.
Clearing or grading that disturbs more than 5,000 square feet can also need a soil erosion and sediment control plan certified by the Bergen County Soil Conservation District. We work out the disturbed area from the plan, tell you which approvals apply, and prepare the fence, soil, and wall applications as part of the job. You get a written scope and fixed price after the site visit.
When to schedule work in Franklin Lakes
Curbside yard waste pickup in Franklin Lakes runs April 6 to November 30 for grass, plants, and small bundled limbs, but leaves are excluded. The DeKorte Drive facility takes resident leaves on fall weekends from October 10 to December 6 in 2026. With no curbside leaf pickup, we schedule one cleanup in late October and a final one once the last leaves are down.
Because soil work is limited to Monday through Saturday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., we plan grading days around that window. Tree and soil permits take review time, so late winter and early spring is the time to file for a summer build. Walls, patios, and kitchens go in from spring through late fall, and we plow and salt long driveways through the winter.
All services in Franklin Lakes
Guides for Franklin Lakes homeowners
- Retaining wall permits and engineering. In most New York and New Jersey towns, a retaining wall over 4 feet needs an engineered design and a permit, and walls under that limit can still need one if they hold up a driveway or a slope.
- Hudson Valley seasonal yard checklist. The lower Hudson Valley gets hard winters, wet springs, and a long leaf season, and a yard that is checked at the right times avoids most of the expensive repairs.
- Fence permits and property lines. A fence is one of the few projects where a few inches of placement can start a legal dispute.
- Downspout drainage options: where roof water should go. Most wet basements and soggy foundation beds we look at in Rockland and Bergen start at a downspout that empties within a foot or two of the wall.
Nearby
We also work in Wyckoff, Oakland, Midland Park, Allendale, Ramsey, Ho-Ho-Kus, Ridgewood, Glen Rock, and across Bergen County.
Questions
How tall can a fence be in Franklin Lakes?
Five feet in residential zones, except on a side facing Route 208 or Route 287. Deer fence in the rear yard can go to 8 feet with a permit.
Can I put a solid privacy fence along my side line?
Not inside the required setbacks in the A-22.5, A-40C, A-40, and A-130 zones, unless that side faces Route 208, Route 287, or a nonresidential use. Opaque fences are also barred from every front yard setback, so we use open fencing with evergreen screening there.
Do stone pillars at the driveway need a permit?
Yes. The borough treats columns, piers, and walls at a driveway entrance as accessory structures that need a building permit. Gates there also have to meet the fence height limit.
Can I build a wall in my front yard?
Retaining walls are allowed in the required front yard, but decorative walls there cannot exceed 2 feet. We keep front seat walls and planter walls under that height.
Why would a drainage job need a soil permit?
The borough requires one for more than 100 cubic yards, a contour change of more than 6 inches, or regrading that changes runoff onto a neighbor or the road. A lawn regrade on a large lot can cross those lines, so we check before we start.
Can trees near the house come out for a patio?
A permit is needed for any tree 7 inches in diameter or larger. The code lets one tree within 25 feet of the house be removed with a permit and no replacement, and a second one with replacement. A tree service handles any removal, and we design around the rest.
Will you take the leaves away after a fall cleanup?
Yes. The borough does not collect leaves at the curb and does not let landscapers use its leaf facility, so removal is part of every fall cleanup we do here.
Have a project in Franklin Lakes? Tell us about it.
Three quick steps. We call you back to set up a free on-site estimate, usually the same day.
- Call or text(845) 367-4123
- Emailgeneral@landtechenterprise.com
- Based inPomona, NY
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If it is urgent, call or text (845) 367-4123.