Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Borough of Closter, New Jersey

Borough of Closter’s own rules

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land and site-plan review inside Closter borough.

  • Applications and standards are governed by Borough Code Chapter 173; detailed classifications and standards were not fully extracted.

  “Chapter 173 Subdivision of Land and Site Plan Review”

• Short-term rentalsProhibited

  Use or occupancy of a dwelling unit inside Closter borough for 30 days or less in exchange for consideration.

  • The prohibition applies notwithstanding anything contrary in the Borough Code and covers soliciting, advertising, offering, permitting, allowing, or failing to discontinue the use or occupancy.

  maximum rental or occupancy period: <= 30 days

  “it shall be unlawful [...] to receive or obtain actual or anticipated consideration [...] for a period of 30 days or less.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Municipal fees and deposits inside Closter borough.

  • The fee chapter was amended by Ordinance No. 2025-1367 on August 13, 2025; the current schedule must be consulted for exact amounts.

  “The following is a fee schedule for the payment of fees, permits and licenses of the Borough of Closter”

Rules another office applies inside Borough of Closter

Borough of Closter does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Single-family residences in District No. 2, Residence Area B, Closter borough.

  • Excludes porches and garages.
  • One-floor living spaces require at least 900 square feet.
  • Two-floor living spaces require at least 1,200 square feet.
  • At least 75% of second-floor area must have a ceiling height of not less than seven feet six inches.
  • Finished basement or attic living space does not count.

  minimum one-floor floor area: >= 900 square feet (living spaces all on one floor) · minimum two-floor floor area: >= 1200 square feet (living spaces divided on two floors)

  “No single-family residence area hereafter erected shall contain less than 900 square feet”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Affordable accessory apartments in Closter borough District No. 2, Residence Area B.

  • Must be affordable to low- and moderate-income households.
  • Applies to properties in District No. 2, Residence Area B located in the Closter Historic District or fronting specified Bergen County roads.
  • Must comply with New Jersey statutes, regulations, and building codes.
  • A recorded ten-year deed restriction is required and a copy must be provided to the zoning officer before certificate of occupancy.
  • Water and sewer infrastructure with sufficient capacity must be certified.
  • Maximum permitted square footage is 1,200 square feet.

  maximum accessory-apartment area: <= 1200 square feet · deed restriction period: 10 years

  “Accessory apartments are permitted accessory uses, provided the units are affordable”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Borough of Closter or Bergen County directly.

• Building permit — Building permits for construction inside Closter borough.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemptions inside Closter borough.
• Building code adopted — Building-code adoption applicable inside Closter borough.
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Closter borough.
• Certificate of occupancy — Residential and business certificates of occupancy inside Closter borough.

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Borough of Closter means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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