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

Borough of Demarest’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Demarest borough limits.

  • The zoning chapter was adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Demarest.

  “HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Demarest 7-15-1985 by Ord. No. 596. Amendments noted where applicable.”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Lots in the applicable Demarest zoning district, including Residence Districts A through D where applicable.

  • The applicable area requirement is determined by the district Limiting Schedule.
  • A numeric district schedule was not captured in the available page text.

  “No lot shall be so reduced in area that it does not meet the area requirements or be so reduced that any required open space will be smaller than prescribed in the regulations for the district in which said lot is located.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Buildings in the Demarest zoning district where located.

  • Front, rear and side yards are controlled by the district regulations and Limiting Schedule.
  • Numeric ordinary-residential setback values were not captured in the available page text.

  “No building shall be designed, erected or altered to accommodate or house a greater number of families and/or to have a narrower or smaller front yard, rear yard or side yard than specified herein for the district in which such building is located.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders performing construction inside Demarest borough.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings inside Demarest borough.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Demarest borough.
• Lot coverage — Buildings and lots inside Demarest borough.
• Building height — Buildings inside Demarest 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 Demarest 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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