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

Borough of Edgewater’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Edgewater borough.

  • Chapter 240 contains Article IX Zoning Provisions and a zoning district schedule.

  “For the purpose of this chapter, the Borough of Edgewater is hereby divided into 18 zone districts as follows:”

• Camping on your landProhibited

  Temporary camping or sleeping in a trailer or camp car on Edgewater private property.

  • Repairs or storage are exceptions to parking restrictions, but dwelling or sleeping use is expressly barred during that exception.

  “Any such trailer or camp car undergoing repairs or being stored shall not, during such period of repairs or storage, be used by any person as a dwelling or sleeping place.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision or resubdivision of land inside Edgewater borough.

  • Application must precede conveyance of legal or equitable title to the subdivision or any part thereof.

  “Any owner of land lying within the Borough shall, prior to subdividing or resubdividing of land as defined in this chapter, and before conveying legal or equitable title to such subdivision or any part thereof, apply to the Planning Board for review and approval of the subdivision plat pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development in a flood hazard area inside Edgewater borough.

  • Depending on the nature and extent of development involving a building or structure, a floodplain development permit or approval may be required in addition to a building permit; applications must identify and describe the development and site, state intended use and occupancy, include site and construction documents, grading/filling plans and other requested information, state valuation, and be signed.

  permit commencement deadline: <= 180 days (Written extensions may be granted for periods no more than 180 days each.)

  “Any person, owner or authorized agent who intends to conduct any development in a flood hazard area shall first make application to the Floodplain Administrator and shall obtain the required permit.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Edgewater development applications, including subdivision, site-plan, variance, conditional-use, and related review applications.

  • Application charges are flat, cover direct administrative expenses, and are not refundable; additional professional, publication, resolution, transcript, and inspection fees may apply.

  sketch plat fee: 50 USD · minor subdivision plat fee: 100 USD · major subdivision preliminary fee: 100 plus 25 per lot USD · major subdivision final fee: 50 plus 25 per proposed lot USD · site-plan inspection fee: 2.5 percent of estimated improvement cost · subdivision inspection fee: 5 percent of estimated improvement cost

  “Sketch plat for classification/concept plan | $50 Minor subdivision plat | $100 Major subdivision/preliminary | $100 plus $25 per lot Major subdivision/final | $50 plus $25 per proposed lots”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Development applications and construction permits inside Edgewater borough.

  • Subdivision applications go to the Planning Board; site plans go to the Planning Board or Board of Adjustment as provided by statute; site-plan approval precedes applicable construction permits and certificates of occupancy.

  “Subdivisions. Any owner of land lying within the Borough shall, prior to subdividing or resubdividing of land as defined in this chapter, and before conveying legal or equitable title to such subdivision or any part thereof, apply to the Planning Board for review and approval of the subdivision plat pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.”

Rules another office applies inside Borough of Edgewater

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

• Driveway accessLimited

  A B-1 district side yard used as access to off-street parking in Edgewater borough.

  • No side yard is required except where it abuts a residential district or is used as access to off-street parking; in the latter case the driveway must be at least 12 feet wide.

  minimum driveway width: >= 12 feet (B-1 side yard used as access to off-street parking)

  “If such side yard is used as access to off-street parking, such driveway shall not be less than 12 feet in width.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders seeking exemption from construction permitting or code requirements in Edgewater borough.
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Edgewater borough residential districts.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Edgewater borough.
• Manufactured homes — Manufactured-home occupancy inside Edgewater borough.
• Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Edgewater 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 Edgewater 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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