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

Borough of Franklin Lakes’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction inside Franklin Lakes borough under the State Uniform Construction Code through the borough Construction Enforcement Department.

  • The borough may retain a qualified on-site inspection agency.
  • The Construction Official and subcode officers administer the Uniform Construction Code and applicable Department of Community Affairs regulations.

  “There is hereby established, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 52:27D-119 et seq., in the Borough, a State Uniform Construction Code enforcement agency to be known as the "Construction Enforcement Department," consisting of the following officials:”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts and the zoning map inside Franklin Lakes borough.

  • The zoning map and amendments are maintained in the Borough offices.
  • District-specific bulk regulations are in the attached Schedule of Area and Bulk Regulations.

  “The location and boundaries of said districts are hereby established on the Zoning Map of the Borough of Franklin Lakes prepared by Boswell Engineering, dated July 1, 2011, as amended or supplemented, which hereby is made a part of this chapter.”

• Well permitRequired

  Locating, constructing, or altering a water system, including a private/nonpublic system, inside Franklin Lakes borough.

  • A Board of Health permit is required.
  • The permit fee is $200.
  • A certificate is required before operation or occupancy of new dwellings/buildings relying on a nonpublic water system.

  water-system permit fee: 200 USD

  “No person shall locate, construct or alter any water system without a permit from the Board of Health. The permit fee is $200.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Minor and major subdivisions and related development applications inside Franklin Lakes borough.

  • Applications are reviewed under Chapter 300 development-review procedures and applicable design standards.
  • Specific completeness, plat, improvement, and approval requirements vary by application type.

  “Procedures for site plan, minor and preliminary major subdivision and general development plan approval.”

• Short-term rentalsProhibited

  Use or occupancy of a dwelling unit for consideration for 30 days or less inside Franklin Lakes borough.

  • Rental of an entire dwelling unit for more than 30 days is not prevented.
  • Rental of a room or portion of the premises for any term is not permitted.
  • Rental of amenities associated with a dwelling is prohibited.

  maximum prohibited rental period: <= 30 days (Entire-dwelling rental for more than 30 days is otherwise lawful)

  “It shall be unlawful for an owner, lessor, sublessor, any other person(s) or entity(ies) with possessory or use right(s) in a dwelling unit, their principals, partners or shareholders, or their agents, employees, representatives and other person(s) or entity(ies) acting in concert, or a combination thereof, to receive or obtain actual or anticipated consideration for soliciting, advertising, offering, and/or permitting, allowing, or failing to discontinue the use or occupancy of any dwelling unit, as defined herein, for a period of 30 days or less.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Construction permits and related certificates inside Franklin Lakes borough.

  • Plan review fee is 20% of construction permit fees.
  • New construction building subcode fee is $0.055 per cubic foot with a $95 minimum.
  • Construction permit fees include building, plumbing, fire, electrical, and elevator subcode fees.
  • Fees are subject to later amendments listed in § 220-2.

  plan review fee: 20 percent of construction permit fee (School-board public-building exemption described in § 220-2A) · new construction building subcode fee: 0.055 USD per cubic foot (minimum $95)

  “The fee for a construction permit shall be the sum of the building, plumbing, fire, electrical and elevator subcode fees, as determined in the manner provided for hereafter, and shall be paid before the issuance of such permit.”

• Permit processPartial

  Uniform Construction Code administration inside Franklin Lakes borough.

  • The Construction Enforcement Department administers the Uniform Construction Code.
  • The public generally has the right to conduct Uniform Construction Code business at one Borough location, except in emergency or unforeseen or unavoidable circumstances.
  • The Construction Official may promulgate written day-to-day office procedures, subject to Uniform Construction Code consistency and Mayor and Council resolution approval.

  “Irrespective of any dispersal of personnel as mentioned above, the public shall have the right, unless in the case of emergency or unforeseen or unavoidable circumstances, to do business with respect to the Uniform Construction Code at one location in the Borough.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits for residential construction inside Franklin Lakes borough.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction inside Franklin Lakes borough.
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Franklin Lakes borough.
• Minimum dwelling size — Residential dwellings inside Franklin Lakes borough.
• Minimum lot size — Residential districts other than the specifically reported A-40 and A-130 districts inside Franklin Lakes 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 Franklin Lakes 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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