Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Lyndhurst Township, New Jersey

Lyndhurst Township’s own rules

• Building permitLimited

  Buildings on lots in Lyndhurst districts requiring site-plan approval.

  • The building must comply with Chapter 21 and the site plan reviewed by the Planning Board or Board of Adjustment.

  “No building shall be erected, altered or expanded on any lot in any district requiring site plan approval and no building permit shall be issued in connection with any use of such lot except in accordance with all the regulations of this section and in accordance with the site plan for such lot reviewed by the planning board or board of adjustment as permitted by N.J.S.A. 40:55D-76, in the light of the standards set forth in this chapter.”

• Certificate of occupancyLimited

  New industrial uses inside Lyndhurst Township.

  • An industrial permit must first be issued by the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission.

  “No certificate of occupancy shall be issued for an industrial use until an industrial permit has been issued by the PVSC and no person shall occupy any building or structure for the purpose of a new industrial use until an industrial permit has been issued by the PVSC.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Lyndhurst Township.

  • Zoning controls are district-specific under Chapter 21 and its adopted Schedule of Regulations.

  “This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Zoning Ordinance of the Township of Lyndhurst.”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Lyndhurst Township.

  • The adopted Schedule of Regulations and zoning map are attachments to Chapter 21.

  “For the purpose of this chapter, the township is hereby divided into classes of districts as follows:”

• Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

  Trailer coaches used or occupied outside a trailer park inside Lyndhurst Township.

  • More than 48 hours at an occupied dwelling or 24 hours on another lot requires a one-month Township permit.
  • Permit requires written property-owner, agent, or lessee consent and specified sanitation information.

  occupied-dwelling duration without permit: <= 48 hours · other-lot duration without permit: <= 24 hours · permit fee: 5 USD (one-month permit)

  “No person shall park, use or occupy any trailer coach for more than 48 hours on the premises of any occupied dwelling, nor for more than 24 hours on any lot which is not a part of the premises of any occupied dwelling, unless a permit therefor shall have been first obtained, nor shall any person permit such parking, use, or occupancy unless the occupant of the trailer coach shall first have obtained a permit therefor.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Private sewer-disposal plants or septic systems serving trailer parks inside Lyndhurst Township.

  • The Township Department of Health must approve the private sewer-disposal plant or septic tank system.

  “Waste from showers, toilets, slop sinks and laundries shall be wasted into a public sewer system in such manner as approved by the township department of health or into a private sewer disposal plant or septic tank system approved by the same department.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Trailer parks inside Lyndhurst Township.

  • A private sewer-disposal plant or septic tank system requires Township Department of Health approval.
  • Toilets and water closets not connected with an approved disposal system may not be used.

  “Waste from showers, toilets, slop sinks and laundries shall be wasted into a public sewer system in such manner as approved by the township department of health or into a private sewer disposal plant or septic tank system approved by the same department. [...] Toilets and water closets not connected with an approved disposal system shall not be used and it shall be further unlawful for any person to use or permit the use of such fixtures.”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater (with conditions)

  New residential construction or major renovation of an existing residential building inside Lyndhurst Township.

  • Does not apply to existing residential or multifamily uses.
  • The owner must replace the water service pipe and connection from the building to the water main in the street.

  “This section shall not apply to existing residential or multi-family uses but shall be effective upon new construction or major renovation of existing buildings.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development in a flood hazard area inside Lyndhurst Township.

  • Application is made to the Floodplain Administrator.
  • Depending on the proposed development, a floodplain development permit or approval may be required in addition to a building permit.

  “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)

  Construction permits issued by Lyndhurst Construction Department.

  • The permit fee is the sum of applicable listed subcode fees and must be paid before issuance.

  new residential construction fee: per 0.038 USD per cubic foot (minimum fee is $250)

  “Residential structures | $0.038 pcf. | Minimum fee shall be | $250”

• Permit processPartial

  Sewer connections inside Lyndhurst Township.

  • A permit from the appropriate municipal official is required before making, using, altering, or disturbing a public-sewer connection.
  • Dwelling sanitary-connection applications are made directly to the Township.

  “Application for sanitary connections for dwellings, groups of dwellings or industrial or commercial establishments with only sanitary waste shall be made directly to the township.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built construction inside Lyndhurst Township.
• Inspections — Building construction inside Lyndhurst Township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Lyndhurst Township.
• Tiny homes — Tiny homes inside Lyndhurst Township.
• Manufactured homes — Manufactured homes inside Lyndhurst Township.

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 Lyndhurst Township 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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