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

Borough of North Arlington’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction inside North Arlington borough under the New Jersey State Uniform Construction Code administered by the borough construction department.

  • The borough agency includes building, plumbing, electrical and fire-protection subcode officials.
  • Additional subcodes are those adopted by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.

  “There is hereby established in the Borough of North Arlington a State Uniform Construction Code enforcing agency to be known as the "North Arlington Construction Department," consisting of a Construction Code Official, Building Subcode Official, Plumbing Subcode Official, Electrical Subcode Official, Fire Protection Subcode Official and such other subcode officials for such additional subcodes as the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs, State of New Jersey, shall hereafter adopt as part of the State Uniform Construction Code.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside North Arlington borough; Chapter 205 is the borough land-development and zoning chapter.

  • The code states that the Schedule of Lot, Bulk and Yard Requirements is part of Chapter 205.
  • The code includes residential, commercial, industrial, park/recreation, public-utility and redevelopment-area districts.

  “The Schedule of Lot, Bulk and Yard Requirements is contained in Schedule II at the end of this chapter and is a part hereof.”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Conversions of one-family dwellings to two-family dwellings in R-2 and R-3 Districts.

  • The 500-square-foot requirement applies to each dwelling unit in a conversion.
  • Off-street parking and district area, lot, yard and setback requirements also apply.
  • Each dwelling unit must have a separate entrance and bathroom.

  habitable dwelling space per dwelling unit: >= 500 square feet (R-2 and R-3 one-family-to-two-family conversions)

  “In R-2 and R-3 Districts, conversions of a one-family dwelling to a two-family dwelling are permitted, provided that: [...] There shall be provided at least 500 square feet of habitable dwelling space in each dwelling unit.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory buildings and structures in all residential zones inside North Arlington borough.

  • The restriction concerns accessory buildings; it does not independently resolve every possible accessory-dwelling configuration.

  “No accessory building, including detached garages, shall be used for human habitation.”

• Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

  Individual subsurface sewage-disposal systems inside North Arlington borough; the Borough Board of Health administers the local permit and compliance certificate.

  • New systems must comply with N.J.A.C. 7:9A-1.1 et seq.
  • The code identifies the Board of Health as the issuing body.

  “No person shall locate, construct or alter any individual sewage disposal system until a permit for the location, construction or alteration of said sewage disposal system shall have been issued by the Board of Health.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Locating, constructing or altering an individual sewage-disposal system inside North Arlington borough.

  • The permit is issued by the Borough Board of Health.
  • State standards in N.J.A.C. 7:9A-1.1 et seq. are enforced.

  “No person shall locate, construct or alter any individual sewage disposal system until a permit for the location, construction or alteration of said sewage disposal system shall have been issued by the Board of Health.”

• Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

  New or existing premises inside North Arlington borough where municipal sewer service is available.

  • Chapter 298 contains a section titled 'Connection required where service available.'
  • The opened material did not provide the section's operative distance or availability threshold.

  “§ 298-22 Connection required where service available.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveways providing access to permitted garages or parking areas in residential zones inside North Arlington borough.

  • Residential private-garage driveways may not exceed 20 feet in width.
  • The driveway exception applies to required yards.

  maximum residential private-garage driveway width: <= 20 feet

  “Driveways providing access to permitted garages or parking areas; provided, however, that in residential zones driveways used to provide access to private garages shall not be wider than 20 feet.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits for construction inside North Arlington borough.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders performing construction inside North Arlington borough.
• Inspections — Building inspections inside North Arlington borough.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside North Arlington borough.
• Manufactured homes — Manufactured-home occupancy inside North Arlington 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 North Arlington 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.

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.