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

Borough of Palisades Park’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside Palisades Park borough under the State Uniform Construction Code administered by the borough's Department of Building Inspection.

  • The ordinance permits retention of an on-site inspection agency for specified subcodes pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:23-4.6.

  “There is hereby established in the Borough of Palisades Park a State Uniform Construction Code enforcing agency, to be known as the "Department of Building Inspection,"”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Any building or area created, erected, changed, converted, altered or enlarged inside Palisades Park borough.

  • A certificate must be applied for and issued by the Building Inspector before use or permitted use.

  “It shall be unlawful to use or permit the use of any building or area hereafter created, erected, changed, converted, altered or enlarged, wholly or in part, unless and until a certificate of occupancy shall have been applied for and issued by the Building Inspector.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Palisades Park borough; Chapter 300 is the borough's zoning ordinance.

  “HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Palisades Park 9-20-1994 by Ord. No. 1190. Amendments noted where applicable.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  AA Residential District.

  • Front setback is the average of existing residences on the same side of the street within the same block; it may not exceed 35 feet or be less than 20 feet.
  • Minimum side yards are 5 feet on one side and 14 feet when both side yards are provided; rear yard is 25 feet.

  minimum front yard: 20-35 feet (Average of existing same-block residences; no less than 20 feet and no more than 35 feet.) · side yard, one: >= 5 feet · side yards, both: >= 14 feet · minimum rear yard: >= 25 feet

  “AA 5,000 50 Note 1 5 14 25 2½/25 40 -- [...] Note 1: The setback shall be the average of the existing setback of residences on the same side of the street within the same block, except that the setback in no case need exceed 35 feet nor shall be less than 20 feet.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  A side yard used as access to off-street parking in any district governed by Schedule II Note 3.

  • The driveway may be located in a side yard used for access to off-street parking only if it is at least 12 feet wide.
  • Other district and buffer-strip requirements may also apply.

  minimum driveway width: >= 12 feet (Applies when the side yard is 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 twelve (12) feet in width.”

• Permit feesPublished

  Construction permits and related subcode permits inside Palisades Park borough.

  • The fee schedule was amended through Ordinance 2022-4 dated 2022-06-29 in the displayed history.

  minimum building fee: 70 USD · residential new/addition fee: 0.04 USD per cubic foot · plan review fee: 20 percent of permit fee (Nonrefundable) · UCC certificate of occupancy: 100 USD

  “Minimum Building Fee | $70 Plan review fee (nonrefundable) | 20% of permit fee New/Addition | Residential | $0.040 per cubic foot [...] Certificate of occupancy (UCC) | $100”

• Permit processPartial

  Zoning-permit process for development inside Palisades Park borough.

  • A site plan must first be approved by the Planning Board or Board of Adjustment when required.
  • A zoning permit expires automatically 12 months after issuance; it may be renewed for an additional six months if the Building Inspector is satisfied that the proposal conforms.

  commencement deadline: 6 months from issuance (Permit is void if work is not commenced.) · automatic expiration: 12 months from issuance (Additional six-month renewal may be granted.)

  “The permit shall be void and of no force and effect should the person to whom such permit was issued fail or neglect to commence building or improvement within a period of six months from the date of issuance, and provided further that such permit shall automatically expire 12 months from the date of issuance.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits for construction inside Palisades Park borough.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work inside Palisades Park borough.
• Minimum dwelling size — Residential dwellings inside Palisades Park borough, including the AA district.
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy on land inside Palisades Park borough.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on land inside Palisades Park 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 Palisades Park 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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