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

Borough of Paramus’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction and alteration of premises inside Paramus borough.

  • Required construction documents must be approved before the Construction Official issues the permit.
  • Permitted work must comply with the Building Code, Paramus Code, and other applicable laws, regulations, or rules.

  “The Construction Official shall not issue a permit authorizing the construction and/or alteration of a premises pursuant to this chapter of the Borough Code unless and until it approves all required construction documents for such proposed work.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Construction and alteration work inside Paramus borough.

  • The applicable code is the State of New Jersey Uniform Construction Code, as adopted and amended by the New Jersey Commissioner of Community Affairs.

  “BUILDING CODE — The State of New Jersey Uniform Construction Code, N.J.A.C. 5:23-1,1 et seq., as the same is adopted and may be amended from time-to-time by the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs, State of New Jersey.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Permitted work inside Paramus borough that requires a new or amended certificate of occupancy.

  • A final inspection must occur after all permitted work is completed and before issuance.
  • A temporary certificate may be issued before all work is complete only when the occupied portion can be maintained without endangering public safety, health, or welfare.

  “Upon application, the Construction Official is authorized to issue a temporary certificate of occupancy before the completion of the entire work covered by the permit, provided that the subject portion or portions of the building may be occupied and maintained in a manner that will not endanger public safety, health, or welfare.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Paramus borough.

  • The Borough's zoning map is dated November 1, 2016 and may be amended by ordinance.
  • The code lists BCC, CEM, CR, GOV, HCC, HCC-2, LB, MFAC, MFML, MU, NB, RML, R-50, R-75, R-100, R-150, R-150ML, R-2F, R-AH, R-GC, and HP districts.

  “The Borough is hereby divided into the following zones or districts as shown on the Zoning Map:”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development in a flood hazard area inside Paramus borough.

  • The applicant must apply first to the Floodplain Administrator and obtain the required permit.
  • A floodplain development permit or approval may be required in addition to a building permit.
  • Applications must identify the development and site, state intended use and occupancy, include site plans and construction documents, grading and filling plans and other requested information, state project valuation, and be signed.

  “shall first make application to the Floodplain Administrator and shall obtain the required permit.”

• Permit processPartial

  Construction and alteration permit applications inside Paramus borough.

  • Required construction documents must be approved before permit issuance.
  • The applicable Building Code and other laws, regulations, and rules apply to permitted work.

  “approves all required construction documents”

Rules another office applies inside Borough of Paramus

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

• Lot coverageSpecified

  R-50 Residential One-Family Zone inside Paramus borough.

  • Building coverage is limited to 25 percent.
  • Impervious-surface coverage is limited to 50 percent.

  building coverage: <= 25 percent · impervious-surface coverage: <= 50 percent

  “By buildings: 25%. By impervious surfaces: 50%.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work inside Paramus borough.
• Minimum dwelling size — One-family dwellings in Paramus borough residential zones.
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Paramus borough.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Paramus borough.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Paramus 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 Paramus 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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