Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Medford Township, New Jersey
Medford Township is a township in Burlington County, New Jersey. Medford Township adopts its own zoning, so inside its limits Medford Township’s rules apply, not the county’s. Septic permits inside Medford Township come from Burlington County (Burlington County Health Department, Environmental Health Division · 609-265-5548). 7 rules below are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked, most recently on October 23, 2026. Rules for unincorporated land are on the Burlington County page.
Answers from the rulebook for Medford Township
Medford Township’s own rules
Local zoningPresent (with conditions)
Land inside Medford township's limits, under the township's own Land Development Ordinance (Chapter DR, Ord. No. 1992-1).
The ordinance divides the township into zoning districts; the district schedule was not located or opened in this research pass, so district-level dimensional limits are unknown and are recorded separately.
Uses not expressly permitted are prohibited (section 105), so use-specific permission must be checked against the district use tables.
“a comprehensive ordinance regulating and limiting the uses of land and the uses and locations of buildings and structures”
Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)
Land inside Medford township's limits, under Chapter DR (Land Development Ordinance).
Subdivision and development rules are set by the township's ordinance; the specific subdivision procedure and standards were not opened in this pass.
“establishing rules, regulations and standards governing the subdivision and development of land within the township”
Permit processPartial
Construction permits in Medford township handled by the township construction office.
The construction page confirms the office uses the state UCC permit forms and links to them; step-by-step application, inspection schedule and fees were not located in this pass.
“the construction office must utilize state of new jersey uniform construction code forms.”
Rules another office applies inside Medford Township
Medford Township does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.
Building code adoptedAdopted
Construction in Medford township; the township construction office enforces the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code there.
The township enforces the state code through its construction office; no township-specific building code adoption was located.
“the construction office is responsible for ensuring that all construction work in the township complies with the requirements of the new jersey uniform construction code.”
Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)
Individual sewage disposal systems on land inside Medford township's limits; chapter 118 names the Burlington County Health Department as the 'division of health' for this chapter.
Chapter 118 adopts the individual sewage disposal system code of New Jersey (1963) and says the state standards replace inconsistent local provisions.
Pinelands: systems inside the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan area must also comply with the Pinelands water quality provisions of the township's land use chapter (section 118, subsection d).
“for purposes of this chapter, the division of health shall be the burlington county health department.”
Septic permitRequired
Locating, constructing or altering an individual sewage disposal system on land inside Medford township's limits.
The division of health may issue the permit if the application includes a certificate from a New Jersey-licensed professional engineer that the proposed design complies with the code (section 118-4 subsection b).
Seepage pits are not permitted under chapter 118 (prohibition provision, subsection c).
“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 division of health.”
Septic inspectionRequired
New individual sewage disposal systems serving new dwellings or buildings (or additions) inside Medford township's limits, before the building is sold or occupied.
The division of health issues a certificate after the system is built to the permit and code (section 118-5).
An engineer's signed written statement that the system was built per the permit may also support the certificate (section 118-5 subsection b).
A certificate is not required for alterations to an existing individual sewage disposal system (section 118-5 subsection a).
“new individual disposal systems shall not be placed in operation, nor shall new dwellings or buildings or additions thereto be sold or occupied which must rely on such a system for sewage disposal, until the division of health shall have issued a certificate”
Still unanswered
We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Medford Township or Burlington County directly.
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.
Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Medford Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Burlington County’s page lists the county offices to call.
Off-grid gear
Going off-grid in Medford Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:
