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

Springfield Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Springfield township limits (Township of Springfield, Burlington County, NJ) governed by the township's own Chapter 215 Zoning

  • The township's zoning ordinance is Chapter 215 (Zoning) of its code on eCode360; the zoning map is kept on file with the township clerk.
  • Zoning map boundaries are shown on the 'zoning map, springfield township, burlington county,' dated November 2006 as amended.

  “for the purpose of this chapter, the township of springfield is hereby divided into 10 districts as follows”

• Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning districts inside Springfield township limits

  • Ten districts are listed in § 215-3: AR-10 agricultural rural (ten-acre minimum), HMR-3 hamlet residential, NC neighborhood commercial, FM/CC farmers market/community commercial, CC community commercial, LI light industrial, AZ airport hazard zone, FP floodplain district, FI federal installation district, VPAH veteran's preference affordable housing.
  • § 215-3 was amended through 3-11-2026 by ord. no. 2026-04.

  number of zoning districts: 10 districts

  “for the purpose of this chapter, the township of springfield is hereby divided into 10 districts as follows”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Detached single-family dwelling lots in the AR-10 Agricultural Rural district inside Springfield township (main agricultural/rural-residential district; not the HMR-3 hamlet district)

  • Section amended by ord. no. 2024-01 and ord. no. 2026-02 per the section's amendment note; the 3-11-2026 date is an amendment date, not recorded here as an effective date.
  • At least three acres must be contiguous noncritical acreage suitable for the dwelling and its appurtenances, including the well and septic system serving the lot.
  • Lot frontage and lot width are each 300 feet minimum; lot depth 400 feet minimum (see § 215-16(a)(1)).

  lot area (detached dwelling): >= 10 acres (at least three acres must be contiguous noncritical acreage, appropriately situated for the detached dwelling, including the well and septic system) · lot frontage: >= 300 feet · lot width: >= 300 feet · lot depth: >= 400 feet

  “(g) lot area: 10 acres. at least three acres shall be contiguous noncritical acreage, appropriately situated for the location and construction of the detached single-family dwelling and its appurtenances, including the well and septic system serving the lot.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Detached single-family dwellings in the AR-10 Agricultural Rural district inside Springfield township (not the HMR-3 hamlet district)

  • Side yards are a 50 foot aggregate with a minimum of 20 feet, per § 215-16(a)(1)(d).
  • Accessory building setbacks are in § 215-16(a)(2) and were not captured in full here.

  front yard: 50 feet · rear yard: 35 feet · side yards aggregate: 50 feet (minimum 20 feet on each side) · side yard minimum: >= 20 feet

  “(d) side yards: 50 foot aggregate, minimum 20 feet. (e) front yard: 50 feet. (f) rear yard: 35 feet.”

• Building heightSpecified

  Principal buildings in the AR-10 Agricultural Rural district inside Springfield township

  • Accessory buildings are limited to 20 feet and 1.5 stories under § 215-15(b); farm buildings are excluded from these limits under § 215-15(c).
  • Height is measured from existing grade before construction to the top of the building or highest peak of the roof.

  principal building maximum height: <= 30 feet (farm buildings excluded) · principal building maximum stories: <= 2.5 stories · accessory building maximum height: <= 20 feet (farm buildings excluded)

  “no principal building shall exceed 30 feet in height and 2.5 stories as measured from the existing grade before construction to the top of the building or highest peak of the roof.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Division of land inside Springfield township limits

  • Subdivision rules are in Chapter 185 Subdivision of Land (§ 185-1 to § 185-46) per the code table of contents; the chapter text was not opened and its procedures and standards are not recorded here.

  “chapter 185 subdivision of land (§ 185-1 &ndash; § 185-46)”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permit requirement for construction inside Springfield township
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from contractor licensing inside Springfield township
• Building code adopted — Adoption of the state uniform construction codes inside Springfield township
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Springfield township
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new dwellings inside Springfield 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 Springfield 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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