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

Borough of Bellmawr’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  All land inside Bellmawr borough limits, under the borough's own Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 260 of the Borough of Bellmawr Code)

  • Zoning districts and boundaries are shown on the zoning map kept on file with the borough clerk (§ 260-7 and § 260-8).

  “this chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "bellmawr borough zoning ordinance."”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts of Bellmawr borough under Chapter 260

  • Districts established by § 260-6: Residence A, Residence B, Office, Business A, Business B, Business C, Light Industrial, Heavy Industrial, Institutional, Municipal Government and Educational, Recreation – Open Space, and Limited Access Highway Proximity Zone.
  • Zoning map kept on file with the borough clerk (§ 260-7).

  “for the purposes of this chapter bellmawr borough is hereby divided into the following districts: residence a residence b office business a business b business c light industrial heavy industrial institutional municipal government and educational recreation – open space limited access highway proximity zone”

• Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Single-family detached dwellings in Residence District A inside Bellmawr borough

  • The eCode page does not state an effective date for this limit.
  • For a single detached dwelling with an unfinished attic, 50% of the attic area with 7 feet 6 inches clearance from the top of the floor joists is credited toward the total square footage.

  dwelling unit size, one story: >= 1100 square feet (credit for unfinished attic as stated in conditions) · dwelling unit size, more than one story: >= 1500 square feet (credit for unfinished attic as stated in conditions)

  “i. dwelling unit size: 1,100 square feet for one story and 1,500 square feet for more than one story, provided that where any single detached dwelling shall have an unfinished attic, in computing the total number of square feet credit shall be given for 50% of that portion of such unfinished attic as shall have a clearance of seven feet six inches in height from the top of the floor joists thereof.”

• Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Residence District A (main single-family district) inside Bellmawr borough

  • Lot size and width amended 9-28-2000 by Ord. No. 8:13-00, as stated in the code history notes.
  • Conditional church use in this district requires a minimum lot of 1/2 acre (§ 260-12).

  lot size: >= 6000 square feet · lot width: >= 60 feet · lot depth: >= 100 feet

  “a. lot size: 6,000 square feet minimum. [amended 9-28-2000 by ord. no. 8:13-00] b. lot width: 60 feet minimum. [amended 9-28-2000 by ord. no. 8:13-00] c. lot depth: 100 feet minimum.”

• SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Residence District A (main single-family district) inside Bellmawr borough; yards measured per the ordinance

  • Front yard is 25 feet or the setback of any existing single-family residence on abutting properties, whichever is the lesser, measured from the right-of-way line.
  • Accessory buildings must be at least 3 feet from the rear and/or side property line and not nearer than 10 feet to the street line (§ 260-15 item j).

  front yard: <= 25 feet (or setback of existing single-family residence on abutting property if lesser) · side yard, each side: >= 5 feet (fifteen-foot aggregate required on both sides) · side yards, aggregate: >= 15 feet · rear yard: >= 30 feet (garage or utility sheds not counted in this provision)

  “f. side yards shall be a minimum of five feet with a fifteen-foot aggregate on both sides. g. rear yards shall be a minimum of 30 feet, with garage or utility sheds not to be counted in the construction of this provision.”

• Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Residence District A (main single-family district) inside Bellmawr borough

  • Conditional church use in this district is limited to 35% coverage (§ 260-12).

  building lot coverage: <= 30 percent

  “d. lot coverage: 30% maximum. e. front yards shall be 25 feet or not less than the setback of any existing single-family residence located on abutting properties”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Residence District A (main single-family district) inside Bellmawr borough

  building height: <= 35 feet

  “g. rear yards shall be a minimum of 30 feet, with garage or utility sheds not to be counted in the construction of this provision. h. height: 35 feet maximum.”

Rules another office applies inside Borough of Bellmawr

Borough of Bellmawr 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 inside Bellmawr borough under the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code, administered by the borough Construction / Code Office

  • The borough Construction Office says it administers and enforces the state code; the borough's own Chapter 170 (Construction Codes, Uniform, § 170-1 to § 170-6) was listed in the eCode index but its text was not opened.

  “the department is responsible for administration and enforcement of the new jersey uniform construction code.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work on owner-occupied homes inside Bellmawr borough
• Inspections — Inspections of construction inside Bellmawr borough
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings inside Bellmawr borough
• Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Bellmawr borough
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Bellmawr 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 Bellmawr 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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