Bolthole Index

Camden County, New Jersey

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Chesilhurst, New Jersey

The Borough of Chesilhurst, New Jersey sets its own zoning through Chapter 285 of its land development code1. Building work needs a construction permit under New Jersey's statewide Uniform Construction Code2, enforced locally3. Septic systems are reviewed by the Camden County Septic and Wells Unit4, not the borough.

At a glance

Zoning
Borough zoning (Chapter 285, Article XIII); the county does not zone15
Building permit
Required statewide under the Uniform Construction Code; issued locally23
Septic
Camden County Septic and Wells Unit reviews individual systems4
R-1 minimum lot
1 acre (43,560 sq ft) with septic; 30,000 sq ft with sewer6
R-1 setbacks
50 ft front, 20 ft side, 50 ft rear7
Mobile homes
Only inside a mobile home park in the MHP district8
Owner-builder
Exception covers builder registration only; permits still required9

Who to call

Planning & zoning

Borough of Chesilhurst (Planning & Zoning and Construction)

Zoning questions, the zoning application and variance forms, and the borough planning board; the borough also lists a construction department page.

(856) 767-4153

201 Grant Ave., Chesilhurst, NJ 08089

Septic permits

Camden County Septic and Wells Unit

Plan review, installation, repair and compliance certificates for individual sewage disposal systems, and private well test results.

(856) 374-6064

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Borough of Chesilhurst means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Chesilhurst, NJ have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Yes. The Borough of Chesilhurst zones its own land under Chapter 285, Article XIII, and the borough ordinance governs inside the borough rather than county or state land-use rules1. Camden County does not zone; in New Jersey the zoning power belongs to municipalities5. The borough publishes nine zoning districts: R-1, R-2, R-3, SC, MHP, NC, HC, I and IN10.

In the R-1 residential district, a single-family lot that relies on a septic system needs at least 43,560 square feet (1 acre), while a lot connected to sewer needs 30,000 square feet6. R-1 principal buildings need a 50-foot front yard, 20-foot side yard and 50-foot rear yard7, with a 35-foot height limit11. Other districts have their own standards, so confirm the district for any parcel with the borough's zoning office before you buy.

Do you need a building permit in Chesilhurst, and who issues it?

Yes. A permit must be obtained before covered construction, alteration or demolition work begins, under New Jersey's Uniform Construction Code2. Enforcement runs through local enforcing agencies and municipal construction officials3, so inside Chesilhurst the borough, not Camden County, is where building permits are handled.

Ordinary maintenance needs no permit, and minor work follows a lighter permit process12. New buildings cannot be occupied until a certificate of occupancy is issued13.

The borough's construction page on its website says resources and information are coming soon, so we could not confirm a fee schedule or application steps. Call Borough Hall at (856) 767-415314 and ask for the construction office. Where a lot sits within 200 feet of the borough sewer, a building permit is conditional on a sewer connection permit15.

How do septic permits work inside Chesilhurst?

Septic systems are not a borough permit. The Camden County Septic and Wells Unit handles individual sewage disposal systems in Camden County, including plan review, installation, repair and compliance certificates416. New Jersey law requires the board of health with jurisdiction to certify the septic design before a new improvement is built17, and an inspection must happen before the system is covered18.

Sewer changes the answer. Buildings within 200 feet of a borough sanitary sewer line must connect to it, and the borough can connect the property and place a lien for the cost if the owner does not19. The borough's own septic chapter was not confirmed by us, so ask Borough Hall whether it adds requirements beyond the county's.

Can you live in an RV, tiny home or mobile home in Chesilhurst?

Mobile homes are permitted only inside a mobile home park in the MHP district; the R-1 district lists single-family detached dwellings and does not list mobile homes8. Recreational vehicles, truck campers and motor homes are prohibited inside a mobile home park there20. That rule covers parks only.

We could not confirm whether the borough allows living in an RV, camping, a tiny home or an accessory dwelling on other private land. Ask the borough's zoning office before you buy a lot on the assumption that any of these is allowed. A tiny home built as a dwelling still needs a construction permit, and the state construction pathway does not resolve municipal zoning or septic approvals21.

Building a home in Chesilhurst: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the zoning district and lot standards with the borough zoning office at (856) 767-415314; R-1 lots on septic need 1 acre6.
  2. Ask Borough Hall whether the lot is within 200 feet of the sewer; if so, a sewer connection permit comes with the building permit15.
  3. If the lot is not sewered, contact the Camden County Septic and Wells Unit at (856) 374-6064 for septic plan review16.
  4. Apply for the construction permit; no permit may issue until all required state, county and local approvals are in place22.
  5. Schedule the required inspections; work must stop for footing, rough plumbing and electrical, and framing inspections23.
  6. Obtain the certificate of occupancy before moving in13.

What stays with Camden County, and what to check before you buy in Chesilhurst

Septic systems and well test review stay with Camden County's Septic and Wells Unit16. Camden County's Planning Board reviews subdivisions, so a lot split in Chesilhurst involves county review as well as the borough24. For land outside the borough, see the Camden County page.

Owner-builders should note that building your own home exempts you only from new-home-builder registration, not from permits or inspections9. An owner-built home also needs an owner affidavit on file before a certificate of occupancy issues25. A driveway onto a state highway needs a state access approval26. Camden County's effective property tax rate is 3.1%27.

Watch-outs

  • Mobile homes and RVs are limited inside the MHP district only, and we could not confirm the borough's rules for RVs, camping or tiny homes elsewhere; ask the borough zoning office8.
  • The borough's permit fees, driveway rules, flood-hazard rules and septic chapter were not confirmed by us; ask Borough Hall at (856) 767-4153 before you commit14.
  • Lots within 200 feet of the borough sewer face a mandatory connection and a sewer-linked building permit19.

Sources

  1. Article XIII: Zoning District Regulations - Borough of Chesilhurst, NJ (Borough of Chesilhurst), quoted and re-checked
  2. N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.14, Construction permits—when required (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  3. The Uniform Construction Code (NJAC 5:23), quoted and re-checked
  4. Septic and Wells, quoted and re-checked
  5. P.L. 2013, c.106 — Municipal Land Use Law amendments (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  6. Article XIII: Zoning District Regulations - Borough of Chesilhurst, NJ (Borough of Chesilhurst), quoted and re-checked
  7. Article XIII: Zoning District Regulations - Borough of Chesilhurst, NJ (Borough of Chesilhurst), quoted and re-checked
  8. Article XIII: Zoning District Regulations - Borough of Chesilhurst, NJ (Borough of Chesilhurst), quoted and re-checked
  9. Consumer Information for New Home Buyers, quoted and re-checked
  10. Article XIII: Zoning District Regulations - Borough of Chesilhurst, NJ (Borough of Chesilhurst), quoted and re-checked
  11. Article XIII: Zoning District Regulations - Borough of Chesilhurst, NJ (Borough of Chesilhurst), quoted and re-checked
  12. Construction Permit Application Packet & Related Forms, quoted and re-checked
  13. nj.gov, quoted and re-checked
  14. Borough of Chesilhurst (Planning & Zoning and Construction) (chesilhurstboro.org)
  15. Article II: Connections - Borough of Chesilhurst, NJ (Chapter 387 Sewers and Sewage Disposal) (Borough of Chesilhurst), quoted and re-checked
  16. Camden County Septic and Wells Unit (camdencounty.com)
  17. New Jersey Statutes, R.S. 58:11-23 through 58:11-43 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. New Jersey Statutes, R.S. 58:11-23 through 58:11-43 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Article II: Connections - Borough of Chesilhurst, NJ (Chapter 387 Sewers and Sewage Disposal) (Borough of Chesilhurst), quoted and re-checked
  20. Article XIII: Zoning District Regulations - Borough of Chesilhurst, NJ (Borough of Chesilhurst), quoted and re-checked
  21. The New Jersey State Uniform Construction Code: General Information, quoted and re-checked
  22. New Jersey Uniform Construction Code, N.J.A.C. 5:23 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. Construction Code FAQs for New Home Buyers, quoted and re-checked
  24. Subdivision and Site Plan Review, quoted and re-checked
  25. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  26. Major Access Permits (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  27. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 24, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Borough of Chesilhurst

Borough of Chesilhurst’s own rules

  • Building permitLimited

    New construction within 200 feet of the borough sanitary sewer system

    • Building permit issuance for such construction is conditional on obtaining a sewer connection permit. General building-permit requirements for all other construction were not verified.
    “owners of such structures must connect to the system and receipt of a building permit is conditional upon obtaining a connection permit for connecting to the sanitary sewer system”
  • Building code adoptedPartial

    Sewer connection plumbing inside Chesilhurst borough (plumbing code reference only)

    • Only the plumbing code reference in Chapter 387 was verified. The general construction code (Uniform Construction Code) and the borough building department were not located in the eCode360 table of contents and were not verified on an official page in this run.
    “in all other respects as required by the plumbing code adopted by the borough of chesilhurst”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Structures within 200 feet of the borough sanitary sewer system, and structures built during the initial sewer project

    • The sewer chapter ties certificate-of-occupancy timing to sewer connection for these structures. A general certificate-of-occupancy requirement for all buildings was not verified.
    “owners of such structures must connect to the sanitary sewer system as a condition of receiving a certificate of occupancy.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    All land inside Chesilhurst borough limits, under the borough's own zoning district regulations (Chapter 285 Land Development, Article XIII)

    • Zoning districts, bulk standards and use lists in Article XIII govern land inside the borough; county or state land-use rules are not substituted for them where the borough ordinance addresses the topic.
    “for the purpose of implementing the land development regulations and standards set forth in this chapter the borough of chesilhurst shall utilize the following zoning designations”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts of Chesilhurst borough (R-1, R-2, R-3, SC, MHP, NC, HC, I, IN)

    • The borough zoning map is incorporated by § 285-98 and is titled Zoning Map, Borough of Chesilhurst, dated May 4, 2005 (per the code text); the map itself was not opened.
    “r-1 residential r-2 residential r-3 residential sc senior citizen residential mhp mobile home park nc neighborhood commercial hc highway commercial i industrial in institutional”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    R-1 residential district (single-family detached dwellings) inside Chesilhurst borough

    • Lots relying on a septic disposal system need 43,560 square feet (1 acre); lots connected to centralized wastewater (sewer) need 30,000 square feet.
    • A Pinelands development credit density variant under § 285-108 (22,500 square feet with sewer) exists and is not used here.

    minimum lot size with septic disposal system: >= 43560 square feet · minimum lot size with centralized wastewater (sewer) connection: >= 30000 square feet (lots connected to centralized sewer)

    “minimum lot size with septic disposal system 43,560 square feet (1 acre) minimum lot size with centralized wastewater (sewer) connection 30,000 square feet”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    R-1 residential district principal buildings inside Chesilhurst borough

    • Accessory structures are not permitted in any front yard; sheds must be 5 feet from the property line and decks at least 15 feet from the property line (base requirements).

    front yard: >= 50 feet · side yard: >= 20 feet · rear yard: >= 50 feet

    “front yard 50 feet side yard 20 feet rear yard 50 feet”
  • Building heightSpecified

    R-1 residential district principal buildings inside Chesilhurst borough

    • Maximum height is measured as stated in the R-1 base requirements; the PDC table also lists 35 feet.

    maximum height: <= 35 feet

    “r-1 base requirements minimum lot size with septic disposal system 43,560 square feet (1 acre) minimum lot size with centralized wastewater (sewer) connection 30,000 square feet lot width 200 feet front yard 50 feet side yard 20 feet rear yard 50 feet maximum height 35 feet”
  • Living in an RVProhibited

    Recreational vehicles, truck campers and motor homes inside a mobile home park in the MHP district only

    • This exclusion covers mobile home park developments only. General RV occupancy on other private land in Chesilhurst borough was not verified (see the separate unknown claim).
    “but shall not include truck campers, recreational vehicles or motor homes.”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Mobile homes inside Chesilhurst borough: permitted only within a mobile home park in the MHP district

    • R-1 permitted principal uses are single-family detached dwellings; mobile homes are not listed as a permitted use there.
    • Mobile home park standards include a 10-acre minimum planning district, 22,500 square feet base-density lot size, and 35-foot building setback.
    • No mobile home may be occupied before the borough receives a copy of a structural engineering bulletin approving the dwelling by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (§ 285-107 c(1)).
    “within this district, land may be used and buildings or structures may be used, altered, or erected for the following uses: (1) mobile home in conjunction with a mobile home park.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Buildings on property within 200 feet of a borough sanitary sewer line

    • Connection is required before the connection date defined in § 387-3: for an existing home on the initial system within 200 feet, March 1, 1995; for new construction within 200 feet, the certificate-of-occupancy date.
    • If an owner fails to connect, the borough may make the connection and place a lien on the property for costs and interest (§ 387-6).
    • Connection fees under § 387-7 and the pipe specifications in § 387-5 were not used to answer this claim beyond noting they exist.
    “the owner of each property along the line of any sewer system, now or hereafter constructed in the borough, shall connect each building located within 200 feet of said system on such property with the sewer system prior to the connection date as defined above.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for a home inside Chesilhurst borough
  • Inspections — Building inspections for a new home inside Chesilhurst borough
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area inside Chesilhurst borough
  • Lot coverage — R-1 residential district inside Chesilhurst borough
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Chesilhurst borough
13 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees
  • Permit process

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 Borough of Chesilhurst publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Camden County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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