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

Borough of Collingswood’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside Collingswood borough limits, enforced through the Borough's local State Uniform Construction Code enforcing agency.

  • Chapter 135 says the enforcing agency consists of a construction official, building, plumbing, fire and electrical subcode officials, and any other subcode officials the state Construction Commission adopts.
  • Each subcode position must be filled by a person qualified under N.J.S.A. 52:27D-119 et seq., or an on-site inspection agency may be retained by contract.
  • Appeals go to the Camden County Board of Appeals (§ 135-2).
  • The adoption date is the date the Chapter 135 ordinance was adopted; later amendments were not checked.

  “there is hereby established in the borough of collingswood a state uniform construction code enforcing agency, to be known as the "collingswood construction code office,"”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Collingswood borough limits. The Borough adopts and administers its own zoning under Chapter 141, Development Regulations (the 'Collingswood Development Regulations Ordinance').

  • Zoning district boundaries are shown on the 'Borough of Collingswood Zoning Map, November 1999', which the code says is on file in the borough offices.
  • Uses not expressly permitted as a principal, accessory or conditional use are prohibited (§ 141-15.1).
  • Bulk and area limits are in a 'schedule of district regulations' at the end of Chapter 141, which was not opened for this record.

  “a. regulate the use of land within zoning districts.”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts inside Collingswood borough limits under Chapter 141 Article VI.

  • Article VI lists the districts: single-family detached SF-D1 (§ 141-16), SF-D2 (§ 141-17), SF-D3 (§ 141-18), single-family attached SF-A (§ 141-19), multifamily MF (§ 141-20), CBD, POD, HBD, HID and an affordable housing overlay.
  • No agricultural or rural-residential district was found in the list.
  • District boundaries follow the zoning map on file in the borough offices.
  • Dimensional standards are in the schedule of district regulations at the end of Chapter 141, not opened.

  “§ 141-16 single-family, detached residential district one (sf-d1).”

• Permit feesPublished

  Construction permit fees for work inside Collingswood borough limits, set by the Borough's construction-code fee schedule.

  • § 135-3 provides for adoption of a fee schedule; the fee table on the Chapter 135 page includes electrical fees such as a $75 minimum for lighting fixtures.
  • The full fee schedule was not opened; building, plumbing, fire and other permit fees are not verified.
  • Fire permit and fire inspection fees are in Chapter 163 and were not part of this claim.

  electrical lighting fixtures minimum fee: 75 USD (from the Chapter 135 fee table; other fees not verified)

  “item fee electrical fees minimum fee lighting fixtures $75 receptacles switches detectors”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Construction permit requirement inside Collingswood borough limits
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption inside Collingswood borough limits
• Inspections — Construction inspections inside Collingswood borough limits
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy inside Collingswood borough limits
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in SF-D1 and other residential districts inside Collingswood borough limits

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 Collingswood 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.

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.