Bolthole Index

Camden County, New Jersey

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Pine Hill, New Jersey

The Borough of Pine Hill in Camden County, New Jersey requires a zoning permit before any construction starts1, plus a state Uniform Construction Code permit from the borough's construction office23. The borough, not Camden County, adopts and enforces zoning4. Occupied RVs and trailers are prohibited in every district5. Septic permits run through the Camden County Septic and Wells Unit6.

At a glance

Zoning
Pine Hill adopts and enforces its own zoning; Camden County does not zone47
Zoning permit
Required before construction, alteration, repair or moving of a building1
Building permit
Required under the state Uniform Construction Code, issued by the borough construction office28
Septic
Camden County Septic and Wells Unit reviews individual systems county-wide6
RV living
Occupied RVs and trailers prohibited in every district5
Tiny homes
Borough rule not confirmed; ask the zoning officer9
Owner-builder
Owners building for personal use skip builder registration, not permits or inspections10
Minimum lot (R-Low)
15,000 square feet11

Who to call

Building permits

Pine Hill Construction Office

Borough construction permit applications, subcode inspections and certificates of occupancy

(856) 783-7400

45 West 7th Avenue, Pine Hill, NJ 08021

Zoning

Pine Hill Planning and Zoning Office

Zoning officer, zoning permit applications, and the planning and zoning board

(856) 783-7400

45 West 7th Avenue, Pine Hill, NJ 08021

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 23, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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

Yes. The Borough of Pine Hill adopts and administers its own zoning, enforced by the borough's zoning officer4. Camden County does not zone land, so each town sets its own rules7. The borough divides its land into zoning districts and keeps the zoning map on file12.

Rules differ by district. In the R-Low district, the main single-family residential district, the minimum lot is 15,000 square feet11. Setbacks there are 30 feet front, 25 feet rear, and 15 feet on one side with 30 feet combined for both sides13. Buildings may cover up to 30% of the lot14 and reach 35 feet in height15.

In the R-Rural district, lots start at 2 acres16. Setbacks are 50 feet front, 40 feet rear, and 20 feet on one side with 50 feet combined17. Coverage tops out at 25%18, and height at 35 feet19. Confirm your parcel's district with the zoning officer before you buy.

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

Yes, two approvals apply. Pine Hill requires a zoning permit, issued by the zoning officer, before construction, alteration, repair or moving of a building starts1. The state Uniform Construction Code separately requires a construction permit for building work8, and the municipal construction official in each Camden County town issues it, not the county2.

Apply through the Pine Hill Construction Office3. A certificate of zoning conformity is also required before using or occupying a building or land in the borough20. Fees are set by borough council, and we could not confirm a posted fee schedule21. Owners building their own home are exempt from New Jersey builder registration only; permits and inspections still apply10.

How do septic permits work in Pine Hill?

Septic permits for individual sewage disposal systems in Camden County come from the Camden County Septic and Wells Unit, which handles plan review, installation, repair and compliance certificates622. We could not confirm whether the borough's own health office plays a separate role, so ask the borough and the county unit which applies to your address.

New Jersey law bars the building permit until the board of health having jurisdiction certifies the water supply and sewage facilities23. A septic system also cannot be covered until a board of health representative inspects it24. Whether a new home must hook into public water or sewer is something we could not confirm; ask the borough before you buy. USDA rates 0% of Camden County soils as not limited for a conventional drain field, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system25.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Pine Hill?

Not in an RV. Pine Hill prohibits occupied recreational vehicles and trailers in every district5. Unoccupied RVs and trailers must be stored behind the house, at least five feet from rear or side property lines, with no utility hookups5. That rules out living in an RV while you build.

Tiny homes are unresolved. We could not confirm a Pine Hill rule on tiny homes, manufactured homes or accessory dwellings. New Jersey's construction-code pathway for tiny homes does not settle municipal zoning, utility or septic approvals9. Ask the Planning and Zoning Office26 before buying.

Building a home in Pine Hill: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the parcel's zoning district and lot size with the zoning officer2612.
  2. Get septic and well approval from the Camden County Septic and Wells Unit, since the board of health must certify sewage facilities before a building permit issues2322.
  3. Apply for the zoning permit before work starts1.
  4. File the construction permit application with the Construction Office32.
  5. Stop for the required inspections of footings, rough plumbing and electrical, and framing27.
  6. Get the certificate of occupancy before moving in28. Owner-builders must also file an affidavit with the construction official, or no certificate can issue29.

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

Camden County handles septic and well matters6 and reviews subdivisions through its Planning Board, which also covers any lot split30. The county does not zone7. For land outside borough limits, see the Camden County page.

Before buying, confirm the zoning district, the septic path, and whether a flood-zone overlay applies; we could not confirm the borough's floodplain rules. Camden County's effective property tax rate is 3.1%31, and the typical home value is $360,49932.

Watch-outs

  • Occupied RVs and trailers are prohibited in every Pine Hill district, so plan for housing during construction5.
  • A zoning permit and a construction permit are separate approvals, and both are needed before building18.
  • We could not confirm Pine Hill's rules on tiny homes, accessory dwellings, wells, driveways or floodplain development; ask the zoning officer26.
  • The owner-builder exception covers builder registration only, not permits or inspections10.

Sources

  1. Borough of Pine Hill, NJ Code, Chapter 23 Land Use, Article VII Zoning (eCode360) (Borough of Pine Hill), quoted and re-checked
  2. NJ DCA - Uniform Construction Code (N.J.A.C. 5:23) (2026 county census)
  3. Pine Hill Construction Office (pinehillboronj.com)
  4. Borough of Pine Hill, NJ Code, Chapter 23 Land Use, Article VII Zoning (eCode360) (Borough of Pine Hill), quoted and re-checked
  5. Borough of Pine Hill, NJ Code, Chapter 23 Land Use, Article VII Zoning (eCode360) (Borough of Pine Hill), quoted and re-checked
  6. Septic and Wells, quoted and re-checked
  7. Camden County Development Regulations (2026 county census)
  8. N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.14, Construction permits—when required (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. The New Jersey State Uniform Construction Code: General Information, quoted and re-checked
  10. Builder Registration and New Home Warranty for Builders (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Borough of Pine Hill, NJ Code, Chapter 23 Land Use, Article VII Zoning (eCode360) (Borough of Pine Hill), quoted and re-checked
  12. Borough of Pine Hill, NJ Code, Chapter 23 Land Use, Article VII Zoning (eCode360) (Borough of Pine Hill), quoted and re-checked
  13. Borough of Pine Hill, NJ Code, Chapter 23 Land Use, Article VII Zoning (eCode360) (Borough of Pine Hill), quoted and re-checked
  14. Borough of Pine Hill, NJ Code, Chapter 23 Land Use, Article VII Zoning (eCode360) (Borough of Pine Hill), quoted and re-checked
  15. Borough of Pine Hill, NJ Code, Chapter 23 Land Use, Article VII Zoning (eCode360) (Borough of Pine Hill), quoted and re-checked
  16. Borough of Pine Hill, NJ Code, Chapter 23 Land Use, Article VII Zoning (eCode360) (Borough of Pine Hill), quoted and re-checked
  17. Borough of Pine Hill, NJ Code, Chapter 23 Land Use, Article VII Zoning (eCode360) (Borough of Pine Hill), quoted and re-checked
  18. Borough of Pine Hill, NJ Code, Chapter 23 Land Use, Article VII Zoning (eCode360) (Borough of Pine Hill), quoted and re-checked
  19. Borough of Pine Hill, NJ Code, Chapter 23 Land Use, Article VII Zoning (eCode360) (Borough of Pine Hill), quoted and re-checked
  20. Borough of Pine Hill, NJ Code, Chapter 23 Land Use, Article VII Zoning (eCode360) (Borough of Pine Hill), quoted and re-checked
  21. Borough of Pine Hill, NJ Code, Chapter 23 Land Use, Article VII Zoning (eCode360) (Borough of Pine Hill), quoted and re-checked
  22. Camden County Septic and Wells Unit (camdencounty.com)
  23. New Jersey Statutes, R.S. 58:11-23 through 58:11-43 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. New Jersey Statutes, R.S. 58:11-23 through 58:11-43 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  25. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  26. Pine Hill Planning and Zoning Office (pinehillboronj.com)
  27. New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, New Home Warranty—Consumer Information (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  28. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  29. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  30. Subdivision and Site Plan Review, quoted and re-checked
  31. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  32. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data

Written October 23, 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 Pine Hill

Borough of Pine Hill’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, alteration, repair or moving of a building or structure in Pine Hill borough, under the zoning permit requirement in Chapter 23 Article VII. This is the zoning permit only; a construction-code building permit under Chapter 10 was not opened.

    • Permit must be issued before the work starts, as a condition precedent.
    • Zoning officer issues the permit; copy goes to the construction code official and tax assessor (§ 23-7.3 b.9).
    “the issuance of a zoning permit shall be required prior, and as a condition of precedent to the commencement of:”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Zoning-officer inspections in Pine Hill borough for zoning compliance. Construction-code inspections were not verified.

    • Inspections are for administration and enforcement of Chapter 23 and for issuing zoning permits and certificates of zoning conformity.
    “the zoning officer shall make and perform such inspections as may be necessary for the administration and enforcement of this chapter”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Use or occupancy of any building, structure or land in Pine Hill borough. This is a zoning certificate of zoning conformity; a building-code certificate of occupancy was not verified.

    • Certificate of zoning conformity is issued by the zoning officer under Art. VII.
    “failure to secure a certificate of zoning conformity prior to the use and/or occupation of any building, structure or land within the borough of pine hill shall be a violation of this chapter.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Pine Hill borough limits: the borough adopts and administers its own zoning under Chapter 23 Land Use, Article VII Zoning.

    • Zoning permit and certificate of zoning conformity required under Article VII for use, construction, and occupancy changes.
    • Chapter 23 Article VII was reviewed as posted on eCode360 (index says legislation through 11-03-2025); later amendments not verified.
    “the provisions of this chapter shall be administered and enforced by the zoning officer of the borough of pine hill.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Land inside Pine Hill borough limits: zoning district list and zoning map in Chapter 23 Article VII.

    • Zoning map adopted by reference under § 23-7.2 and kept on file with the borough clerk; map itself not opened.
    • Detailed district sections §§ 23-7.9.1 to 23-7.9.6 not opened; the summary list in § 23-7.1 is relied on.
    “to further the purpose and intent of this chapter, the area of pine hill is divided into zones or districts as follows:”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    R-Low low density residential district (main single-family residential district) in Pine Hill borough.

    • Summary entry in § 23-7.1; detailed § 23-7.9 district section not opened.
    • Lot size figure is as printed in the summary; the same entry describes the district as 1/3 to 1/2 acres per lot.

    minimum lot area: >= 15000 square feet

    “r-low low density residential consisting of 1/3 to 1/2 acres per lot. a minimum lot size is 15,000 square feet (note: old r "a").”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • SetbacksSpecified

    R-Low low density residential district in Pine Hill borough.

    • Side yard figures are as printed: 15 feet minimum side yard and 30 feet aggregate side yard.
    • Summary entry in § 23-7.1; detailed § 23-7.9 district section and any accessory-structure setbacks not opened.

    front yard: >= 30 feet · rear yard: >= 25 feet · side yard minimum: >= 15 feet · side yard aggregate: >= 30 feet

    “100 feet width, 30 feet front yard, 25 feet rear yard, 15 feet min. 30 feet agg side yard”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    R-Low low density residential district in Pine Hill borough.

    • Summary entry in § 23-7.1; detailed district section not opened.

    building lot coverage: <= 30 percent

    “30% building lot coverage, 35 feet building height, 1 parking space per unit.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Building heightSpecified

    R-Low low density residential district in Pine Hill borough.

    • Height exceptions listed in § 23-7.8.4 (for example church spires, belfries, domes, chimneys, flagpoles, masts and aerials) were seen in the article table of contents but their text was not opened.

    building height: <= 35 feet

    “30% building lot coverage, 35 feet building height, 1 parking space per unit.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Living in an RVProhibited

    Occupied recreational vehicles and trailers on private land in every district of Pine Hill borough.

    • Unoccupied recreational vehicles, trailers and boats must be parked or stored in the rear of homes, at least five feet from rear or side property lines, and may not be hooked up to utility services (same section).
    • Applies under § 23-7.8.13 prohibited uses, which says the listed uses are prohibited in every district.
    “the following uses are prohibited in every district: a. automobile graveyards. b. all recreational vehicles and trailers which are occupied are prohibited.”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Zoning permits and certificates in Pine Hill borough.

    • Fees are set by borough council from time to time; no fee schedule was located in Article VII. Chapter 10 fee schedule not opened.
    “the borough council, from time to time, shall determine and establish all fees, charges and expenses for all permits, certificates and other matters pertaining to this article.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Zoning permit and certificate of zoning conformity process in Pine Hill borough.

    • Covers only the zoning side; construction-code permit steps (Chapter 10) were not opened.
    “the zoning officer shall receive, review, process and file all applications and plans for zoning permits and certificates of conformity”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for construction in Pine Hill borough.
  • Building code adopted — Construction code adoption in Pine Hill borough.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Pine Hill borough.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land in Pine Hill borough.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny home occupancy in Pine Hill borough.
13 more unanswered
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals

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

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