Bolthole Index

Cape May County, New Jersey

Zoning, building permits and septic in Cape May Point, New Jersey

The Borough of Cape May Point, in Cape May County, New Jersey, sets its own zoning under Chapter 150 of the borough code1. Building permits follow the statewide Uniform Construction Code, enforced through a shared-services arrangement with the City of Cape May2. Septic permits in Cape May County come from the county Environmental Services Department3; we could not confirm a borough-specific septic rule.

At a glance

Zoning
Borough's own Chapter 150 zoning ordinance1
Building permit
Required; state Uniform Construction Code, enforced through Cape May's construction office42
Zoning review first
All construction projects are reviewed by the borough zoning officer before a construction permit application2
Minimum buildable lot (R-1)
5,000 square feet with 50 feet of street frontage5
Lot coverage (R-1)
30% of the lot6
Septic
Cape May County Environmental Services; borough-specific rule unconfirmed3

Who to call

Building permits

Construction Official (Cape May construction office, serving Cape May Point)

Construction permits and Uniform Construction Code inspections for Cape May Point, provided by the City of Cape May under a shared-services contract

609-884-9555

643 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ 08204

Zoning

Cape May Point Zoning Officer

Zoning permits, landscaping permits, certificates of compliance and review of construction permit applications

609-884-8468

215 Lighthouse Avenue, PO Box 490, Cape May Point, NJ 08212

Septic permits

Cape May County Health Department, Environmental Services Division

Septic system design review, permits and inspections for Cape May County

609-465-1209

6 Moore Road, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210

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 Cape May Point means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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

Does Cape May Point have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Yes. Cape May Point regulates land use through its own zoning ordinance, Chapter 150 of the borough code1. Cape May County does not set parcel zoning for the borough7.

In the R-1 Residential Zone, a buildable lot is at least 5,000 square feet and must touch a public street, road or highway for at least 50 feet5. Buildings and structures may cover no more than 30% of the lot6. The aggregate side yard setback must be 15 feet8. A main building may rise no higher than 27.5 feet from the first-floor level9, and that first floor must sit at 10.00 feet above mean sea level9.

Accessory apartments in R-1 need a special permit, and no new approvals are issued once six special permits have been approved10. We could not confirm borough rules on RV living, camping, tiny homes or minimum house size; ask the zoning officer11.

Do you need a building permit in Cape May Point, and who issues it?

Yes. New Jersey requires a permit before construction, alteration, repair, demolition or a change of use12. Cape May Point has established its own construction code enforcing agency, the Department of Construction Inspection, under Chapter 75 of the borough code4.

In practice, the borough's website says Cape May Point has a shared services contract with the City of Cape May for all Uniform Construction Code services, and that all construction permits are handled by Cape May Construction2. Before applying, every project must be reviewed by the borough zoning officer2.

New homes also need water first. The owner must get a water connection permit before applying for the formal new home construction permit, and the sewer and water laterals must be installed before a construction permit is issued13. Fees vary by project: plan review is generally 5% to 25% of the construction-permit fee14. Borough-specific fee schedules were not confirmed.

How do septic permits work in Cape May Point?

Septic systems anywhere in Cape May County are handled by the county Health Department's Environmental Services Department under the County Environmental Health Act3. The county also routes plans to the Planning Board, the Pinelands Commission and NJDEP where they apply3.

New homes in the borough are expected to have sewer and water laterals installed before a construction permit is issued15, so a new house on a normal lot is likely to connect to public sewer rather than use septic. We could not confirm a borough septic rule or whether any lot may use a septic system; call the county Environmental Services office at16 before you buy.

Soils matter too: only 0.2% of Cape May County soils are rated not limited for a conventional drain field17, so expect a site evaluation and often an engineered system anywhere septic is allowed.

Building a home in Cape May Point: the steps, in order

  1. Ask the borough zoning officer whether the lot meets the R-1 minimums and what district applies11.
  2. Get the water connection permit13.
  3. Have the zoning officer review the project, which must happen before any construction permit application2.
  4. Apply for the construction permit through the Cape May construction office2.
  5. Install the sewer and water laterals before the permit is issued13.
  6. Expect inspections during construction and a certificate of occupancy before the building is used1819.

What stays with Cape May County (and what to check before you buy)

Septic permits stay with Cape May County Environmental Services3. Subdivisions need Cape May County Planning Board review20.

For land outside borough limits, see the Cape May County page. County figures: a typical home is worth about $804,63721, and the effective property tax rate is 1.3%22. Because first floors must be built at 10.00 feet above mean sea level9, check flood zone status with the zoning officer, who confirms flood zone reviews11.

Watch-outs

  • The zoning officer must review every project before a construction permit application is filed2.
  • We could not confirm borough rules on RVs, tiny homes, minimum house size or private wells; ask the zoning officer11.
  • The caps on accessory apartments (six special permits) may already be reached10.

Sources

  1. Table of Contents - Borough of Cape May Point, NJ (eCode360) (Borough of Cape May Point), quoted and re-checked
  2. Construction Official (Cape May construction office, serving Cape May Point) (capemaypoint.org)
  3. Septic Systems, quoted and re-checked
  4. Chapter 75 Construction Codes, Uniform - Borough of Cape May Point, NJ (eCode360) (Borough of Cape May Point), quoted and re-checked
  5. § 150-12 Area, yard and height regulations - Borough of Cape May Point, NJ (eCode360) (Borough of Cape May Point), quoted and re-checked
  6. § 150-12 Area, yard and height regulations - Borough of Cape May Point, NJ (eCode360) (Borough of Cape May Point), quoted and re-checked
  7. Cape May County Subdivision and Site Plan Resolution, quoted and re-checked
  8. § 150-12 Area, yard and height regulations - Borough of Cape May Point, NJ (eCode360) (Borough of Cape May Point), quoted and re-checked
  9. § 150-12 Area, yard and height regulations - Borough of Cape May Point, NJ (eCode360) (Borough of Cape May Point), quoted and re-checked
  10. Article VI R-1 Residential Zone, Chapter 150 Zoning - Borough of Cape May Point, NJ (eCode360) (Borough of Cape May Point), quoted and re-checked
  11. Cape May Point Zoning Officer (capemaypoint.org)
  12. nj.gov, quoted and re-checked
  13. Chapter 146 Water and Sewer Utility - Borough of Cape May Point, NJ (eCode360) (Borough of Cape May Point), quoted and re-checked
  14. N.J.A.C. 5:23-4.18 — Standards for municipal fees, quoted and re-checked
  15. Chapter 146 Water and Sewer Utility - Borough of Cape May Point, NJ (eCode360) (Borough of Cape May Point), quoted and re-checked
  16. Cape May County Health Department, Environmental Services Division (capemaycountynj.gov)
  17. 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
  18. Construction Code FAQs for New Home Buyers, quoted and re-checked
  19. N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.23 — Certificate requirements, quoted and re-checked
  20. Cape May County Subdivision and Site Plan Resolution, quoted and re-checked
  21. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  22. 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 Cape May Point

Borough of Cape May Point’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    New home construction on a lot inside Cape May Point borough that needs water and sewer service

    • Water connection permit must be obtained before applying for the formal new home construction permit
    • Sewer and water laterals must be installed before a construction permit is issued
    • Connection fee is $1,200 per domestic unit per § 146-7 as amended 5-13-2021 by Ord. 04-2021 (fee not opened in full)
    “the property owner or the property owner's agent must obtain the water connection permit prior to applying for the formal new home construction permit. additionally, the sewer and water laterals must be installed prior to the issuance of a construction permit.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Construction inside Cape May Point borough under the State Uniform Construction Code (UCC) as enforced by the borough

    • Enforced by the borough's Department of Construction Inspection under Chapter 75 Article I
    “there is hereby established in the borough of cape may point a state uniform construction code enforcing agency to be known as the department of construction inspection”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Cape May Point borough limits: the borough's own Chapter 150 Zoning ordinance governs use and dimensions

    • Zoning ordinance is Chapter 150 of the Borough code; the eCode360 table of contents says legislation is included through 01-27-2026
    “chapter 150 zoning (§ 150-1 – § 150-35) appendix”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Single-family residential lots in the R-1 Residential Zone of Cape May Point borough

    • Lot must also front at least 50 feet on a public street, road or highway maintained by the borough, county or state

    minimum buildable lot area: >= 5000 square feet

    “a buildable lot is defined as a land parcel of a minimum of 5,000 square feet that is contiguous for a distance of at least 50 feet to at least one public street, road or highway maintained by the borough, county or state.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Side yards of main buildings in the R-1 Residential Zone of Cape May Point borough

    • Front, rear, corner-lot and building-separation setbacks are also in § 150-12 but were not verified verbatim within budget
    • Zoning officer may adjust side yard placement where adjacent building spacing requires it, per § 150-12

    aggregate side yard setback: 15 feet

    “provided, however, that the aggregate required setback for side yards shall not exceed nor be less than 15 feet.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    All buildings and structures on a lot in the R-1 Residential Zone of Cape May Point borough

    • Attached pergolas over non-vegetative/organic ground cover count toward the cap
    • Overhangs up to 2.5 feet horizontal width are excluded

    maximum lot coverage: <= 30 percent (overhangs up to 2.5 feet excluded)

    “no more than 30% of the lot area shall be occupied by the sum total of all buildings or structures, or attached pergolas over non-vegetative/organic ground cover on the lot, not including overhangs up to two and one-half (2 1/2) feet in horizontal width.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Main buildings in the R-1 Residential Zone of Cape May Point borough

    • First-floor level must be constructed at 10.00 feet above mean sea level (NAVD 1988)
    • A crawl-space variance up to 2.5 feet may be requested with engineer proof, per § 150-12 g

    maximum main building height (first-floor level to highest point): <= 27.5 feet (chimneys, weather vanes, flag-poles and television antennas excluded)

    “no main building shall exceed twenty-seven and one-half (27.5) feet in height from the first-floor level to the highest point in the building, exclusive of chimneys, weather vanes, flag-poles and television antennas.”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Accessory apartments on R-1 residential parcels inside Cape May Point borough

    • Allowed only by special permit, on parcels meeting the zoning district minimum lot size
    • Special permits are capped: no new approvals will be issued once a total of six special permits have been granted (cap wording truncated in the opened text; verify)
    “no new approvals of special permits for accessory apartments will be issued whenever a total of six special permits have been approved.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

    New home construction inside Cape May Point borough

    • Sewer and water laterals must be installed before a construction permit is issued
    • No mandatory-connection-when-available rule was found in the sections opened; availability distance rule not located
    “additionally, the sewer and water laterals must be installed prior to the issuance of a construction permit.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction in Cape May Point borough
  • Inspections — Inspections for construction inside Cape May Point borough
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Cape May Point borough
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in the R-1 district of Cape May Point borough
  • Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Cape May Point borough
14 more unanswered
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • 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 Cape May Point publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Cape May County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Cape May County: county rules, score and offices