Bolthole Index

Monmouth County, New Jersey

Building permits, zoning and sewer rules in Borough of Bradley Beach, New Jersey

Borough of Bradley Beach, New Jersey requires construction permits for work covered by the statewide Uniform Construction Code; ordinary maintenance is exempt.1 Bradley Beach’s Community Development office issues construction permits and zoning approval, while Monmouth County Public Health serves Bradley Beach for health services.23 Bradley Beach requires public sewer connection for premises abutting a street where a sewer is laid or may be laid.4

At a glance

Building permits
Required for UCC-covered construction; ordinary maintenance exempt1
Zoning approval
Borough Community Development office handles zoning applications and approval2
Sewer connection
Required where premises abut a street with a sewer laid or to be laid; written Plumbing Inspector permission needed4
Septic and wells
County Public Health oversees approvals and inspections for its member municipalities, including Bradley Beach35
Owner-builder
Personal-use builder-registration exception; construction permits and inspections still apply6
Occupancy and transfer
Borough certificate and permit required before specified occupancy, rental, sale or transfer7

Who to call

Building permits

Bradley Beach Office of Community Development

Construction permits, zoning approval, continued-occupancy certificates and related inspections

732-776-2999

[email protected]

701 Main Street

Online permits →

Zoning

Bradley Beach Zoning Office

Municipal zoning applications and approval

732-776-2999

[email protected]

Health department

Monmouth County Office of Public Health — municipal coverage

Public health services for Bradley Beach

Septic permits

Monmouth County Office of Public Health — Inspection Services

Septic-system and well approvals and inspections for member municipalities

732-431-7456

Floodplain permits

Bradley Beach Floodplain Administrator — Borough Engineer

Administration of borough floodplain regulations

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 12, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in Borough of Bradley Beach, NJ?

Bradley Beach construction covered by New Jersey’s Uniform Construction Code requires a construction permit before work begins, including covered alterations, demolition and changes of use.1 Ordinary maintenance is exempt, while minor work follows a separate notice-and-permit procedure; ask the Construction office to classify the proposed work before starting.12 Building a home for personal use can qualify for an exception from builder registration, but the exception does not remove construction permits, inspections or code compliance.6 An owner-built new home also requires an affidavit to the construction official before a certificate of occupancy can issue.8

Who issues building permits in Borough of Bradley Beach?

The Bradley Beach Office of Community Development brings together Construction, Zoning, Code Enforcement and the Fire Marshal, and handles construction permits, zoning approval and related inspections.2 Reach the office at 732-776-2999 or [email protected]; the office is in the Carmen Biase Center at 701 Main Street.2 Send parcel-specific zoning questions to [email protected].9 The municipal Community Development page provides a Construction Permit Application and a link to check permit status.2 Ask the Construction office for the applicable fee calculation: the office states that new residential structures and additions are subject to a residential development fee of 1.5% of equalized assessment value, applied to the increase in assessment.2

Does Borough of Bradley Beach have zoning and lot-size limits?

Bradley Beach’s Zoning office handles municipal zoning approval; New Jersey assigns zoning authority to municipalities rather than counties.910 In Bradley Beach’s R-1 Residential Single-Family Zone, single-family living space on lots at least 4,000 square feet with at least 40 feet of frontage may reach 2.5 stories or 35 feet.11 Lots below either threshold are limited to two stories and 27 feet.11 Those height thresholds do not establish that a smaller lot is buildable: ask the Zoning office to confirm the district, lot status and proposed building envelope.9 Minimum lot size, setbacks and lot coverage depend on municipal district regulations; do not treat a height allowance as a substitute for those approvals.121314

How do sewer and septic approvals work in Borough of Bradley Beach?

Bradley Beach requires sewer connection for houses and other buildings on premises abutting a street where a sewer is laid or may be laid, with written permission from the Plumbing Inspector before connection.4 Each building on the same lot needs an independent sewer connection, and the stated connection fee is $350 per dwelling house, store or other building.4 Monmouth County Public Health lists Bradley Beach among the municipalities it serves, and oversees septic-system and well approvals and inspections for member municipalities.315 A proposed septic system therefore needs discussion with Public Health and the borough Plumbing Inspector alongside the borough’s sewer requirement.154 State law requires health-board certification of proposed water supply and sewerage facilities before a building permit, and inspection and permission before a septic facility is covered.1617

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Borough of Bradley Beach?

We could not confirm Bradley Beach’s rules for RV occupancy, temporary camping, tiny homes or manufactured-home placement; ask the borough Zoning office about the exact structure and intended use before buying a lot.9 New Jersey permits municipal zoning ordinances to set district-specific floor-area standards, so a statewide construction-code answer does not establish the minimum home size for a Bradley Beach parcel.18 Bradley Beach also requires a borough certificate and permit before the specified occupancy, rental, lease, sale or transfer of a dwelling or dwelling unit.7 For a newly constructed building, the state construction official’s certificate of occupancy must be issued before use or occupancy.19

What are the steps to build a home in Borough of Bradley Beach?

  1. Ask Bradley Beach’s Zoning office to review the parcel and proposed use; subdivision and site-plan applications follow the borough’s land-development procedures where applicable.920
  2. Discuss sewer connection with the Plumbing Inspector and proposed water or sewerage facilities with the health authority before seeking the construction permit.416
  3. Submit the construction application to Community Development; the construction permit cannot issue until required state, county and local prior approvals are in place.221
  4. Arrange required construction-stage inspections and obtain the applicable occupancy certificate before moving into the new home.2219
  5. Before committing to a flood-prone parcel, ask the Borough Engineer, designated Floodplain Administrator, about the borough floodplain requirements.23 For property outside Bradley Beach, consult the Monmouth County guide and identify the municipality that controls zoning.10

Watch-outs

  • Bradley Beach’s personal-use owner-builder exception concerns builder registration; construction permits and inspections still apply.6
  • Bradley Beach’s residential development fee applies to new residential structures and additions; ask Community Development to calculate the assessment increase before setting the budget.2
  • We could not confirm Bradley Beach’s RV, tiny-home or temporary-camping occupancy rules; ask the borough Zoning office for a parcel-specific answer.9

Sources

  1. N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.14, Construction permits—when required (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  2. Bradley Beach Office of Community Development (bradleybeachnj.gov)
  3. Monmouth County Office of Public Health — municipal coverage (co.monmouth.nj.us)
  4. Chapter 380 Sewers (Borough of Bradley Beach), quoted and re-checked
  5. Consumer Public Health / Inspection Services, quoted and re-checked
  6. New Jersey Department of Community Affairs construction-code information (Borough of Bradley Beach), quoted and re-checked
  7. Chapter 160 Construction Codes, Uniform; Certificates of Occupancy (Borough of Bradley Beach), quoted and re-checked
  8. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Bradley Beach Zoning Office (bradleybeachnj.gov)
  10. P.L. 2013, c.106 — Municipal Land Use Law amendments (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Article V: Zone Regulations (Borough of Bradley Beach), quoted and re-checked
  12. P.L. 2013, c.106 (Municipal Land Use Law amendments) (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. P.L. 2013, c.106 (Municipal Land Use Law amendments) (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. P.L. 2013, c.106 (Municipal Land Use Law amendments) (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Monmouth County Office of Public Health — Inspection Services (co.monmouth.nj.us)
  16. New Jersey Statutes, R.S. 58:11-23 through 58:11-43 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. New Jersey Statutes, R.S. 58:11-23 through 58:11-43 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. P.L. 2013, c.106 (Municipal Land Use Law amendments) (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Chapter 270 Land Development (Borough of Bradley Beach), quoted and re-checked
  21. New Jersey Uniform Construction Code, N.J.A.C. 5:23 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. New Jersey Department of Community Affairs construction-code information (Borough of Bradley Beach), quoted and re-checked
  23. Bradley Beach Floodplain Administrator — Borough Engineer (ecode360.com)

Written October 12, 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 Bradley Beach

Borough of Bradley Beach’s own rules

  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Occupancy, rental, lease, sale, transfer, or new ownership occupancy of a dwelling, dwelling unit, or separate commercial use inside Bradley Beach borough.

    • The certificate and permit must be obtained from the Borough Code Enforcement Officer before the specified occupancy, rental, lease, sale, transfer, or new-owner occupancy occurs.
    “No person shall occupy, rent, lease, sell, transfer title or permit the occupancy, letting or sale, or allow any person to live in or upon or inhabit as a tenant or occupant or to occupy as any new owner or co-tenant or co-owner any dwelling house or dwelling unit or any portion of a premises occupied for a separate and distinct commercial use within the confines of the Borough unless such person first obtains from the Code Enforcement Officer of the Borough a certificate of occupancy and permit authorizing any of the foregoing and when any of the foregoing shall take place.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Houses and other buildings inside Bradley Beach borough on premises abutting a street in which a sewer is laid or may be laid.

    • Written permission from the Plumbing Inspector is required before connection.
    • The connection method, form, size, and materials are prescribed by the Plumbing Inspector.
    • Grease traps must be installed on all sewer lines.
    • Each building on the same lot must have its own independent sewer connection.
    • A $350 connection fee applies per dwelling house, store, or other building.
    • Connections and repairs must be supervised by the Plumbing Inspector.

    sewer connection fee: 350 USD (per dwelling house, store, or other building)

    “All premises within the Borough of Bradley Beach shall be connected to the public sewer system.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and site-plan development inside Bradley Beach borough.

    • The code contains sketch, minor, preliminary major, and final major subdivision application procedures, plus improvements, performance guaranties, inspections, and certificates of approval.
    “§ 270-8 Minor subdivision or minor site plan applications.”

Rules another office applies inside Borough of Bradley Beach

Borough of Bradley Beach does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Owner-builder exemptionConditional

    A person constructing a new home for personal use in Bradley Beach borough under New Jersey builder-registration rules.

    • The exemption is from builder registration, not a general exemption from construction permits or the Uniform Construction Code.
    • The source states that a builder cannot obtain a permit without registration, while identifying the personal-use exception.
    “The only exception is a person who constructs a new home for his or her own personal use.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction inside Bradley Beach borough through the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code and its municipal enforcing agency.

    • The borough establishes local State Uniform Construction Code officials.
    • Current state-adopted subcodes include the Building, Plumbing, Electrical, Energy, Mechanical, One- and Two-Family Dwelling, Fuel Gas, Rehabilitation, Barrier Free, and Elevator subcodes.
    • The current-code page states an adoption date of August 17, 2026.

    adoption date: 2026-08-17

    “BUILDING SUBCODE (NJAC 5:23-3.14) International Building Code/2024, NJ ed”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Construction inside Bradley Beach borough, inspected by state-licensed municipal code officials under the UCC.

    • Inspections occur periodically at required construction stages rather than continuously.
    • The source identifies footing, rough plumbing/electrical, and framing inspections as examples.
    “During construction, the code official or inspector conducts regular inspections to ensure that the work performed complies with the UCC.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    R-1 Residential Single-Family Zone inside Bradley Beach borough.

    • Single-family dwellings on lots at least 4,000 square feet and with at least 40 feet frontage may be up to 2.5 stories or 35 feet.
    • Lots under 4,000 square feet or under 40 feet frontage are limited to two stories and 27 feet.

    maximum height: 2.5 stories / 35 feet (lots at least 4,000 square feet and at least 40 feet frontage) · maximum height: 2 stories / 27 feet (lots under 4,000 square feet or under 40 feet frontage)

    “The living space of single-family dwellings on lots 4,000 square feet or greater and at least 40 feet of frontage may be up to 2 1/2 stories or 35 feet in height, and the living space of single-family dwellings on lots that are either less than 4,000 square feet or less than 40 feet of frontage shall not exceed two stories and 27 feet in height.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — Building permits for construction inside Bradley Beach borough.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Bradley Beach borough residential zones.
  • Living in an RV — Occupancy of recreational vehicles on land inside Bradley Beach borough.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on land inside Bradley Beach borough.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy on land inside Bradley Beach borough.
10 more unanswered
  • Manufactured homes
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • 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 Bradley Beach publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Monmouth County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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