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

Borough of Matawan’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, erection, or alteration of a building in Matawan borough involving construction or value in excess of $100, and changes in land use.

  • A written application is required from the owner or authorized agent.
  • The application must include the intended use and a plan.
  • The zoning permit is issued within 45 days and has a one-year life; annual renewal may be approved for up to three years.

  construction or value threshold: > 100 USD · zoning permit issuance period: 45 days · zoning permit life: 1 year

  “Zoning permits shall be secured from the Zoning Official prior to construction, erection or alteration of any building or part of the building involving a construction or value in excess of $100 and for any change in the use of land.”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Building-code enforcement inside Matawan borough through the Borough Code Enforcement Department under the New Jersey State Uniform Construction Code.

  • The enforcing agency consists of construction, building, plumbing, electrical, and fire-protection subcode officials.
  • Officials must be qualified under applicable New Jersey statutes and N.J.A.C. 5:23.

  “There is hereby established a State Uniform Construction Code Enforcing Agency to be known as the Borough Code Enforcement Department, consisting of a Construction Official, Building Subcode Officials, Plumbing Subcode Officials, Electrical Subcode Officials, Fire Protection Subcode Official and such other subcode officials for such additional subcodes as the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs, State of New Jersey, shall hereafter adopt as part of the State Uniform Construction Code.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Any land use and any building constructed, erected, altered, reoccupied, or reused inside Matawan borough.

  • An occupancy permit must be issued by the Construction Official.
  • An occupancy permit issued under the State Uniform Construction Code also satisfies the borough chapter.
  • Where sanitary sewer and/or public water is unavailable, the application is referred to the Health Official; Fire Official certification is also required.
  • An occupancy permit is required whenever a use variance is granted.

  decision period: 10 days (from written application)

  “No land shall be occupied or used, in whole or in part, and no building hereinafter constructed, erected or altered shall be occupied or used, in whole or in part, for any use whatsoever, until an occupancy permit has been issued by the Construction Official certifying that the use and building, if any, comply with the provisions of this chapter.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Matawan borough; the borough administers its own Development Regulations and zoning districts.

  “In accordance with the purpose and intent of this chapter, the Borough of Matawan is hereby divided into the following zone districts:”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Zoning districts and the official zoning map inside Matawan borough.

  • The official zoning map is filed in the Borough Clerk's office and is part of Chapter 34.
  • District boundaries generally follow lot lines, street center lines, railroad rights-of-way, or river/stream centers unless otherwise shown.
  • The code lists R-100, R-75, R-50 I, R-M, SC, R-C, GB, SB, DPD, HI, IND, RID, GO, MUD, and MUD-160 districts.

  “The boundaries of all zone districts set forth in this chapter shall be shown on a map bearing date of adoption. The map shall be filed in the office of the Borough Clerk and shall hereafter be the Official Zoning Map of the Borough. Such map is hereby declared a part of this chapter and shall be duly certified by the Borough Clerk.”

• Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

  Individual sewage disposal systems inside Matawan borough; the borough code assigns permit and certification functions to the County Health Officer.

  • The borough adopts N.J.A.C. 7:9A standards.
  • The Monmouth County Office of Public Health states it oversees septic approvals and inspections for member municipalities.

  “Permit Required. No person shall locate, construct or alter any individual sewage disposal system until a permit for the location, construction or alteration of the sewage disposal system shall have been issued by the County Health Officer.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Locating, constructing, or altering an individual sewage disposal system inside Matawan borough.

  • The permit is issued by the County Health Officer.
  • The application may require a certificate from a New Jersey-licensed professional engineer stating that the design complies with the adopted code.

  “Permit Required. No person shall locate, construct or alter any individual sewage disposal system until a permit for the location, construction or alteration of the sewage disposal system shall have been issued by the County Health Officer.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Sanitation systems serving land inside Matawan borough when public sewer is not practicable.

  • Public sanitary sewer is the general requirement.
  • Septic systems may be used when applicable but must comply with Borough and State Board of Health or other authority requirements.
  • Privies, back houses, and outside toilets are prohibited.

  “In cases where water is supplied by driven well and/or sanitary sewerage is treated by septic tank installations, such installations shall conform to the standard requirements of the Borough and State Boards of Health or other authority having jurisdiction thereof.”

• Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

  Buildings and uses inside Matawan borough.

  • Public sanitary sewer is required for all buildings or uses.
  • Public water is required wherever practicable.
  • If public service is not practicable, a statement from the agency controlling sewer and water connections is required.
  • Driven wells and septic installations must conform to Borough and State Board of Health or other applicable authority requirements.
  • Where trunk lines are installed or the Borough Engineer gives notice, connection to sanitary sewer is required within six months.

  sewer connection deadline: 6 months (after trunk-line installation or Borough Engineer notification)

  “All buildings or uses shall be served by a public sanitary sewerage facility, and a public water supply shall be required wherever practicable. A statement from the appropriate agency controlling sanitary sewer and public water connections shall be required in any case where such service is not practicable. In cases where water is supplied by driven well and/or sanitary sewerage is treated by septic tank installations, such installations shall conform to the standard requirements of the Borough and State Boards of Health or other authority having jurisdiction thereof.”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Driveways and parking access inside Matawan borough subject to site-plan review.

  • Adequate ingress and egress must be provided.
  • Driveway width is determined during site-plan review based on use, topography, and similar considerations.

  “There shall be adequate provision for ingress and egress to all parking spaces. The width of access drives or driveways shall be determined as part of site plan review depending on use, topography and similar considerations.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development within a delineated floodplain inside Matawan borough.

  • A site plan must be submitted to and approved by the Unified Planning Board.
  • A New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection stream-encroachment permit is required where appropriate.
  • All necessary borough approvals are required.
  • No certificate of occupancy may issue until approval conditions are satisfied.
  • Floodplain development is also subject to elevation, floodproofing, flood-insurance, and other chapter conditions.

  “No person or persons shall engage in development within a delineated floodplain until a stream encroachment permit has been issued by the Department of Environmental Protection where appropriate and all necessary approvals have been obtained from the Borough.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Zoning and construction-permit processes inside Matawan borough.

  • Zoning applications are written, identify intended use, and include a plan.
  • Zoning permits are issued within 45 days and last one year, with possible annual renewal for up to three years.
  • Construction permit fees must be paid before issuance and commencement of work.

  zoning permit decision period: 45 days · zoning permit duration: 1 year

  “All requests for zoning permits shall be made in writing by the owner or his authorized agent on a form to be supplied by the Zoning Official and shall include a statement of the use or intended use of the building or land and shall be accompanied by a plan which shall be prepared and submitted in accordance with the standards established by Article III, Site Plan Review, of this chapter. Zoning permits shall be issued within 45 days of application and shall have a one year life.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders seeking exemption from construction permits or inspections inside Matawan borough.
• Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Matawan borough.
• Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Matawan borough.
• Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Matawan borough.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Matawan borough.

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 Matawan 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.

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