Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Denville Township, New Jersey

Denville Township’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Buildings or parts of buildings erected, constructed, altered, or moved inside Denville township.

  • Applications must state intended use; new-structure plans require scaled plans and a licensed New Jersey land surveyor plot plan.
  • Required plans must generally be signed by a licensed architect or engineer, but the owner of an owner-occupied one-family dwelling may sign.
  • Planning Board site or plot plan approval must precede a building permit when required.
  • Permits expire one year after issuance and may be revoked for nonconforming construction.

  “No building or part thereof shall be erected, constructed, altered or moved until a building permit has been issued by the Building Inspector.”

• Owner-builder exemptionConditional

  Plans, specifications, and plot plans for an owner-occupied one-family dwelling in Denville township.

  • The owner may sign only for a one-family dwelling occupied by the owner.
  • If prepared by the owner or another person rather than the specified licensed professional, the owner must file an affidavit in accordance with state law.

  “All plans, specifications and plot plans required by this section and by any officer or body of the Township charged with the enforcement and administration of this article shall be signed by a duly licensed architect of the State of New Jersey or by a licensed professional engineer where permitted by law, or by the owner of a one-family dwelling only if occupied by the owner.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Occupation or use of land and buildings inside Denville township, including buildings erected or altered and changes of use.

  • The certificate must state compliance with applicable Township and state requirements.
  • Certificates are to be granted or denied within one week after application is received.
  • A change in use requires a new certificate unless waived by the Planning Board.
  • A performance guarantee may support issuance when adverse weather delays certain site improvements.
  • Original certificate fee is 5% of the building permit fee or $5, whichever is larger; copies cost $1.

  original certificate fee: 5% of building permit fee or $5, whichever is larger USD · certificate copy fee: 1 USD

  “No land shall be occupied or used and no building hereafter erected or altered shall be occupied or used in whole or in part for any purpose whatsoever until a certificate of occupancy shall have been issued by the Building Inspector.”

• Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

  Land inside Denville township; the Township has adopted and administers Chapter 600 Land Use, including zoning regulations.

  • Zoning and land-use requirements vary by zone district and applicable overlay or redevelopment provisions.

  “No land may be used and no structure may be erected, raised, moved, extended, enlarged, altered, demolished, or used, for any purpose other than that permitted herein for the zone in which it is located, and all construction shall be in conformity with the regulations provided for the zone in which such construction is located.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  One-family residences in the R-2 Zone, Denville township.

  • The schedule identifies the primary use as One-Family Residence.

  minimum lot area: >= 15000 square feet · minimum lot width: >= 100 feet · minimum lot depth: >= 150 feet

  “R-2 One-Family Residence 15,000 100 150 35 17 50 35 2 No”

• SetbacksSpecified

  One-family residences in the R-2 Zone, Denville township.

  • The schedule identifies the primary use as One-Family Residence.

  front yard: >= 35 feet · side yard: >= 17 feet · rear yard: >= 50 feet

  “R-2 One-Family Residence 15,000 100 150 35 17 50 35 2 No”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Accessory buildings and utility structures in all single- and two-family residential zones inside Denville township.

  • For lots under 7,500 square feet: up to 6%, not exceeding 450 square feet.
  • For lots from 7,500 to 40,249 square feet: up to 6%, not exceeding 1,000 square feet.
  • For lots from 40,250 to 80,999 square feet: up to 3%, not exceeding 1,600 square feet.
  • For lots of 81,000 square feet or more: up to 2%, not exceeding 2,000 square feet.
  • Barn structures on farm-assessed lots are excluded from maximum size limitations.

  “Within all single- and two-family residential zones, accessory building(s) and utility structure(s) shall meet the following coverage limitations:”

• Building heightSpecified

  One-family residences in the R-2 Zone, Denville township.

  • The schedule identifies the primary use as One-Family Residence.

  maximum height: <= 35 feet

  “R-2 One-Family Residence 15,000 100 150 35 17 50 35 2 No”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Parking or occupancy of mobile homes and travel trailers on land inside Denville township.

  • Parking of mobile homes and travel trailers is generally prohibited.
  • An exception exists for one unoccupied travel trailer owned by the property owner or one travel trailer occupied by nonpaying guests of the property owner for no longer than two weeks in any calendar year.
  • The trailer must be parked within the applicable zone yard setbacks.

  maximum guest occupancy period: <= 2 weeks per calendar year (one travel trailer occupied by nonpaying guests)

  “Notwithstanding any other provisions of this article, the parking of mobile homes and travel trailers in any zone is prohibited, except that the prohibition should not extend to one unoccupied travel trailer owned by the property owner or one travel trailer occupied by nonpaying guests of the property owner for a period not longer than two weeks in any calendar year, if parked within the yard setback requirements of the zone in which it is parked.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Temporary travel-trailer occupancy on land inside Denville township.

  • The provision addresses travel-trailer parking rather than camping generally.
  • Only one qualifying travel trailer is excepted.
  • Guest occupancy may not exceed two weeks in a calendar year and setback requirements apply.

  maximum period: <= 2 weeks per calendar year (nonpaying guests in one travel trailer)

  “Notwithstanding any other provisions of this article, the parking of mobile homes and travel trailers in any zone is prohibited, except that the prohibition should not extend to one unoccupied travel trailer owned by the property owner or one travel trailer occupied by nonpaying guests of the property owner for a period not longer than two weeks in any calendar year, if parked within the yard setback requirements of the zone in which it is parked.”

• Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

  Affordable accessory apartments on residential-use properties in all Denville residential zones.

  • Units must be affordable to very-low-, low-, or moderate-income households.
  • The unit must be rented to a qualifying household at initial occupancy and for at least 10 years.
  • Rents must be affordable under applicable FHA, COAH, and UHAC regulations.
  • A deed or declaration of covenants and restrictions must be approved by the Township Attorney and recorded before the building permit or certificate of occupancy, as applicable.
  • The appropriate utility authority must certify sufficient water and sewer capacity; well or septic locations must meet applicable NJDEP standards.
  • The program does not restrict the number of bedrooms.

  minimum affordability period: >= 10 years (after initial occupancy)

  “Provided the units are affordable to very-low-, low- and moderate-income households, accessory apartments shall be permitted as conditional uses in all residential zones provided the accessory apartment is located on a property with a residential use.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Building-permit process inside Denville township.

  • Applications are filed by the owner or agent and must state intended use.
  • New-structure applications require scaled plans and a licensed New Jersey land-surveyor plot plan.
  • Plans must conform to Chapter 600, other applicable Township ordinances, and state regulations.
  • Planning Board approval is required first where site or plot-plan approval is required.
  • Permits expire one year after issuance.

  “All applications for a building permit shall be filed by the owner or his agent and shall state the intended use of the structure and the land.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Denville Township or Morris County directly.

• Inspections — Building inspection requirements for construction inside Denville township.
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Denville township.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Denville township.
• Who permits septic — Individual sewage disposal systems inside Denville township.
• Septic permit — Locating, designing, constructing, installing, altering, repairing, or operating individual sewage disposal systems inside Denville township.

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 Denville Township 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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