Bolthole Index

Morris County, New Jersey

Building permits, zoning and septic in Randolph Township, New Jersey

Randolph Township, New Jersey requires construction permits for new homes and other regulated work through its Office of Construction Codes.12 Randolph Township administers zoning, and its Department of Health handles local septic permits.34 For land in Morris County outside Randolph Township, use the Morris County guide to identify the applicable municipal and health authorities.56

At a glance

Building permits
Required for new homes and other UCC-regulated work; township Construction Codes issues them12
Zoning
Township zoning applies; Planning / Zoning reviews compliance73
Septic permits
Randolph Township Department of Health48
Camping
Trailer camps and campsites prohibited9
Residential lot size
RLD-A district: minimum 80,000 square feet10
Wells
Local permits required for well work; DEP regulates drilling11
Owner-built new home
Personal-use builder-registration exception; construction permits still required121

Who to call

Building permits

Randolph Township Office of Construction Codes

Construction permits, plan review, inspections and occupancy certificates inside Randolph Township

973-989-7070

502 Millbrook Avenue Randolph NJ 07869

Zoning

Randolph Township Planning / Zoning

Township zoning review, zoning permits and land-use board administration

973-989-7080

502 Millbrook Avenue Randolph NJ 07869

Septic permits

Randolph Township Health Department

Local septic and well approvals inside Randolph Township

973-989-7050

Floodplain permits

Randolph Township Division of Engineering

Township engineering, utility infrastructure and guidance concerning NJDEP stormwater and floodplain regulations

973-989-7066

502 Millbrook Avenue Randolph NJ 07869

Roads & driveways

Morris County Engineering & Transportation Division

County-road right-of-way work and road-opening applications

(973) 285-6750

[email protected]

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Randolph Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Randolph Township, NJ?

Randolph Township requires a construction permit before new-home construction and other work regulated by the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code begins.1 Ordinary maintenance is exempt, while minor work requires a permit but may begin after notice to the enforcing agency.1

Randolph Township’s Office of Construction Codes issues construction permits, reviews building and renovation plans, conducts inspections and issues occupancy or approval certificates.2 A new building cannot be occupied before the construction official issues a certificate of occupancy.13 Starting required-permit work without approval can bring township fines of up to $2,000 per day until construction permits are issued.14

Who is the Randolph Township building department?

The Randolph Township Office of Construction Codes is the building department for property inside the township; call 973-989-7070 for construction-permit and inspection questions.2 Planning / Zoning, at 973-989-7080, reviews development and construction applications for zoning compliance before construction permits are issued.3 Septic questions go to Randolph Township’s Health Department at 973-989-7050.15

For a proposed house, bring the construction office a description of the project and ask which subcode applications and prior approvals apply.14 New Jersey construction permits cannot issue until required state, county and local approvals are in place, so zoning review and septic approval belong in the planning stage.1617

Does Randolph Township have zoning and minimum lot sizes?

Randolph Township has its own Land Development Code, and Planning / Zoning administers zoning review and zoning permits.73 The parcel’s district matters: residential uses in the RLD-A Single Family Residential District require a minimum lot size of 80,000 square feet.10 RLD-A building height is limited to the lesser of two and a half stories or 35 feet.18

Coverage limits also differ: the R-7 Single-Family Attached Inclusionary Zone caps impervious coverage at 40% and building coverage at 20%; the R-12 Single-Family Attached Inclusionary Zone allows 60% and 25%, respectively.1920 Ask Planning / Zoning to identify the parcel’s district and applicable setbacks before designing the house or driveway; New Jersey setback standards depend on municipal development regulations.321

How do septic permits work in Randolph Township?

Randolph Township’s Department of Health issues local septic permits under the state standards adopted by township ordinance.4 A new septic system must be designed by a licensed professional engineer, who submits the application and proposed design to the Health Department; construction or connection must wait for authorization.15 Health approval of the proposed water supply and sewage facilities is required before the building permit can issue or construction begin.17

Randolph septic permits cover locating, constructing, repairing or altering a system, remain valid for 1 year, and require plans showing all floodplain areas.8 Septic facilities must be inspected and authorized before being covered.22 A new Randolph system also needs completed Health Department inspections and a certificate of compliance before use.23 Abandoning an existing system requires a separate township abandonment permit.8

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Randolph Township?

Randolph Township prohibits trailer camps and campsites, including occupying or using premises where those activities are conducted.9 That prohibition should be addressed with Planning / Zoning before planning temporary accommodation on a building site.93 We could not confirm an express rule covering every private-lot RV or tiny-home occupancy proposal; ask Randolph Planning / Zoning for a determination for the parcel and proposed use.3

Randolph’s accessory-apartment definition requires at least 500 square feet for classification as an accessory apartment within a single-family house.24 That threshold does not establish permission for an accessory apartment in every district or a general minimum size for a detached tiny home.24 New Jersey permits municipal floor-area standards, so ask Planning / Zoning about the intended dwelling type rather than applying the accessory-apartment threshold to every home.253

Building a home in Randolph Township: what are the steps?

  1. Ask Randolph Planning / Zoning to review the proposed use and development for zoning compliance.3
  2. If using septic, have a licensed professional engineer submit the design to Randolph Health and obtain the required health certification before the construction permit.1517
  3. Submit the construction-permit application to Randolph Construction Codes and secure required prior approvals before permit issuance.1416
  4. Schedule inspections at the required construction stages and provide Randolph’s new-construction framing checklist at the framing inspection.2614
  5. Complete septic compliance requirements and obtain the construction official’s certificate of occupancy before using the new home.2313

An owner building a new home for personal use may qualify for the state builder-registration exception, but construction permits and inspections still apply.12126 An owner-built home also requires the prescribed affidavit before a certificate of occupancy can issue.27

What stays with Morris County, and what should Randolph buyers check?

County-road access remains a Morris County issue: after Planning Board approval, proposed driveway, roadway or utility construction within a county right-of-way requires an application to County Engineering 10 days before site construction.28 State-highway access instead falls under NJDOT’s access-permit rules.29 County subdivision review may also apply; minor subdivisions without county-road frontage are exempt from formal county review.30

Randolph requires permits for well work, and DEP regulates drilling and approval before well use; the township lists a $200 well-drilling fee.11 Ask Randolph Engineering about water and sewer infrastructure and NJDEP floodplain requirements before fixing a building location.31 We could not confirm a general mandatory public-water or sewer connection rule for every new Randolph home; discuss the proposed service arrangement with Engineering and Health.3115

Watch-outs

  • Randolph septic approvals come from Randolph Township Health, so contact that department for a township parcel.4
  • The RLD-A lot-size rule applies to that district; ask Randolph Planning / Zoning for the district and standards governing your parcel.103
  • Randolph septic plans must delineate floodplain areas; that requirement alone does not settle the full floodplain approval path, which should be discussed with Township Engineering.3231

Sources

  1. N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.14, Construction permits—when required (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  2. Randolph Township Office of Construction Codes (randolphnj.org)
  3. Randolph Township Planning / Zoning (randolphnj.org)
  4. randolphnj.org (Randolph Township), quoted and re-checked
  5. July 2020 Zoning Report, quoted and re-checked
  6. NJDEP Permitting Information, quoted and re-checked
  7. Land Use Regulations (Randolph Township), quoted and re-checked
  8. randolphnj.org (Randolph Township), quoted and re-checked
  9. Sec. 30-3. Trailer camps prohibited (Randolph Township), quoted and re-checked
  10. 15-14A.4. Area and bulk requirements (Randolph Township), quoted and re-checked
  11. Septic Systems / Wells (Randolph Township), quoted and re-checked
  12. Builder Registration and New Home Warranty for Builders (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Construction Permits (Randolph Township), quoted and re-checked
  15. Randolph Township Health Department (randolphnj.org)
  16. New Jersey Uniform Construction Code, N.J.A.C. 5:23 (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. library.municode.com (Randolph Township), quoted and re-checked
  19. 15-20B.3. Area and bulk requirements (Randolph Township), quoted and re-checked
  20. 15-20.G.3. Area and bulk requirements (Randolph Township), quoted and re-checked
  21. P.L. 2013, c.106 (Municipal Land Use Law amendments) (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. New Jersey Statutes, R.S. 58:11-23 through 58:11-43 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. Septic Systems / Wells (Randolph Township), quoted and re-checked
  24. library.municode.com (Randolph Township), quoted and re-checked
  25. P.L. 2013, c.106 (Municipal Land Use Law amendments) (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  26. New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, New Home Warranty—Consumer Information (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  27. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  28. Morris County Land Development Standards, quoted and re-checked
  29. Major Access Permits (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  30. Land Development Review, quoted and re-checked
  31. Randolph Township Division of Engineering (randolphnj.org)
  32. randolphnj.org (Randolph Township), quoted and re-checked

Written October 11, 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 Randolph Township

Randolph Township’s own rules

  • InspectionsRequired

    Building and renovation work and land-use compliance inside Randolph Township.

    • The office conducts building and renovation plan reviews; subcode officials periodically inspect structures and land and issue violation notices for non-compliance.
    “Conducts inspections and issues Certificates of Occupancy and Certificates of Approval”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Randolph Township; the township adopts and publishes its own land-use regulations and zoning code.

    • Randolph’s official page directs users to the township Land Development Code published by Municipal Code Corporation.
    “Randolph’s land use regulations have been converted to electronic format and are published on an external website maintained by Municipal Code Corporation.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Accessory apartments created within single-family houses in Randolph Township.

    • The 500-square-foot threshold is for classification as an accessory apartment; the opened source does not establish a general minimum size for every dwelling type or district.

    minimum floor area for accessory apartment classification: >= 500 square feet

    “A minimum floor area of 500 square feet is required for a unit to be classified as an accessory apartment.”
  • Camping on your landProhibited

    Trailer camps and campsites inside Randolph Township.

    • The prohibition covers operating, working in, occupying, or directly or indirectly utilizing premises in which a trailer camp or campsite is conducted.
    “No person shall conduct or carry on the business of the operation of a trailer camp or camp site, or work in, occupy, or directly or indirectly in any manner utilize any place or premises in which is conducted or carried on a trailer camp or camp site within the township.”
  • Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

    Individual subsurface sewage disposal systems inside Randolph Township; the Randolph Township Department of Health issues and administers the permits under state standards adopted by township ordinance.

    • The township ordinance adopts N.J.A.C. 7:9A-1.1 et seq. by reference.
    • The ordinance defines the State Code’s Board of Health as the Department of Health of the Township of Randolph.
    “Board of Health means the Department of Health of the Township of Randolph.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Locating, constructing, repairing, altering, or abandoning an individual subsurface sewage disposal system inside Randolph Township.

    • No person may locate, construct, repair, or alter a system until the Department of Health issues a permit.
    • Permits are valid for one year from issuance; expired permits require a new permit.
    • Plans submitted for a permit must delineate all floodplain areas.
    • A separate abandonment permit is required before abandoning a septic system.

    permit validity: 1 year (Upon expiration, a new permit must be obtained.)

    “No person shall locate, construct, repair or alter any individual subsurface sewage system until a permit for the location, construction or alteration of the individual subsurface sewage disposal system shall have been issued by the Department of Health.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    New individual septic systems inside Randolph Township.

    • All inspections must be completed by the health department before a new system is deemed compliant.
    • A certificate of compliance is required before operation or use.
    • The certificate requires a written statement from a New Jersey-licensed professional engineer.
    “All inspections must be completed by the health department before a new system is deemed to be in compliance with the law.”
  • Well permitRequired

    Well work and new well drilling inside Randolph Township.

    • The township page states permits are required for all work, however minor, connected with septic systems and wells.
    • The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection regulates well-drilling procedures, licensed firms must drill wells, and wells must be approved by DEP before use.
    • The township page lists a $200 well-drilling fee.

    new well permit fee: 200 USD

    “In order to ensure the integrity and safe operation of all septic systems and wells within the township, permits are required for all work, however minor, done in connection with these systems.”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    Individual septic-system development inside Randolph Township where floodplain areas are present.

    • Any individual subsurface sewage disposal system plans submitted with a permit application must delineate all floodplain areas.
    • This claim addresses the documented septic-plan requirement and does not establish the complete floodplain-development permitting regime.
    “Any individual subsurface sewage disposal system plans submitted with an application to obtain a permit shall delineate all floodplain areas.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Construction-permit applications inside Randolph Township.

    • The township identifies the Office of Construction Codes as the issuing office and provides a permit FAQ/process page.
    • A new-construction form must be presented to the building inspector when the framing inspection is scheduled.
    • Working without a required permit may result in penalties or fines up to $2,000 per day until permits are issued and may require zoning approval, variance, or Planning Board approval before a permit is issued.

    maximum stated daily penalty: <= 2000 USD per day (The page states fines may be up to this amount.)

    “You may subject yourself to penalties and/or fines of up to $2,000 a day until permits are issued.”

Rules another office applies inside Randolph Township

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

  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Residential uses in the RLD-A Single Family Residential District inside Randolph Township.

    • The cited district provision also states a minimum tract area of 8 acres and a separate 1.5-acre minimum lot size for commercial uses.

    minimum residential lot size: >= 80000 square feet

    “Minimum lot size for residential uses: 80,000 square feet.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    R-12 Single-Family Attached Inclusionary Zone inside Randolph Township.

    • Maximum impervious coverage is 60 percent of total lot area; maximum building coverage is 25 percent of total lot area.

    maximum impervious coverage: <= 60 percent of total lot area · maximum building coverage: <= 25 percent of total lot area

    “L. Maximum impervious coverage : sixty percent (60%) of total lot area. M. Maximum building coverage : twenty-five percent (25%) of total lot area.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — R-7 Single-Family Attached Inclusionary Zone inside Randolph Township.
      “L. Maximum impervious coverage: forty percent (40%) of total lot area. M. Maximum building coverage: twenty percent (20%) of total lot area.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    RLD-A Single Family Residential District inside Randolph Township.

    • The maximum is the lesser of two and one-half stories or 35 feet.

    maximum building height: <= 35 feet (Whichever is less: two and one-half stories or 35 feet.)

    “The maximum building height shall not exceed two and a half (2½) stories or thirty-five (35) feet, whichever is less.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemptions from construction-permit or contractor requirements inside Randolph Township.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Randolph Township.
  • Manufactured homes — Manufactured-home occupancy inside Randolph Township.
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling or accessory apartment occupancy inside Randolph Township.
  • Off-grid sanitation — Off-grid sanitation systems inside Randolph Township.
5 more unanswered
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • 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 Randolph Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Morris County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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