Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Borough of Woodland Park, New Jersey
Borough of Woodland Park is a borough in Passaic County, New Jersey. Borough of Woodland Park adopts its own zoning, so inside its limits Borough of Woodland Park’s rules apply, not the county’s. 6 rules below are quoted from official sources and independently re-checked, most recently on October 23, 2026. Rules for unincorporated land are on the Passaic County page.
Answers from the rulebook for Borough of Woodland Park
Borough of Woodland Park’s own rules
Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)
Construction in Woodland Park borough, enforced by the borough's own Department of Inspections
The borough's enforcing agency administers the New Jersey State Uniform Construction Code locally; the state code's technical content is not restated on the borough page.
Enforcement is by the borough's construction official and subcode officials.
“it is hereby established in the borough of woodland park a state uniform construction code enforcing agency to be known as the department of inspections”
Certificate of occupancyRequired
Residential units and dwellings in Woodland Park borough on change of ownership, occupancy or tenant
The certificate is tied to change of ownership, occupancy or tenant in residential units and dwellings, per the Chapter 17 heading.
A temporary certificate of occupancy is provided for in § 17-8.5; the fee schedule lists a certificate of occupancy fee (see permit_fees).
“§ 17-8 certificate of occupancy and water meter requirements for change of ownership, occupancy or tenant in residential units and dwellings.”
Local zoningPresent (with conditions)
Land inside the limits of Woodland Park borough, administered under the borough's own Chapter 22 Zoning
Borough adopted Chapter 22 Zoning (history: adopted 2-15-2017 by ord. no. 2017-02, amended several times, latest amendment ord. no. 26-14 dated 2026-05-06 per the page's amendment list).
Dimensional, use and parking rules are in the attachments (schedules), which were not fully opened in this run.
“§ 22-5 r-a residence "a" district. a. permitted uses. see the schedule of permitted uses in subsection 22-4.4.”
Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)
Zoning districts of Woodland Park borough under Chapter 22 Zoning
Zone districts are listed in § 22-4.1 and the zoning map is listed as Attachment 1; the map image and schedules were not opened in this run.
“attachment 1 - zoning map attachment 2 - schedule of permitted uses attachment 3 - schedule of bulk zoning requirements”
Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)
Division of land inside Woodland Park borough
Chapter 33 governs subdivision and site plan review; its substantive standards were not opened in this run.
“chapter 33 subdivision and site plan (§ 33-1 – § 33-20.8)”
Permit feesPublished (with conditions)
Construction and certificate fees charged by Woodland Park borough
Fees are listed in the Chapter 17 fee schedule; the schedule's adoption or effective date was not stated in the excerpt.
Some fees are per square foot or per $1,000 of estimated cost, per the schedule.
certificate of occupancy letter fee: 25 USD · commercial/industrial certificate of occupancy fee: 0.04 USD per square foot ($100 minimum)
“11. certificate of occupancy: (a) letter: $25. (b) commercial/industrial building: $0.04 per square foot; $100 minimum.”
Still unanswered
We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Borough of Woodland Park or Passaic County directly.
Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption for residences in Woodland Park borough
Inspections — Construction inspections inside Woodland Park borough
Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings in Woodland Park borough residence districts
Minimum lot size — Residence districts R-A (§ 22-5) and R-B (§ 22-6) in Woodland Park borough; the main single-family district was not confirmed
Setbacks — Residence districts R-A (§ 22-5) and R-B (§ 22-6) in Woodland Park borough
18 more unanswered
Lot coverage
Building height
Living in an RV
Camping on your land
Tiny homes
Manufactured homes
Accessory dwellings
Who permits septic
Septic permit
Septic inspection
Off-grid sanitation
Well permit
Mandatory utility hookup
Agricultural exemption
Driveway access
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 Woodland Park publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Passaic County’s page lists the county offices to call.
Off-grid gear
Going off-grid in Borough of Woodland Park means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:
