Bolthole Index

Salem County, New Jersey

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

Oldmans Township, New Jersey requires a building permit for new construction under the statewide Uniform Construction Code, issued by the township's own Construction Office12. The township writes and enforces its own zoning, and its Zoning Officer issues a separate zoning permit34. Septic permits are handled by the Salem County Environmental Division5.

At a glance

Building permit
Required for new construction; issued by the township Construction Office12
Zoning
Yes, the township adopts its own zoning (Chapter 110)3
Zoning permit
Required for new construction, additions, sheds, pools, garages, decks and fences; $10.00 fee4
Minimum lot, AR district
2 acres for a detached house, 200 feet of frontage6
Minimum lot, R district
1 acre for a detached house, 150 feet of frontage7
Septic
Salem County Environmental Division reviews applications and issues permits5
Owner-builder
A state registration exemption exists for an owner building a home for personal use; permits and inspections still apply8

Who to call

Building permits

Oldmans Township Construction Office

Building, plumbing, fire and electrical permits and inspections under the Uniform Construction Code, inside Oldmans Township

856-299-0780

40 Freed Road, PO Box 416, Pedricktown, NJ 08067

Zoning

Oldmans Township Zoning Office

Zoning permits and zoning enforcement inside Oldmans Township

856-299-0780

40 Freed Road, PO Box 416, Pedricktown, NJ 08067

Septic permits

Salem County Department of Health and Human Services, Environmental Division

Reviews applications and issues permits for individual subsurface sewage disposal (septic) systems in Salem County, and inspects installations

856-935-7510

110 Fifth Street, Suite 500, Salem, NJ 08079

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 23, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Does Oldmans Township, NJ have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Yes. Oldmans Township adopts and administers its own zoning in Chapter 110 of the township code, so the rules that apply to your parcel come from the township, not from Salem County39. The code divides the township into seven districts3, and the township's zoning map is a PDF on the Zoning Office page4.

Two districts matter most for a rural buyer. In the AR agricultural residential district, a detached house needs at least 2 acres, with 200 feet of frontage6. Principal buildings there need 75 feet in front and 75 feet in the rear, and side yards must total 80 feet with at least 30 feet on each side10. In the R residential district, a detached house needs at least 1 acre and 150 feet of frontage7, with 50-foot front and rear yards and 30-foot side yards11.

Buildings in the AR and R districts may not exceed 35 feet or 2.5 stories12. Principal building coverage is capped at 8 percent of the lot in AR and 10 percent in R13. Check which district your parcel is in before you offer; the township code does not list the parcel-by-parcel boundaries online14.

Do you need a building permit in Oldmans Township, and who issues it?

Yes. New Jersey's statewide Uniform Construction Code requires a construction permit before new construction or covered work on existing buildings, and ordinary maintenance such as routine repair is excepted1516. In Oldmans Township, the township's own Construction Office provides inspection and enforcement of the construction codes2. Salem County does not issue building permits for township land1.

A complete application must be released or denied within 20 business days, and work may begin once plans are released and the permit is issued17. A certificate of occupancy from the construction official is required before a new building is used or occupied18.

Oldmans Township also requires a separate zoning permit for new construction, additions, sheds, pools, garages, decks and fencing; the fee is $10.00 and the application needs a recent property survey4. Building permit fees are set by the township and we could not confirm the amounts; ask the Construction Office19.

How do septic permits work in Oldmans Township?

Septic permits in Salem County come from the Salem County Environmental Division, whose inspectors review applications and issue permits for septic systems and perform field inspections of installations520. Reviews follow the state standards in N.J.A.C. 7:9A21. We could not confirm from the township code whether a township board of health plays any part inside Oldmans, so call the county office to confirm that it handles your address.

State law requires the board of health to certify the septic design before a new home is built, and the system must be inspected before it is covered2223. Plan ahead for soils: only about 0.1% of soils in Salem County rate as not limited for a conventional drain field, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system24.

Where a public sewer line is available within 100 feet, the state rule bars approval of private sewage disposal, subject to its availability conditions25.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Oldmans Township?

We could not confirm whether Oldmans Township allows living in an RV or tiny home on private land. The township's trailer ordinance is separate from its zoning districts, and we found no tiny-home definition in the districts we checked. Ask the Zoning Officer at 856-299-0780 before buying4.

The township does license trailer camps and campsites, which must provide 2,000 square feet of space per trailer, camp car or mobile home26. That rule covers licensed camps, not a single RV on your own lot.

A manufactured HUD home used as a dwelling is limited to use group R-5, single-family dwellings, and must meet federal construction standards27.

Building a home in Oldmans Township: the steps, in order

  1. Call the Zoning Officer to confirm your district, then check lot size, frontage and setbacks against Chapter 11046.
  2. Call the Salem County Environmental Division to start the septic application and site evaluation520.
  3. If a new well is planned, get a New Jersey DEP well permit first, then submit it with the county well application28.
  4. Apply for the zoning permit with a recent property survey4.
  5. Apply for the construction permit at the township Construction Office and wait for plans to be released172.
  6. Schedule the required inspections: footing, foundation, utility, midpoint and final29.
  7. Get the certificate of occupancy before moving in18.

If you build the home yourself, New Jersey requires an owner affidavit before the certificate of occupancy is issued30.

What to check before you buy land in Oldmans Township

Start with flood hazard. Development in mapped flood hazard areas needs a floodplain development permit, and new construction or fill can require an engineering analysis by a licensed professional engineer31.

Water service is the next question. Where the township water system is built along a street, buildings on that street must connect, and the new service connection fee is $2,150 on top of installation costs3233. Applications go to the township treasurer at least three days before work starts34.

If the land fronts a Salem County road, a driveway entrance needs a Salem County Road Access Application before work begins35. A driveway onto a state highway needs state access approval36.

Subdividing is more involved: subdivisions and site plans must comply with the zone requirements unless a variance is granted37, and Salem County Planning Board review applies in addition to the township's38.

For money questions, Salem County's effective property tax rate is 3% and the median bill is $6,757 a year3940. For land outside the township, see the Salem County page.

Watch-outs

  • Oldmans Township's zoning map is dated October 1988 and the current map is kept for inspection at the township offices, so confirm your parcel's district with the Zoning Officer before relying on lot-size numbers3.
  • Septic permits are not issued by the township; we could not confirm from the township code whether any local board of health also reviews systems, so call the Salem County Environmental Division at 856-935-751020.
  • We could not confirm township rules on accessory dwellings, short-term rentals or RV use; ask the Zoning Officer before planning any of them4.
  • A zoning permit and a construction permit are separate approvals with separate fees, and the township requires both for new construction42.

Sources

  1. NJ DCA - The New Jersey State Uniform Construction Code (2026 county census)
  2. Oldmans Township Construction Office (oldmanstownship.com)
  3. Article III: Zoning Districts and Zoning Map - Township of Oldmans, NJ (eCode360) (Oldmans Township), quoted and re-checked
  4. Oldmans Township Zoning Office (oldmanstownship.com)
  5. Sewage Systems | Salem County NJ - Health & Human Services, quoted and re-checked
  6. Article IV: District Regulations - Township of Oldmans, NJ (eCode360) (Oldmans Township), quoted and re-checked
  7. Article IV: District Regulations - Township of Oldmans, NJ (eCode360) (Oldmans Township), quoted and re-checked
  8. Builder Registration and New Home Warranty for Builders (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. P.L. 2013, c.106 — Municipal Land Use Law amendments (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Article IV: District Regulations - Township of Oldmans, NJ (eCode360) (Oldmans Township), quoted and re-checked
  11. Article IV: District Regulations - Township of Oldmans, NJ (eCode360) (Oldmans Township), quoted and re-checked
  12. Article IV: District Regulations - Township of Oldmans, NJ (eCode360) (Oldmans Township), quoted and re-checked
  13. Article IV: District Regulations - Township of Oldmans, NJ (eCode360) (Oldmans Township), quoted and re-checked
  14. Article III: Zoning Districts and Zoning Map - Township of Oldmans, NJ (eCode360) (Oldmans Township), quoted and re-checked
  15. N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.14, Construction permits—when required (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. The New Jersey State Uniform Construction Code, quoted and re-checked
  17. The New Jersey State Uniform Construction Code, quoted and re-checked
  18. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. New Jersey Uniform Construction Code, N.J.A.C. 5:23 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Salem County Department of Health and Human Services, Environmental Division (health.salemcountynj.gov)
  21. Sewage Systems, 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. New Jersey Statutes, R.S. 58:11-23 through 58:11-43 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  25. N.J.A.C. 7:9A Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems, quoted and re-checked
  26. Chapter 118: Mobile Homes - Township of Oldmans, NJ (eCode360) (Oldmans Township), quoted and re-checked
  27. Manufactured/Modular Buildings Program (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  28. Well Permits and Private Well Testing Act Program, quoted and re-checked
  29. The New Jersey State Uniform Construction Code, quoted and re-checked
  30. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  31. Chapter 94: Flood Damage Prevention - Township of Oldmans, NJ (eCode360) (Oldmans Township), quoted and re-checked
  32. Chapter 166: Water - Township of Oldmans, NJ (eCode360) (Oldmans Township), quoted and re-checked
  33. Chapter 166: Water - Township of Oldmans, NJ (eCode360) (Oldmans Township), quoted and re-checked
  34. Chapter 166: Water - Township of Oldmans, NJ (eCode360) (Oldmans Township), quoted and re-checked
  35. Salem County Road Access Application Package, quoted and re-checked
  36. Major Access Permits (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  37. Article IV: District Regulations - Township of Oldmans, NJ (eCode360) (Oldmans Township), quoted and re-checked
  38. Land Development Standards of the County of Salem, New Jersey, quoted and re-checked
  39. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  40. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 23, 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 Oldmans Township

Oldmans Township’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Oldmans township's limits: the township adopts and administers its own zoning under Chapter 110 Land Use

    • Chapter 110 (sections 110-1 to 110-84) contains the township's zoning, design standards and subdivision rules.
    • Zoning map is dated October 1988 and the current map is stated to be available for inspection in the township offices (section 110-12 editor's note).
    “for the purpose of this chapter, the township of oldmans is hereby divided into seven districts as follows:”
  • Zoning districtsPartial

    Zoning districts inside Oldmans township limits

    • Section 110-11 states seven districts; the list itself was not captured in the extracted text.
    • The official zoning map is not published online in the code; the current map is stated to be on file in township offices.
    “the current zoning map is available for inspection in the township offices”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Detached single-family dwellings in the AR agricultural residential district inside Oldmans township (section 110-16)

    • Lot frontage 200 feet, lot width 200 feet and lot depth 225 feet also apply to AR detached dwellings.
    • The same table lists 5 acres for churches and schools in the R column and 75 acres for golf courses.

    minimum lot area: >= 2 acres · minimum lot frontage: >= 200 feet · minimum lot width: >= 200 feet · minimum lot depth: >= 225 feet

    “detached dwellings ar district detached dwellings r district churches and schools golf courses principal building minimum lot area (acres) 2 1 5 75 lot frontage (feet) 200 150 300 100 lot width (feet) 200 150 300 600 lot depth (feet) 225 200 600 1,000”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • Specified — Detached single-family dwellings in the R residential district inside Oldmans township (section 110-16)
      “detached dwellings ar district detached dwellings r district churches and schools golf courses principal building minimum lot area (acres) 2 1 5 75 lot frontage (feet) 200 150 300 100 lot width (feet) 200 150 300 600 lot depth (feet) 225 200 600 1,000”
    • Specified — Uses served by public water facilities in the village-district provisions of section 110-17 inside Oldmans township
      “all uses to be serviced by public water facilities principal building minimum lot area (square feet) 10,000 lot frontage (feet) 100 lot width (feet) 100 lot depth (feet) 100”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Principal buildings in the AR agricultural residential district inside Oldmans township (section 110-16)

    • Side yards in the AR district shall total 80 feet with a minimum side yard dimension of 30 feet (note 1 to the table).
    • Accessory building minimum distances: 15 feet to side line, 20 feet to rear line, 10 feet to other building.

    front yard: >= 75 feet · rear yard: >= 75 feet · side yards total: >= 80 feet (minimum 30 feet per side (note 1))

    “side yard (feet) see note 1 30 100 200 front yard (feet) 75 50 100 200 rear yard (feet) 75 50 100 200”
    2 more reviewed findings on this topic
    • District specific (with conditions) — Principal buildings in the R residential district inside Oldmans township (section 110-16)
      “side yard (feet) see note 1 30 100 200 front yard (feet) 75 50 100 200 rear yard (feet) 75 50 100 200”
    • District specific (with conditions) — Principal buildings in the village-district provisions of section 110-17 served by public water facilities inside Oldmans township
      “side yard, each (feet) 15 front yard (feet) 30 rear yard (feet) 25 accessory building minimum distance to side line (feet) 10 distance to rear line (feet) 10 distance to other building (feet) 10”
  • Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Single-family detached dwellings in the AR and R districts inside Oldmans township (section 110-16)

    • AR district: principal building coverage 8 percent and accessory building coverage 8 percent. R district: principal building coverage 10 percent and accessory building coverage 10 percent.

    maximum building coverage of principal building, AR: <= 8 percent · maximum building coverage of principal building, R: <= 10 percent

    “maximum building coverage of principal building 8% 10% 8% 1% building coverage of accessory building(s) 8% 10% 2% 0.5%”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Building heightSpecified

    All buildings in the AR and R districts inside Oldmans township (section 110-16)

    • Churches shall not exceed 55 feet in height.
    • Height may be varied as provided in section 110-42 of the chapter.

    maximum building height: <= 35 feet (churches 55 feet) · maximum stories: <= 2.5 stories

    “no building shall exceed 35 feet in height and 2.5 stories, except that churches shall not exceed 55 feet in height, and except further as provided in § 110-42 of this chapter.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Buildings in the village-district provisions of section 110-17 served by public water facilities inside Oldmans township
      “no building shall exceed 35 feet in height and 2.5 stories, except that churches shall not exceed 55 feet in height, and except further as provided in § 110-42 of this chapter.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Trailer camps, campsites and mobile home parks that the township licenses inside Oldmans township; not a general camping rule

    • Trailer camp or campsite use requires a township license after the township committee inspects the premises (Chapter 118).
    • Each campground or campsite must provide a minimum of 2,000 square feet per trailer, camp car or mobile home.

    minimum space per trailer, camp car or mobile home in campground or campsite: >= 2000 square feet (campgrounds and campsites established under chapter 118)

    “every campground or campsite hereafter established shall provide a minimum of 2,000 square feet of space per trailer, camp car or mobile home.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Trailer camps, campsites and mobile home parks in Oldmans township only; no general off-grid sanitation rule was found in the pages read

    • Applies to trailer camps and mobile home parks; does not address single-family off-grid homes.
    “it shall be unlawful to permit any wastewater or material from sinks, baths, showers or other plumbing fixtures in camp or trailers to be deposited upon the surface of the ground, and all such fixtures, when in use, must be connected to the sewage system.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupWater (with conditions)

    Buildings on any street, road or highway where the Oldmans township water supply and distribution system is constructed

    • Connection required to the water supply main where the system is constructed; no distance-based availability rule was found in the chapter read.
    • Section 166-8: installation charges do not apply to connections extended up to the building lines of owners who subscribe to water service at the time of construction of the water mains.
    • New service connection fee of $2,150 applies at permit issuance (section 166-18).

    new service connection fee: 2150 USD (in addition to installation costs)

    “all buildings located upon any street, road or highway in which the township water supply and distribution system is constructed shall be required to be connected with said water supply main.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivisions and site plans inside Oldmans township

    • Each lot in a subdivision or site plan must comply with the zone requirements unless a variance is granted.
    • Subdivision procedures are in Chapter 110 Article V and VI (not read).
    “no subdivision or site plan approval may be given unless each lot contained in the subdivision or site plan complies with all the requirements of the zone in which the lot is located, unless a variance is subsequently granted.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in mapped flood hazard areas inside Oldmans township

    • Applies to new construction, substantial improvement and placement of fill in riverine flood hazard areas where floodways are not designated.
    • Floodway encroachments need an engineering analysis by a licensed professional engineer (section 94-103.10).
    • Ordinary building maintenance and minor work are evaluated through a floodplain development permit (section 94-101.5).
    “in riverine flood hazard areas where design flood elevations are specified but floodways have not been designated, the floodplain administrator shall not permit any new construction, substantial improvement or other development, including the placement of fill, unless the applicant submits an engineering analysis prepared by a licensed professional engineer”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Water service permit and connection fees in Oldmans township

    • Fees apply to the township water system only; building, zoning and septic permit fees not located.
    • Chapter 87 Fees (section 87-1) not opened within budget.

    new service connection fee: 2150 USD (in addition to installation costs or road-surface replacement charges) · water service turn-on/turn-off fee: 50 USD per occurrence

    “e. new service connection fee: $2,150. f. water service turn-on/turn-off fee: $50 per occurrence.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Water service permit applications in Oldmans township

    • Applications are made to the township treasurer at least three days before work begins.
    • Building and septic permit process not established in the pages read.
    “must be made, in writing, to the township treasurer on forms supplied by him and shall be made at least three days before ground shall be broken for the purpose or before work shall be commenced”

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — Building permit for new residential construction inside Oldmans township
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for building a home inside Oldmans township
  • Building code adopted — Building code adoption for construction inside Oldmans township
  • Inspections — Building inspections for new homes inside Oldmans township
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Oldmans township
11 more unanswered
  • Minimum dwelling size
  • Living in an RV
  • Tiny homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • 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 Oldmans Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Salem County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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