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

Borough of Fanwood’s own rules

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, alteration, renovation, rehabilitation, maintenance, occupancy, use of buildings and structures, and approval of premanufactured systems inside Fanwood borough when subject to the Uniform Construction Code Act.

  • No covered activity may commence until the Construction Official grants a construction permit.
  • Separate applications are required for each building or structure.
  • Fees must be paid before issuance.
  • Applications must comply with N.J.A.C. 5:23 et seq.
  • Certain improvements may be exempt under § 184-46 unless otherwise required by the Uniform Construction Code.

  “When required. No activity subject to the Uniform Construction Code Act shall commence until a construction permit has been granted by the Construction Official.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Facilities, changes in use, and modifications of utilization inside Fanwood borough when a certificate of occupancy or equivalent is required by the Uniform Construction Code.

  • The certificate must be applied for and granted before occupation or use as required by N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.23.
  • A change in use or modification of utilization requires a new certificate.
  • Fees must be paid before issuance.
  • Prior written approvals may be required from the Zoning Official, Borough Engineer, Soil Conservation District, and other jurisdictions.
  • Required subdivision, site-plan, or variance improvements must be completed before issuance unless the chapter provides otherwise.

  “When required. Certificates of occupancy, or other forms thereof (e.g., certificates of continued occupancy, certificates of approval, certificates of compliance, etc.) shall be applied for and granted by the Construction Official before the facility is occupied or used, as required by the Uniform Construction Code, N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.23. Any change in use or modification of utilization shall require a new certificate of occupancy.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Fanwood borough; the Borough adopts and administers Chapter 184 Land Use and zoning regulations.

  “The Land Use Ordinance of the Borough of Fanwood, adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Fanwood 12-28-2000 by Ord. No. 00-16R, and amendments thereto, as revised and codified by General Code Publishers Corp., and renumbered as Chapter 184, is hereby approved, adopted, ordained and enacted as the Land Use Legislation of the Borough of Fanwood.”

• Camping on your landLimited

  Temporary occupancy of recreational vehicles inside Fanwood borough.

  • The recreational vehicle must be at an occupied dwelling and be the only recreational vehicle there.
  • A permit must be obtained within 48 hours after arrival.
  • The permit period cannot exceed six weeks.
  • A permit is limited to one per owner, operator, or occupant per twelve months and cannot involve a charge.

  maximum period: 6 weeks (from application)

  “The operator of a recreational vehicle may make application to the Chief of Police for a permit to park his/her recreational vehicle on the premises of any occupied dwelling, provided that such recreational vehicle is the only recreational vehicle on said premises, and provided that such application is made within 48 hours after arrival. Such permit, when granted, shall limit the time of parking to a period not longer than six weeks from the time of application therefor.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivision of land inside Fanwood borough before filing a plat, deed, map, or other subdivision instrument with the county recording officer.

  • A final subdivision application must be submitted to and approved by Board resolution.
  • Applications require the chapter's drawings, documents, fees, and other data.
  • Minor and major subdivision procedures differ.
  • A subdivision plat will not be accepted for county filing until Borough Board approval is indicated or a certificate is issued.

  “Subdivision approval, when required. Prior to the filing of any plat, deed, map or other recorded instrument for the subdivision of land with the county recording officer, a final subdivision application shall be submitted to and approved by resolution of the Board in accordance with the requirements of this article.”

• Permit processPublished (with conditions)

  Construction-permit applications inside Fanwood borough.

  • Separate applications are required for each building or structure.
  • Applications require permit forms, subcode forms, three copies of plans and supporting materials, cost forms for additions and alterations, location surveys where land-use compliance review is necessary, vendor utility information, and any other information required by the enforcing agency.
  • Plans and intended uses must be approved in writing by the Zoning Official and, where applicable, the Board and other agencies.
  • Complete applications are reviewed within 20 business days; an appeal may be made to the County Construction Board of Appeals if the Construction Official does not timely notify the applicant.

  complete-application review period: 20 business days (If no timely decision or notice, applicant may appeal to County Construction Board of Appeals)

  “Time period for issuance of permit. Construction permits shall be reviewed within 20 business days of the filing of a complete application. If the Construction Official fails to complete a review of the permit application and to notify the applicant of the approval or denial, as applicable, of the permit within said time period, the applicant may appeal to the County Construction Board of Appeals for a determination regarding the application.”

Rules another office applies inside Borough of Fanwood

Borough of Fanwood 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

  Lots in Fanwood borough's R-150 Single-Family Residence District.

  • The rule applies to all development within R-150.
  • The section cross-references TAH and LGAH provisions for those zones.

  minimum lot area: >= 15000 square feet (See §§ 184-117 and 184-118 for TAH and LGAH zones)

  “Minimum lot size. Every lot shall contain a minimum lot area of 15,000 square feet. See §§ 184-117 and 184-118 as they relate to the TAH and LGAH Zones.”

• Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

  Principal buildings in Fanwood borough's R-150 Single-Family Residence District.

  • No principal building may exceed two habitable floors, excluding basement.
  • The maximum height is controlled by lot-width tables.
  • An addition may match an existing nonconforming height.
  • Topographic information may be required for a new house or taller-roofline addition.

  maximum habitable floors: <= 2 floors (Basement excluded)

  “Maximum building height. No principal building shall exceed the maximum of two habitable floors, exclusive of basement. Maximum height is regulated by Table 2. The height of a proposed addition may match the existing nonconforming height of the principal dwelling. Topographic information must be provided, to the satisfaction of the Borough Engineer, to determine the height of the structure for a new house or for an addition that is proposed with a taller roofline than the existing dwelling.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work inside Fanwood borough.
• Inspections — Building inspections inside Fanwood borough.
• Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Fanwood borough residential districts, including R-150 and R-75.
• Lot coverage — Lot coverage in Fanwood borough zoning districts.
• Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Fanwood 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 Fanwood 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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