Bolthole Index

Bergen County, New Jersey

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Closter, New Jersey

Building a home or altering a structure in the Borough of Closter, New Jersey requires a construction permit under the state Uniform Construction Code1. Zoning is set by the borough, not by Bergen County2, and its zoning officer reviews permit applications3. Septic and well approvals come from a health department, not the building office4.

At a glance

Building permit
Required for new construction and most alterations, filed with the borough's construction official13
Zoning
Set by the borough; Bergen County has no zoning authority25
Septic
Health department certification before a building permit; confirm which one serves Closter46
Minimum home size (Residence Area B)
900 square feet on one floor, 1,200 square feet on two floors7
Short-term rentals
Prohibited for stays of 30 days or less8
Owner-builder
Owner-built new homes need an affidavit filed with the construction official before a certificate of occupancy9

Who to call

Building permits

Closter Construction Official and Zoning Officer

Building permit applications (construction official) and zoning enforcement and permit review (zoning officer) inside the Borough of Closter

Health department

Bergen County Department of Health Services

Septic plan review and oversight for municipalities that contract with Bergen County; confirm whether Closter does

201-634-2600

healthdept@bergencountynj.gov

One Bergen County Plaza, 4th Floor, Hackensack, NJ 07601-7076

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 13, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Do you need a building permit in Closter, NJ?

Yes. New Jersey law makes it unlawful to construct, enlarge, repair, renovate, alter or demolish a structure, or change its use, without first filing an application and obtaining a permit1. Ordinary maintenance is the exception, and minor work may begin after notice to the enforcing agency1.

In Closter, requests for building permits are made in writing on forms supplied by the construction official3. New buildings also need a certificate of occupancy before anyone uses or occupies them10. Permit fees are set by municipal ordinance, and the borough publishes a fee schedule that was amended in 2025, so check the current schedule at the permit counter11.

Who issues building permits in Closter?

The Borough of Closter's construction official takes building permit applications, and the zoning officer reviews them for zoning compliance3. We could not load the borough's own site for staff contacts, so call Borough Hall to reach the construction office.

The Hackensack construction office handles Hackensack only; every other Bergen County municipality has its own12.

Does Closter have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and home size?

Yes, the borough zones. Bergen County has no countywide zoning, and New Jersey counties have no power to adopt zoning for unincorporated land2. Lot size, setbacks, coverage and height are district-specific statewide, so the answer depends on the Closter zoning district of the parcel13.

One district rule we confirmed: in District No. 2, Residence Area B, a single-family residence must have at least 900 square feet if the living space is on one floor and at least 1,200 square feet if it is divided on two floors, excluding porches and garages7. Affordable accessory apartments are permitted in that district under conditions, including a ten-year recorded deed restriction and a 1,200 square foot maximum14. Ask the zoning officer for the district map and bulk standards for any specific lot. Rules for other districts, RV parking and tiny homes were not confirmed.

How do septic permits and wells work in Closter?

Septic approval is a health-department step that comes before the building permit: the board of health having jurisdiction must certify the sewerage facilities before any building permit is issued4. Bergen County's Department of Health Services reviews septic plans for roughly 30 contracting towns, not every municipality6. We could not confirm whether Closter is one of them, so ask the Bergen County Department of Health Services at 201-634-260015 or Borough Hall which health office serves your address.

Where public sewer is available and a septic system is no longer suitable, the plumbing subcode can require connection16. New wells need a state drilling permit, and municipal or county health officials issue the well construction permit17.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Closter?

We could not confirm Closter's rules on RV occupancy, temporary camping or tiny homes. A dwelling still needs a construction permit and certificate of occupancy1, and Closter prohibits renting a dwelling unit for 30 days or less8. Ask the zoning officer before parking or living in an RV or placing a tiny home on a lot.

Building a home in Closter: the steps, in order

  1. Ask the zoning officer which district the lot is in and what setbacks, coverage and size rules apply3.
  2. Check septic or sewer with the health department serving Closter4.
  3. File a written building permit application with the construction official3.
  4. Build with the required inspections; if you build it yourself, file the owner's affidavit before a certificate of occupancy can be issued9.
  5. Obtain the certificate of occupancy before anyone occupies the building10.

What stays with Bergen County, and what to check before you buy in Closter

Bergen County reviews site plans that fall under its county ordinance, and its Planning Board fee schedule applies to those applications18. A driveway onto a state highway needs a state access permit19. Subdivision of land in Closter is governed by Borough Code Chapter 17320.

For context, Bergen County's typical home value is about $791,11621 and its effective property tax rate is 1.7%22. For land outside Closter, see the Bergen County page.

Watch-outs

  • Closter prohibits using or renting a dwelling unit for 30 days or less in exchange for consideration8.
  • An owner who builds a new home must file an affidavit and acknowledge that the work is not covered by the New Home Warranty program; this is not a permit exemption9.
  • Zoning standards vary by district, so a rule from one Closter district does not carry over to another23.

Sources

  1. N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.14, Construction permits—when required (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  2. P.L. 2013, c.106 — Municipal Land Use Law amendments (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  3. Closter Construction Official and Zoning Officer (ecode360.com)
  4. New Jersey Statutes, R.S. 58:11-23 through 58:11-43 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  5. Bergen County Standards for Sustainable Land Development—Site Plans, quoted and re-checked
  6. bergencountynj.gov, quoted and re-checked
  7. Article V: District No. 2, Residence Area B - Borough of Closter, NJ (Borough of Closter), quoted and re-checked
  8. Chapter 151: Rental Property, Short-Term - Borough of Closter, NJ (Borough of Closter), quoted and re-checked
  9. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Chapter A301: Fees and Deposits - Borough of Closter, NJ (Borough of Closter), quoted and re-checked
  12. The New Jersey State Uniform Construction Code, quoted and re-checked
  13. P.L. 2013, c.106 (Municipal Land Use Law amendments) (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Article V: District No. 2, Residence Area B - Borough of Closter, NJ (Borough of Closter), quoted and re-checked
  15. Bergen County Department of Health Services (bergencountynj.gov)
  16. New Jersey Uniform Construction Code Plumbing Subcode Regulations (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Bulletin 88-10: Private On-Site Water Supply Systems (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Fee Schedule for Site Plan Application, quoted and re-checked
  19. Major Access Permits (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Chapter 173: Subdivision of Land and Site Plan Review - Borough of Closter, NJ (Borough of Closter), quoted and re-checked
  21. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  22. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  23. P.L. 2013, c.106 (Municipal Land Use Law amendments) (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 13, 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 Borough of Closter

Borough of Closter’s own rules

  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land and site-plan review inside Closter borough.

    • Applications and standards are governed by Borough Code Chapter 173; detailed classifications and standards were not fully extracted.
    “Chapter 173 Subdivision of Land and Site Plan Review”
  • Short-term rentalsProhibited

    Use or occupancy of a dwelling unit inside Closter borough for 30 days or less in exchange for consideration.

    • The prohibition applies notwithstanding anything contrary in the Borough Code and covers soliciting, advertising, offering, permitting, allowing, or failing to discontinue the use or occupancy.

    maximum rental or occupancy period: <= 30 days

    “it shall be unlawful [...] to receive or obtain actual or anticipated consideration [...] for a period of 30 days or less.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Municipal fees and deposits inside Closter borough.

    • The fee chapter was amended by Ordinance No. 2025-1367 on August 13, 2025; the current schedule must be consulted for exact amounts.
    “The following is a fee schedule for the payment of fees, permits and licenses of the Borough of Closter”

Rules another office applies inside Borough of Closter

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

  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Single-family residences in District No. 2, Residence Area B, Closter borough.

    • Excludes porches and garages.
    • One-floor living spaces require at least 900 square feet.
    • Two-floor living spaces require at least 1,200 square feet.
    • At least 75% of second-floor area must have a ceiling height of not less than seven feet six inches.
    • Finished basement or attic living space does not count.

    minimum one-floor floor area: >= 900 square feet (living spaces all on one floor) · minimum two-floor floor area: >= 1200 square feet (living spaces divided on two floors)

    “No single-family residence area hereafter erected shall contain less than 900 square feet”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Affordable accessory apartments in Closter borough District No. 2, Residence Area B.

    • Must be affordable to low- and moderate-income households.
    • Applies to properties in District No. 2, Residence Area B located in the Closter Historic District or fronting specified Bergen County roads.
    • Must comply with New Jersey statutes, regulations, and building codes.
    • A recorded ten-year deed restriction is required and a copy must be provided to the zoning officer before certificate of occupancy.
    • Water and sewer infrastructure with sufficient capacity must be certified.
    • Maximum permitted square footage is 1,200 square feet.

    maximum accessory-apartment area: <= 1200 square feet · deed restriction period: 10 years

    “Accessory apartments are permitted accessory uses, provided the units are affordable”

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — Building permits for construction inside Closter borough.
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemptions inside Closter borough.
  • Building code adopted — Building-code adoption applicable inside Closter borough.
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside Closter borough.
  • Certificate of occupancy — Residential and business certificates of occupancy inside Closter borough.
17 more unanswered
  • Minimum lot size
  • Setbacks
  • Lot coverage
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain

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 Closter publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Bergen County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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