Bolthole Index

Bergen County, New Jersey

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Hackensack, New Jersey

Hackensack, New Jersey requires a construction permit for most building work, issued by the city's own Construction Official1. The city adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance2, and Bergen County has no zoning of its own3. Septic licenses inside the city come from Hackensack's Health Department4.

At a glance

Building permit
Required for construction, extension, repair, removal or alteration, except ordinary repairs; issued by the City of Hackensack1
Zoning
Hackensack's own zoning ordinance; the county does not zone23
Septic
License from the Hackensack Health Department before locating, building or altering a system4
RV living
Parking a trailer on a lot is unlawful outside a licensed trailer camp, except for loading and unloading5
Owner-builder
State builder-registration exception for your own home; permits and inspections still apply6
Driveway
Expanding or adding a driveway needs city zoning review7

Who to call

Building permits

Hackensack Construction Official (Department of Building, Housing and Land Use)

Construction permits and inspections inside the City of Hackensack

(201) 646-3920 ext. 2001

65 Central Ave, Hackensack, NJ 07601

Zoning

Hackensack Zoning Officer (Department of Building, Housing and Land Use)

Zoning review of construction and driveway projects inside the City of Hackensack

(201) 646-3920 ext. 2020

65 Central Ave, Hackensack, NJ 07601

Septic permits

Hackensack Health Department

City health office; licenses for individual sewage disposal systems inside Hackensack

(201) 646-3965

65 Central Ave, Hackensack, NJ 07601

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 Hackensack means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Hackensack, NJ have zoning, and what does it cover?

Yes. The City of Hackensack adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance for land inside the city2. The ordinance regulates land use, lot size, setbacks, signage and parking2, and it sorts land into districts with their own permitted and prohibited uses8.

Bergen County does not zone: in New Jersey municipalities, not counties, have that authority39. State law lets each municipality set different lot sizes, setbacks, building heights and minimum floor areas by district1011.

We could not confirm Hackensack's district-by-district minimum lot sizes, setbacks, height limits or minimum dwelling size, so do not rely on a number from another town. Ask the Hackensack Zoning Officer12 which district a parcel sits in and what that district allows. A zoning application carries a $50 fee13.

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

Yes. Inside Hackensack, a building or structure may not be constructed, extended, repaired, removed or altered without a construction permit, except for ordinary repairs1. New Jersey's Uniform Construction Code applies statewide and covers structural, plumbing, mechanical and electrical work14.

The City's own Department of Building, Housing and Land Use handles building permits, with the Construction Official as the contact15. Bergen County does not issue building permits for private homes; applications go through the municipal construction official14.

Zoning approval comes first for many projects. The City reviews driveways, including expanding an existing one, for zoning compliance7, and a driveway zoning fee has a minimum of $607. A driveway onto a county road also needs a road-access permit from Bergen County, which costs $25016.

How do septic permits work inside Hackensack?

Hackensack's Health Department issues the license for locating, constructing or altering an individual sewage disposal system inside the city4. The license must be in hand before the work begins17. Fees are $25 for the application and plans and $25 for the license17.

A new system may not be operated, and the dwelling relying on it may not be sold or occupied, until the Health Department issues a certificate18. State law also requires an inspection by the board of health before a septic tank or field is covered19.

Where public sewer is available, Hackensack requires a sewer connection permit before any connection is made20. Contact the Health Department21; we could not confirm whether private wells are permitted inside the city.

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

Living in an RV on a Hackensack lot is effectively not allowed. The city code makes it unlawful to park a trailer on premises except in a duly licensed trailer camp, or for loading and unloading for no longer than 48 hours5. A trailer camp needs a City permit and Health Department approval5.

In flood hazard areas, recreational vehicles must also meet the city's flood chapter, and they are prohibited in coastal high hazard areas and floodways22.

We could not confirm any rule specifically about tiny homes, accessory dwelling units or manufactured homes inside Hackensack. Ask the Zoning Officer12 before buying a lot for any of them.

Building a home in Hackensack: the steps, in order

  1. Ask the Zoning Officer12 which district the lot is in and whether the use you plan is permitted there8.
  2. If the lot will use septic, get the Health Department's approval of the plan first; no building permit can issue until the board of health certifies the sewerage facilities23.
  3. File the construction permit application with the Construction Official15. No permit issues until all required state, county and local approvals are in place24.
  4. Schedule the inspections the code requires, including footings, rough plumbing and electrical, and framing, before they are covered25.
  5. Obtain the certificate of occupancy before using the building26. An owner who built the home must file an affidavit with the construction official first27.

The owner-builder exception covers state builder registration only, not permits or inspections6.

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

The county's page for land outside Hackensack is Bergen County. Inside the city, the county's role is narrow: subdivisions are submitted to the County Planning Board for review, and its approval is required only when a subdivision abuts a county road or drainage facility or affects county property28. Hackensack also regulates subdivision under its own Chapter 15029.

Before buying, confirm the zoning district and flood-hazard status with the city, since flood rules limit RVs and development22. Bergen County's effective property tax rate is 1.7%30, and its median property tax bill is about $10,001 a year31. Scores and tax figures are county-level, not Hackensack-specific.

Watch-outs

  • A continued certificate of occupancy is required for the sale or rental of certain residential units in Hackensack, including one- and two-family homes32. The application fee is $100 for one-family and $150 for two-family homes32.
  • A residential sewer connection in Hackensack costs $2,500 per sewerage unit, due before connection and before the certificate of occupancy20.
  • We could not confirm Hackensack's numeric lot-size, setback, height or lot-coverage limits; call the Zoning Officer12 before relying on any figure.
  • Zoning approval, the Health Department's septic sign-off and flood-hazard rules all apply even to a small project; none are replaced by the owner-builder registration exception6.

Sources

  1. Zoning FAQs (Hackensack), quoted and re-checked
  2. Table of Contents - City of Hackensack, NJ (Hackensack), quoted and re-checked
  3. Bergen County Standards for Sustainable Land Development—Site Plans, quoted and re-checked
  4. Chapter 140: Sewage Disposal Systems, Individual (Hackensack), quoted and re-checked
  5. Chapter 160: Trailers and Trailer Camps (Hackensack), quoted and re-checked
  6. Builder Registration and New Home Warranty for Builders (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  7. Zoning FAQs (Hackensack), quoted and re-checked
  8. Table of Contents - City of Hackensack, NJ (Hackensack), quoted and re-checked
  9. P.L. 2013, c.106 — Municipal Land Use Law amendments (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. P.L. 2013, c.106 (Municipal Land Use Law amendments) (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. P.L. 2013, c.106 (Municipal Land Use Law amendments) (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Hackensack Zoning Officer (Department of Building, Housing and Land Use) (hackensack.org)
  13. Zoning FAQs (Hackensack), quoted and re-checked
  14. The New Jersey State Uniform Construction Code, quoted and re-checked
  15. Hackensack Construction Official (Department of Building, Housing and Land Use) (hackensack.org)
  16. Fee Schedule for Site Plan Application, quoted and re-checked
  17. Chapter 140: Sewage Disposal Systems, Individual (Hackensack), quoted and re-checked
  18. Chapter 140: Sewage Disposal Systems, Individual (Hackensack), quoted and re-checked
  19. New Jersey Statutes, R.S. 58:11-23 through 58:11-43 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Article II: Connections (Hackensack), quoted and re-checked
  21. Hackensack Health Department (hackensack.org)
  22. Chapter 89: Flood Hazard Areas (Hackensack), 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. New Jersey Uniform Construction Code, N.J.A.C. 5:23 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  25. New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, New Home Warranty—Consumer Information (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  26. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (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. Bergen County Standards for Sustainable Land Development—Subdivisions, quoted and re-checked
  29. Chapter 150: Subdivision of Land (Hackensack), quoted and re-checked
  30. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  31. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  32. hackensack.org (Hackensack), 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 Hackensack

Hackensack’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, extension, repair, removal, or alteration inside Hackensack city, subject to ordinary-repair exceptions.

    • The City FAQ says permits are generally required when work is more than a repair of a building, electrical, plumbing, or fire element.
    • Ordinary repairs are excepted under the quoted Uniform Construction Code rule.
    “A building or structure shall not be constructed, extended, repaired, removed or altered… without construction permits except for ordinary repairs.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Sales and rentals of certain residential units and changes in tenancy of commercial spaces inside Hackensack city.

    • A continued certificate of occupancy is required for certain residential units, including one- and two-family homes, and for changes in tenancy of commercial spaces.
    • One-family applications require $100; two-family applications require $150.

    one-family continued certificate application fee: 100 USD · two-family continued certificate application fee: 150 USD

    “The City of Hackensack requires a Continued Certificate of Occupancy for the sale and rental of certain residential units including, but not limited to, one or two-family homes.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Hackensack city; the City adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance.

    • The City’s official zoning FAQ states that its zoning ordinance regulates land use, lot size, setbacks, height, and related development controls.
    “The Zoning Ordinance regulates things such as land use, lot size, setbacks, signage, and parking”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts and district-based controls inside Hackensack city.

    • The City publishes a zoning ordinance and official zoning map materials; numeric district schedules were not fully retrievable in this research pass.
    “Zoning categorizes land into districts with specific permitted and prohibited uses.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    RVs, trailers, or camp cars used or parked on land inside Hackensack city.

    • Parking on premises is unlawful except in a duly licensed trailer camp or campsite, or for loading and unloading for no longer than 48 hours.
    • Licensed trailer camps require a City permit and Health Department approval.
    • In flood hazard areas, RVs must also satisfy Chapter 89 conditions; placement is prohibited in coastal high hazard areas and floodways.

    loading/unloading maximum: <= 48 hours

    “Any trailer so parked shall be used for no purpose other than loading or unloading as provided above.”
  • Who permits septicLocal

    Individual sewage disposal systems inside Hackensack city.

    • Hackensack’s Health Department issues the licenses and certificates described by Chapter 140.
    “No person shall locate, construct or alter any individual sewage disposal system until a license for the location, construction or alteration of said sewage disposal system shall have been issued by the Health Department.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Locating, constructing, or altering an individual sewage disposal system inside Hackensack city.

    • A Health Department license is required before the work begins.

    application and plans fee: 25 USD (for locating and constructing an individual sewage disposal system) · license issuance fee: 25 USD (for locating, constructing, or altering an individual sewage disposal system)

    “For the issuance of a license to locate and construct or alter an individual sewage disposal system: $25.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    New individual sewage disposal systems and systems requiring reinspection inside Hackensack city.

    • New systems cannot be operated, and dwellings relying on them cannot be sold or occupied, until a Health Department certificate is issued.
    • Reinspection after failure incurs a $5 fee.
    • The certificate is not required for alterations to an existing system.

    reinspection fee: 5 USD (for each reinspection caused by failure to comply with the license or code)

    “For each reinspection of an individual sewage disposal system or part thereof caused by the failure of the licensee to locate and construct or alter the same in accordance with the terms of the license issued or the terms of the aforesaid code, an inspection fee of $5 shall be charged.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    Connections to Hackensack’s sewer system inside the City.

    • A sewer connection permit is required before making a sewer connection.
    • Residential sewer connection fees must be paid before connection and before issuance of a certificate of occupancy.
    • A connection expected to generate more than 350 gallons per day requires an engineering capacity determination.

    sewerage unit flow: 300 gallons per day · residential sewer connection fee: 2500 USD per sewerage unit (fees are recomputed at the end of each City budget year) · capacity-review threshold: > 350 gallons per day (engineering determination required)

    “No person shall make any sewer connection unless a permit to do so has first been issued in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 107, Licenses and Permits.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land inside Hackensack city.

    • Chapter 150 provides general provisions, minor-subdivision procedure, preliminary and final plat approval, design standards, fees, and penalties.
    • The chapter identifies review by the Bergen County Planning Board for preliminary plats.
    “Chapter 150 Subdivision of Land [...] Article II Minor Subdivision Procedure [...] Article III Preliminary Plat Approval [...] Article IV Final Plat Approval; Improvements [...] Article V Design Standards”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    New or expanded driveways inside Hackensack city.

    • Driveways are included among construction activities requiring zoning review.
    • The City FAQ specifically states that expanding a driveway requires a permit and identifies Section 175-5.3G.

    minimum driveway zoning fee: >= 60 USD (driveway fee is $20 per $1,000 of estimated cost of work)

    “Do I need a permit to expand my driveway? Yes, we have to review your project for compliance.”
  • Building in a floodplainLimited

    Development in designated flood hazard areas inside Hackensack city.

    • Chapter 89 contains flood-hazard permitting, inspection, manufactured-home, and recreational-vehicle provisions.
    • Recreational vehicles are prohibited in coastal high hazard areas and floodways; temporary placement in flood hazard areas requires full licensing and highway readiness and is limited to fewer than 180 consecutive days.

    temporary RV placement: < 180 consecutive days (must be fully licensed and ready for highway use)

    “Article IV Permits [...] § 89-29 Permits required [...] Article VI Inspections [...] § 89-39 Inspections of development.”
  • Permit feesPublished

    Zoning, continued-occupancy, sewer-connection, and individual-sewage-system permits inside Hackensack city.

    • Fees may be updated by later ordinance or annual recomputation where the cited code provides for it.

    standard zoning application fee: 50 USD (includes change in tenancy) · zoning determination letter fee: 50 USD · one-family continued certificate application fee: 100 USD · two-family continued certificate application fee: 150 USD · residential sewer connection fee: 2500 USD per sewerage unit (annual recomputation provided by code) · individual sewage system application fee: 25 USD (locate and construct) · individual sewage system license fee: 25 USD (locate, construct, or alter)

    “Driveway $20.00 per $1,000.00 estimated cost of work With a minimum of $60.00”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemptions inside Hackensack city.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Hackensack city zoning districts.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size in Hackensack city zoning districts.
  • Setbacks — Setbacks in Hackensack city zoning districts.
  • Lot coverage — Lot or impervious coverage in Hackensack city zoning districts.
7 more unanswered
  • Building height
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption

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

← All of Bergen County: county rules, score and offices