Bolthole Index

Bergen County, New Jersey

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in the Borough of Haworth, New Jersey

The Borough of Haworth, in Bergen County, New Jersey, zones its own land through the borough code1 and issues construction permits through its Construction Code Official2. Haworth's code prohibits building a new septic tank, cesspool or privy, so homes connect to the public sewer3. The county does not zone4.

At a glance

Building permit
Required for new construction and most work on existing buildings; issued by the borough's Construction Code Official25
Zoning
Haworth has its own zoning code and Schedule of Zoning Limitations; Bergen County does not zone14
Septic
New septic tanks, cesspools and privies are prohibited in the borough; sewer connection is required36
Certificate of occupancy
Required before a new or altered building is occupied7
Owner-builder
Owner-built homes need an affidavit before a certificate of occupancy; permits are still required8
Accessory apartments
Only affordable units in Residential Zone A or E on specific roads9

Who to call

Building permits

Borough of Haworth Building Department (Construction Official and Zoning Officer)

Construction permit applications, zoning permits and certificates for land inside Haworth; the phone number shown is the borough hall main line

(201) 384-4785

300 Haworth Avenue, Haworth, NJ 07641

Health department

Bergen County Department of Health Services

Septic plan review and oversight for towns that contract with the county; ask whether Haworth's health matters go to the county or to the borough's own Board of Health

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

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Does Haworth, NJ have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, tiny homes and lot size?

Yes. The Borough of Haworth zones its own land: its code's Schedule of Zoning Limitations, together with the Use and Building Regulations, governs land use inside the borough1. Bergen County does not zone, because New Jersey municipalities, not counties, hold that authority4.

Lot size, setbacks, height and lot coverage are set district by district in the borough's ordinance, so the answer depends on which zone a parcel sits in1011. Ask the Haworth Zoning Officer for the district and its limits before you make an offer.

We could not confirm Haworth's rules on living in an RV, camping on a lot, or tiny homes, so do not assume any of them is allowed; ask the borough's building department. Accessory apartments are limited to affordable units in Residential Zone A or Residential Zone E on lots fronting Schraalenburgh Road or Hardenburgh Avenue9.

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

Yes. New Jersey's Uniform Construction Code requires a construction permit for new construction and for structural, plumbing, mechanical and electrical work on existing buildings, with an exception for ordinary maintenance5. In Haworth, the Construction Code Official receives applications and issues or refuses construction permits and certificates2.

The borough's building department page lists a zoning permit as well as building, plumbing and electrical construction permits, and says zoning permits cover items such as additions, garages, decks, pools, driveways, fences and sheds12.

A certificate of occupancy is required before a building is used after construction or alteration7. A permit for a residence also cannot be issued unless the lot provides a garage or paved parking space with a necessary driveway13. Contact the construction official if you are unsure whether a job needs a permit12.

How do septic permits work in Haworth, NJ?

They mostly do not, because Haworth's code says no person shall construct or install a septic tank, cesspool or privy in the borough3. Buildings connect to the public sewer instead.

When the Board of Health or the borough gives notice that a connection is required, the owner must connect within 30 days and pays for the work6. A written sewer-connection permit is needed; the application fee is $15 and the reinspection fee is $56. Applications go to the borough clerk and need a building-sewer diagram2.

We could not confirm whether Bergen County Health Services or Haworth's own Board of Health oversees any existing septic system. Bergen County's septic review covers only the towns that contract with it14. Call the county health department to ask15.

Building a home in Haworth: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the zoning district and its limits with the Haworth Zoning Officer, and apply for a zoning permit12.
  2. Plan for sewer connection, since new septic systems are prohibited3.
  3. File a construction permit application with the Construction Code Official2.
  4. Expect inspections at set stages, such as footings, rough plumbing and electrical, and framing16.
  5. Get a driveway permit through the borough clerk's office12.
  6. If you built the home yourself, file the owner-built affidavit with the construction official before the certificate of occupancy8.
  7. Obtain the certificate of occupancy before moving in7.

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

Haworth's rules apply inside the borough. For land outside it, see the Bergen County page.

The county reviews subdivisions and site plans only where they affect a county road, drainage facility or county-owned land17. A driveway onto a county road carries a $250 road-access permit fee18. A driveway onto a state highway needs a state access permit19.

Bergen County's effective property tax rate is 1.7%20, and the typical home value is about $791,11621. Check floodplain status and which district the parcel sits in before you buy.

Watch-outs

  • New Jersey's rules on owner-built homes waive builder registration, not construction permits or code compliance22.
  • Short-term rentals in New Jersey are largely governed by municipal ordinance23, and we could not confirm Haworth's rules on them, RV occupancy, camping or tiny homes; ask the borough building department first.
  • A well still needs a state drilling permit and a local health-official permit under state rules, but we could not confirm any Haworth-specific well rule24.

Sources

  1. Article 26-500: District Regulations - Borough of Haworth, NJ (Borough of Haworth), quoted and re-checked
  2. Chapter 12: Building and Housing - Borough of Haworth, NJ (Borough of Haworth), quoted and re-checked
  3. Chapter BH8: Septic Tanks; Cesspools; Privies - Borough of Haworth, NJ (Borough of Haworth), quoted and re-checked
  4. Bergen County Standards for Sustainable Land Development—Site Plans, quoted and re-checked
  5. The New Jersey State Uniform Construction Code, quoted and re-checked
  6. Chapter 18: Sewers - Borough of Haworth, NJ (Borough of Haworth), quoted and re-checked
  7. Chapter 12: Building and Housing - Borough of Haworth, NJ (Borough of Haworth), quoted and re-checked
  8. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  9. Article 26-500: District Regulations - Borough of Haworth, NJ (Borough of Haworth), 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. Borough of Haworth Building Department (Construction Official and Zoning Officer) (haworthnj.org)
  13. Article 26-500: District Regulations - Borough of Haworth, NJ (Borough of Haworth), quoted and re-checked
  14. bergencountynj.gov, quoted and re-checked
  15. Bergen County Department of Health Services (bergencountynj.gov)
  16. New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, New Home Warranty—Consumer Information (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Bergen County Standards for Sustainable Land Development—Subdivisions, 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. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  21. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  22. Builder Registration and New Home Warranty for Builders, quoted and re-checked
  23. Local Finance Notice 2026-09: Short-Term Transient Accommodations (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. Bulletin 88-10: Private On-Site Water Supply Systems (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 Haworth

Borough of Haworth’s own rules

  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Land use, building erection, and building alteration inside Haworth borough.

    • Existing occupancy during alterations may continue unless structural changes render occupancy dangerous or unsafe.
    • A continued certificate is required after vacancy, sale, or change in occupancy before sale, lease, or occupancy.
    “until a Certificate of Occupancy stating that”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Haworth borough.

    • The code's Schedule of Zoning Limitations operates together with the Use and Building Regulations.
    “The regulations contained in the Schedule of Zoning Limitations, in conjunction with the Use and Building Regulations set forth herein, govern the use of land in the Borough of Haworth.”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Affordable accessory apartments in Residential Zone A or Residential Zone E inside Haworth borough.

    • The property must be in Residential Zone A or E and have frontage on Schraalenburgh Road or Hardenburgh Avenue.
    • The unit must be affordable to moderate-, low-, or very-low-income households and comply with New Jersey statutes, regulations, building codes, and UHAC.
    • The unit must be rented to a low- or moderate-income household for at least 10 years, with a recorded deed restriction.
    • The appropriate utility authority must certify sufficient water and sewer capacity.
    • Maximum accessory-apartment area is 1,200 square feet.
    • Required application materials include professional floor plans, elevations, and a site plan showing setbacks, parking, and compliance with bulk regulations.

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

    “Accessory apartments are permitted accessory uses”
  • Septic permitLimited

    Construction or installation of septic tanks, cesspools, and privies inside Haworth borough.

    • The code prohibits construction or installation, so no ordinary installation permit pathway is available under the cited municipal rule.
    “No person shall construct or install a septic tank, cesspool or privy in the Borough of Haworth.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Buildings used for human occupancy, employment, recreation, or other purposes inside Haworth borough when a local collection lateral is available or required.

    • The owner must connect within 30 days after notice from the Board of Health or Borough.
    • The owner bears installation and connection costs.
    • A written sewer-connection permit is required; the application fee is $15 and reinspection fee is $5.
    • If a new local collection lateral to the property line is required, the property owner must provide it at the owner's expense, subject to permits and inspections.
    • The sewer system delivers sewage to Bergen County Sewer Authority trunk lines, and sanitary sewer use must comply with Bergen County Utilities Authority rules.

    connection deadline after notice: 30 days · sewer connection application fee: 15 USD · reinspection fee: 5 USD

    “within 30 days after notice from the Board of Health or Borough to do so.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Residential structures inside Haworth borough.

    • A permit may not be issued for erection or alteration of a residence unless the lot arrangement provides for a garage, prospective garage, or paved parking space with a necessary driveway adequate in size or width.
    “paved parking space with necessary driveway”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Construction and public-sewer connection applications inside Haworth borough.

    • The Construction Code Official receives applications and issues or refuses permits and certificates.
    • Public-sewer connections require a written application to the Clerk, a permit, a building-sewer diagram, and applicable fees.
    • Interior plumbing work must be performed by a duly licensed plumber.

    sewer connection application fee: 15 USD · sewer reinspection fee: 5 USD

    “The Construction Code Official shall receive applications for, and issue or refuse, permits and certificates in accordance with law, collecting and accounting for prescribed fees.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — Building permits for construction inside Haworth borough.
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders performing construction inside Haworth borough.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings in Haworth borough zoning districts.
  • Living in an RV — Occupancy of recreational vehicles on land inside Haworth borough.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Haworth borough.
6 more unanswered
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • 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 Borough of Haworth publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Bergen County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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