Bolthole Index

Bergen County, New Jersey

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Lyndhurst Township, New Jersey

Lyndhurst Township, New Jersey requires a construction permit for new building work under the state Uniform Construction Code1. The township adopts and enforces its own zoning ordinance2. Septic and well approvals go through a board of health, not the building office3. Bergen County does not zone land4.

At a glance

Building permit
Required for new construction and most work on existing buildings; ordinary maintenance is excepted1
Zoning
Township zoning ordinance, Chapter 21, with district-specific rules2
Who zones
The township, not Bergen County4
Septic
Board of health approval before a building permit; confirm with the Lyndhurst Health Department3
RV or trailer living
Permit needed beyond 48 hours at a dwelling or 24 hours on another lot5
Owner-builder
Exempt from builder registration, but permits and an affidavit still apply67
Permit fee
Residential structures at $0.038 per cubic foot, minimum $2508

Who to call

Building permits

Lyndhurst Township Construction Department

Construction permits inside Lyndhurst Township

201-804-2490

367 Valley Brook Ave. Lyndhurst, NJ, 07071

Health department

Lyndhurst Township Health Department

Township board of health; first call for septic and well questions

201-804-2500

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

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Do you need a building permit in Lyndhurst Township, NJ?

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; ordinary maintenance such as routine repair is excepted9. The permit comes from the township's own construction official, not from Bergen County9.

In Lyndhurst, a building on a lot in a district that requires site plan approval cannot get a building permit until the plan has been reviewed by the planning board or board of adjustment10. Inside a flood hazard area, the township also requires an application to its Floodplain Administrator, which can be needed in addition to the building permit11.

Who issues building permits in Lyndhurst Township, and how do you reach them?

Lyndhurst's Construction Department handles building permits; the township directory lists it at 201-804-249012. The township's published fee for residential structures is $0.038 per cubic foot with a $250 minimum, and the fee must be paid before the permit issues8.

New Jersey sets the clock once an application is complete: the enforcing agency must approve or deny it within 20 business days13. No permit issues until all required state, county and local approvals are in place14.

Does Lyndhurst Township have zoning?

Yes. Lyndhurst adopted its own Zoning Ordinance as Chapter 21 of the township code2, which divides the township into classes of districts with a Schedule of Regulations and a zoning map attached15. Lot size, setbacks, height and lot coverage are set district by district, so the answer for a specific parcel depends on its district16.

Bergen County itself does not zone land; municipalities do4. Portions of the Hackensack Meadowlands District, which includes part of Lyndhurst, are zoned regionally by the NJSEA instead17. We could not confirm the township's rules on accessory dwellings, tiny homes or minimum house size; ask the Construction Department before you buy.

How do septic permits work in Lyndhurst Township?

New Jersey law bars a building permit for a new building until the board of health having jurisdiction certifies the water supply and sewerage plan3. A septic tank or field also may not be covered until a board of health representative has inspected it18.

In Lyndhurst, the township code names the Township Department of Health as the approving office for private septic systems serving trailer parks19. We could not confirm a general residential septic rule in the township code, so call the Lyndhurst Health Department at 201-804-250020 to learn whether the township or Bergen County Health Services reviews a given lot. Where a public sewer is available, state rules can require connection when an existing septic system is no longer suitable21.

Can you live in an RV or trailer in Lyndhurst Township?

Only briefly without a permit. Lyndhurst's trailer chapter bars using or occupying a trailer coach for more than 48 hours at an occupied dwelling, or more than 24 hours on a lot with no occupied dwelling, unless the occupant first obtains a township permit5. The one-month permit costs $5 and requires the property owner's written consent plus sanitation information5.

Trailer parks must connect to public sewer or to a private system approved by the township health department22. We could not confirm any township rule that expressly addresses tiny homes or manufactured homes; New Jersey limits HUD manufactured homes to single-family use group R-523.

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

  1. Confirm the lot's zoning district and whether it needs site plan approval, through Chapter 21 and the township's planning board and zoning board15.
  2. Get board of health certification of water and sewerage; call the Lyndhurst Health Department320.
  3. Apply to the Construction Department for the construction permit and pay the fee812.
  4. Request inspections as work proceeds: footing trenches before footings, rough plumbing and electrical before framing24.
  5. Replace the water service pipe from the building to the street main when building new or doing a major renovation25.
  6. Obtain a certificate of occupancy before anyone occupies a new building26.

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

Septic and well rules rest on state law enforced by a board of health, municipal or county27. A driveway onto a county road may need a Bergen County road-access permit, and one onto a state highway needs an NJDOT access permit2829. Subdivisions go to the county planning board for review, though approval is limited to those touching county roads or drainage30.

For land outside Lyndhurst, see the Bergen County page. Bergen County's effective property tax rate is 1.7%31, and the typical home value is about $791,11632.

Watch-outs

  • Part of Lyndhurst lies in the Hackensack Meadowlands District, where the NJSEA handles regional planning and zoning, so confirm which agency governs your parcel17.
  • A person building a home for personal use is exempt from builder registration, not from construction permits or code compliance33.
  • We could not confirm Lyndhurst rules on short-term rentals, accessory dwellings or driveways; ask the Construction Department at 201-804-249012.

Sources

  1. N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.14, Construction permits—when required (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  2. Chapter 21, Zoning — Township of Lyndhurst, NJ (Lyndhurst Township), quoted and re-checked
  3. New Jersey Statutes, R.S. 58:11-23 through 58:11-43 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  4. Bergen County Standards for Sustainable Land Development—Site Plans, quoted and re-checked
  5. Chapter 16, Trailers — Township of Lyndhurst, NJ (Lyndhurst Township), quoted and re-checked
  6. Builder Registration and New Home Warranty for Builders (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  7. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Chapter 8, Building and Housing — Township of Lyndhurst, NJ (Lyndhurst Township), quoted and re-checked
  9. The New Jersey State Uniform Construction Code, quoted and re-checked
  10. Chapter 21, Zoning — Township of Lyndhurst, NJ (Lyndhurst Township), quoted and re-checked
  11. Chapter 23, Flood Damage Prevention Measures — Township of Lyndhurst, NJ (Lyndhurst Township), quoted and re-checked
  12. Lyndhurst Township Construction Department (lyndhurstnj.org)
  13. Uniform Construction Code General Information, quoted and re-checked
  14. New Jersey Uniform Construction Code, N.J.A.C. 5:23 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Chapter 21, Zoning — Township of Lyndhurst, NJ (Lyndhurst Township), quoted and re-checked
  16. P.L. 2013, c.106 (Municipal Land Use Law amendments) (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Bergen County Master Plan: Public Facilities and Services, quoted and re-checked
  18. New Jersey Statutes, R.S. 58:11-23 through 58:11-43 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Chapter 16, Trailers — Township of Lyndhurst, NJ (Lyndhurst Township), quoted and re-checked
  20. Lyndhurst Township Health Department (lyndhurstnj.org)
  21. New Jersey Uniform Construction Code Plumbing Subcode Regulations (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. Chapter 16, Trailers — Township of Lyndhurst, NJ (Lyndhurst Township), quoted and re-checked
  23. Manufactured/Modular Buildings Program (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, New Home Warranty—Consumer Information (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  25. Chapter 12, Sewer and Water — Township of Lyndhurst, NJ (Lyndhurst Township), quoted and re-checked
  26. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  27. New Jersey Statutes, R.S. 58:11-23 through 58:11-43 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  28. Fee Schedule for Site Plan Application, quoted and re-checked
  29. Major Access Permits (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  30. Bergen County Standards for Sustainable Land Development—Subdivisions, quoted and re-checked
  31. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  32. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  33. Builder Registration and New Home Warranty for Builders, 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 Lyndhurst Township

Lyndhurst Township’s own rules

  • Building permitLimited

    Buildings on lots in Lyndhurst districts requiring site-plan approval.

    • The building must comply with Chapter 21 and the site plan reviewed by the Planning Board or Board of Adjustment.
    “No building shall be erected, altered or expanded on any lot in any district requiring site plan approval and no building permit shall be issued in connection with any use of such lot except in accordance with all the regulations of this section and in accordance with the site plan for such lot reviewed by the planning board or board of adjustment as permitted by N.J.S.A. 40:55D-76, in the light of the standards set forth in this chapter.”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    New industrial uses inside Lyndhurst Township.

    • An industrial permit must first be issued by the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission.
    “No certificate of occupancy shall be issued for an industrial use until an industrial permit has been issued by the PVSC and no person shall occupy any building or structure for the purpose of a new industrial use until an industrial permit has been issued by the PVSC.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Lyndhurst Township.

    • Zoning controls are district-specific under Chapter 21 and its adopted Schedule of Regulations.
    “This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Zoning Ordinance of the Township of Lyndhurst.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside Lyndhurst Township.

    • The adopted Schedule of Regulations and zoning map are attachments to Chapter 21.
    “For the purpose of this chapter, the township is hereby divided into classes of districts as follows:”
  • Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

    Trailer coaches used or occupied outside a trailer park inside Lyndhurst Township.

    • More than 48 hours at an occupied dwelling or 24 hours on another lot requires a one-month Township permit.
    • Permit requires written property-owner, agent, or lessee consent and specified sanitation information.

    occupied-dwelling duration without permit: <= 48 hours · other-lot duration without permit: <= 24 hours · permit fee: 5 USD (one-month permit)

    “No person shall park, use or occupy any trailer coach for more than 48 hours on the premises of any occupied dwelling, nor for more than 24 hours on any lot which is not a part of the premises of any occupied dwelling, unless a permit therefor shall have been first obtained, nor shall any person permit such parking, use, or occupancy unless the occupant of the trailer coach shall first have obtained a permit therefor.”
  • Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

    Private sewer-disposal plants or septic systems serving trailer parks inside Lyndhurst Township.

    • The Township Department of Health must approve the private sewer-disposal plant or septic tank system.
    “Waste from showers, toilets, slop sinks and laundries shall be wasted into a public sewer system in such manner as approved by the township department of health or into a private sewer disposal plant or septic tank system approved by the same department.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Trailer parks inside Lyndhurst Township.

    • A private sewer-disposal plant or septic tank system requires Township Department of Health approval.
    • Toilets and water closets not connected with an approved disposal system may not be used.
    “Waste from showers, toilets, slop sinks and laundries shall be wasted into a public sewer system in such manner as approved by the township department of health or into a private sewer disposal plant or septic tank system approved by the same department. [...] Toilets and water closets not connected with an approved disposal system shall not be used and it shall be further unlawful for any person to use or permit the use of such fixtures.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupWater (with conditions)

    New residential construction or major renovation of an existing residential building inside Lyndhurst Township.

    • Does not apply to existing residential or multifamily uses.
    • The owner must replace the water service pipe and connection from the building to the water main in the street.
    “This section shall not apply to existing residential or multi-family uses but shall be effective upon new construction or major renovation of existing buildings.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in a flood hazard area inside Lyndhurst Township.

    • Application is made to the Floodplain Administrator.
    • Depending on the proposed development, a floodplain development permit or approval may be required in addition to a building permit.
    “Any person, owner or authorized agent who intends to conduct any development in a flood hazard area shall first make application to the Floodplain Administrator and shall obtain the required permit.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Construction permits issued by Lyndhurst Construction Department.

    • The permit fee is the sum of applicable listed subcode fees and must be paid before issuance.

    new residential construction fee: per 0.038 USD per cubic foot (minimum fee is $250)

    “Residential structures | $0.038 pcf. | Minimum fee shall be | $250”
  • Permit processPartial

    Sewer connections inside Lyndhurst Township.

    • A permit from the appropriate municipal official is required before making, using, altering, or disturbing a public-sewer connection.
    • Dwelling sanitary-connection applications are made directly to the Township.
    “Application for sanitary connections for dwellings, groups of dwellings or industrial or commercial establishments with only sanitary waste shall be made directly to the township.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built construction inside Lyndhurst Township.
  • Inspections — Building construction inside Lyndhurst Township.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Lyndhurst Township.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny homes inside Lyndhurst Township.
  • Manufactured homes — Manufactured homes inside Lyndhurst Township.
8 more unanswered
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • 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 Lyndhurst Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Bergen County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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