Bolthole Index

Bergen County, New Jersey

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Midland Park, New Jersey

The Borough of Midland Park, in Bergen County, New Jersey, requires a construction permit for new construction and most work on existing buildings, issued through the borough's own Building Department under the State Uniform Construction Code12. Midland Park adopts its own zoning ordinance, which bars living in a trailer, camper or mobile home34. We could not confirm which health office issues septic permits inside the borough; ask the Building Department first.

At a glance

Building permit
Required; issued by the borough's own Building Department under the State Uniform Construction Code12
Zoning
Borough zoning ordinance applies; Bergen County does not zone35
R-1 minimum lot
12,500 square feet, with 60 feet of width at the street line6
R-1 minimum home size
1,000 square feet of floor area7
RV or mobile home as a residence
Prohibited48
Septic
Board of health certification required before a building permit; issuing office not confirmed9
Floodplain
Floodplain development permit required in flood hazard areas10

Who to call

Building permits

Midland Park Building Department

Construction permits, trade licensing, building inspections and zoning compliance inside the Borough of Midland Park

551-600-8279

Borough Hall, 280 Godwin Avenue, Midland Park, NJ 07432

Also useful

Midland Park Building Department permit list

Which common projects need a permit from the borough Building Department

551-600-8279

Borough Hall, 280 Godwin Avenue, Midland Park, NJ 07432

Health department

Bergen County Department of Health Services

County health services for contracting municipalities, including septic plan review; whether Midland Park contracts for these services is not confirmed

201-634-2600

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

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Does Midland Park, NJ have zoning, and what are the lot and setback rules?

Yes. The Borough of Midland Park adopts its own zoning ordinance, and Bergen County has no zoning authority over municipal land use35. In the R-1 Residence District, a lot needs at least 12,500 square feet, measured within 125 feet of the front street property line6. Every R-1 residence needs at least 1,000 square feet of floor area7.

Principal buildings in R-1 need a front yard of 25 feet, a rear yard of 25 feet and side yards of 12 feet each11. The maximum height is 2.5 stories or 32 feet, whichever is less12. Buildings may cover 30% of the lot and the improved lot may not exceed 45%13.

Those figures are for R-1 only; New Jersey lets each municipal zoning district set its own minimums, so confirm your parcel's district with the Building Department's zoning official1415.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Midland Park?

No, not in an RV. Midland Park's zoning ordinance states that no trailer, mobile home, boat, camper or other vehicle shall be used as a residence4. The same code allows one registered or leased object to be stored outdoors in a side or rear yard if it is no longer than 32 feet and is screened from neighbors, but storage is not occupancy4.

Mobile homes are covered by the same prohibition8. The borough code has no provision that expressly addresses tiny homes that we could locate. Because every R-1 residence needs at least 1,000 square feet of floor area, a small dwelling under that size would not meet the R-1 standard7. We could not confirm whether accessory dwelling units are allowed; ask the Building Department's zoning official.

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

Yes. New Jersey law makes it unlawful to construct, enlarge, repair, renovate, alter or demolish a structure without a permit under the Uniform Construction Code, and ordinary maintenance is excepted1. Midland Park enforces the code through its own State Uniform Construction Code enforcing agency, which includes a Construction Official and subcode officials2.

The borough's Building Department says permits must be obtained for projects such as an addition, an alteration, a garage, a shed over 100 square feet or a pool16. Sheds of 100 square feet or less and under 10 feet high need a zoning permit only16. A complete application must be approved or denied within 20 business days of submission17.

Construction permit fees follow the State code and the borough fee schedule, with a surcharge of $0.0014 per cubic foot on new construction18. Owner-builders are not exempt from permits: the state's personal-use exception covers builder registration, not construction permits19.

Who is the Midland Park building department, and how do you reach it?

The Midland Park Building Department sits in Borough Hall at 280 Godwin Avenue and handles construction permits, trade licensing, building inspections and zoning compliance for the borough15. The department's page lists the Building Department phone as 551-600-8279 and its zoning and building inspector role is handled in the same office15.

For land inside Midland Park, this is the office to call, not a Bergen County planning counter: the county has no zoning authority and construction permits are issued locally520.

In flood hazard areas, the borough also requires a floodplain development permit from the Floodplain Administrator before work begins, in addition to a building permit where one applies10.

How do septic permits and wells work inside Midland Park?

New Jersey law bars any municipality from issuing a building permit until the board of health having jurisdiction certifies that the sewerage facilities comply with State standards9. A septic system must also be inspected by the board of health's representative before it is covered21.

We could not confirm which office administers private septic systems inside Midland Park, or whether the borough has a local board of health that does so. Start with the Building Department, then Bergen County Department of Health Services, which serves only the municipalities that contract with it2223.

Where a borough sewer line runs in the street abutting your property, the borough code requires the owner to connect at the owner's expense24. For private wells, a New Jersey DEP drilling permit is required, and municipal or county health officials issue the well construction permit25.

Building a home in Midland Park: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm your lot's zoning district and its lot, setback and coverage limits with the Building Department's zoning official315.
  2. Settle sewer or septic: connect to the borough sewer if it abuts the lot, or get board of health certification before the building permit249.
  3. Check flood hazard mapping and, if needed, apply to the Floodplain Administrator10.
  4. Submit the construction permit application with a plot plan showing driveway curb-opening dimensions and locations26.
  5. Call for inspections at each required stage, such as footings, rough plumbing and electrical, and framing27.
  6. Obtain the certificate of occupancy before using the building; owner-built homes need an owner's affidavit filed with the construction official2829.

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

Midland Park's rules apply inside the borough; for land elsewhere, see the Bergen County page. Subdivisions inside Midland Park go through the borough Planning Board, and County Planning Board approval may also be required30. County review applies when a subdivision abuts a County road or County drainage facility31.

A driveway onto a Bergen County road carries a $250 road-access permit fee for review32. A driveway onto a State highway needs an NJDOT access permit33. Inside the borough, R-1 lots may have no more than one curb cut unless the driveway is circular, and the maximum curb cut width is 20 feet26.

Bergen County's effective property tax rate is 1.7% and the median property tax bill is $10,001 a year3435.

Watch-outs

  • The lot and setback figures above for the residence district do not apply to other zoning districts, so confirm your parcel's district and standards before relying on them14.
  • We could not confirm who issues septic permits inside the borough; New Jersey law still requires board of health certification before a building permit, so ask the Building Department and Bergen County Department of Health Services early922.
  • Selling or renting a one- or two-family home in Midland Park requires a smoke-detector compliance certificate from the borough Fire Official, with a $50 initial fee and a $25 re-inspection fee36.
  • Short-term rentals are largely governed by municipal ordinance in New Jersey, and we could not confirm a Midland Park rule; ask the borough before buying for rental income37.

Sources

  1. N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.14, Construction permits—when required (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  2. Chapter 10: Building and Housing - Borough of Midland Park, NJ (Borough of Midland Park), quoted and re-checked
  3. Chapter 34: Zoning - Borough of Midland Park, NJ (Borough of Midland Park), quoted and re-checked
  4. Chapter 34: Zoning - Borough of Midland Park, NJ (Borough of Midland Park), quoted and re-checked
  5. Bergen County Standards for Sustainable Land Development—Site Plans, quoted and re-checked
  6. Chapter 34: Zoning - Borough of Midland Park, NJ (Borough of Midland Park), quoted and re-checked
  7. Chapter 34: Zoning - Borough of Midland Park, NJ (Borough of Midland Park), quoted and re-checked
  8. Chapter 34: Zoning - Borough of Midland Park, NJ (Borough of Midland Park), quoted and re-checked
  9. New Jersey Statutes, R.S. 58:11-23 through 58:11-43 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Chapter 17: Floodplain Management Regulations - Borough of Midland Park, NJ (Borough of Midland Park), quoted and re-checked
  11. Chapter 34: Zoning - Borough of Midland Park, NJ (Borough of Midland Park), quoted and re-checked
  12. Chapter 34: Zoning - Borough of Midland Park, NJ (Borough of Midland Park), quoted and re-checked
  13. Chapter 34: Zoning - Borough of Midland Park, NJ (Borough of Midland Park), quoted and re-checked
  14. P.L. 2013, c.106 (Municipal Land Use Law amendments) (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. Midland Park Building Department (midlandparknj.gov)
  16. Midland Park Building Department permit list (midlandparknj.gov)
  17. Uniform Construction Code General Information, quoted and re-checked
  18. Chapter 10: Building and Housing - Borough of Midland Park, NJ (Borough of Midland Park), quoted and re-checked
  19. Builder Registration and New Home Warranty for Builders (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. P.L. 2018, c.157 — County Code Enforcement Pilot Program (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. New Jersey Statutes, R.S. 58:11-23 through 58:11-43 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. bergencountynj.gov, quoted and re-checked
  23. Bergen County Department of Health Services (bergencountynj.gov)
  24. Chapter 13: Water and Sewer - Borough of Midland Park, NJ (Borough of Midland Park), quoted and re-checked
  25. Bulletin 88-10: Private On-Site Water Supply Systems (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  26. Chapter 34: Zoning - Borough of Midland Park, NJ (Borough of Midland Park), quoted and re-checked
  27. New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, New Home Warranty—Consumer Information (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  28. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  29. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  30. Chapter 33: Land Subdivision - Borough of Midland Park, NJ (Borough of Midland Park), quoted and re-checked
  31. Bergen County Standards for Sustainable Land Development—Subdivisions, quoted and re-checked
  32. Fee Schedule for Site Plan Application, quoted and re-checked
  33. Major Access Permits (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  34. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  35. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  36. Chapter 10: Building and Housing - Borough of Midland Park, NJ (Borough of Midland Park), quoted and re-checked
  37. Local Finance Notice 2026-09: Short-Term Transient Accommodations (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 Midland Park

Borough of Midland Park’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Building-code enforcement inside Midland Park borough through the Borough's State Uniform Construction Code enforcing agency.

    • The agency includes a Construction Official and subcode officials; an on-site inspection agency may be retained by contract pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:23.
    “State Uniform Construction Code enforcing agency”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Housing-condition and smoke-detector compliance inspections inside Midland Park borough.

    • Upon sale of a one- or two-family residence or rental, lease, or transfer of a dwelling unit, a smoke-detector compliance certification is required.
    • The Borough official must inspect within 10 business days after application.
    • A $25 re-inspection fee applies if re-inspection is required.

    initial smoke-detector certification fee: 50 USD · inspection period: 10 business days · re-inspection fee: 25 USD

    “Upon the sale of a one (1) or two (2) family residence or the rental, lease or transfer of any dwelling unit, the seller, landlord or transferor is required to obtain from the Fire Official of the Borough of Midland Park or his designee a smoke detector compliance certification certifying that the property is in compliance with the provisions of this section.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Midland Park borough under the Borough's zoning ordinance.

    “Zoning Regulations of the Borough of Midland Park.”
  • Living in an RVProhibited

    Use of trailers, mobile homes, boats, campers, aircraft, and similar portable or wheel-based objects as residences inside Midland Park borough.

    • The code separately permits limited outdoor storage of one registered or leased object in the side or rear yard if the length does not exceed 32 feet, the object is at least the greater of five feet or its height from the property line, and it is screened from adjoining property.
    • The object must otherwise be garaged or stored inside a building.

    maximum outdoor-storage length: <= 32 feet · minimum property-line distance: greater of 5 feet or object height

    “No trailer [...] shall be used as a residence”
  • Manufactured homesProhibited

    Use of mobile homes and similar portable or wheel-based objects as residences inside Midland Park borough.

    • The code requires such objects to be garaged or stored within a building except for one qualifying outdoor-stored object subject to the listed conditions.
    “No trailer, mobile home, boat, camper or other vehicle shall be used as a residence or signage.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Buildings used for human occupancy, employment, recreation, or another purpose inside Midland Park borough where a Borough public or sanitary sewer system is located in the abutting street or right-of-way.

    • The owner must connect at the owner's expense when the property abuts a street or right-of-way containing or later containing a Borough public or sanitary sewage system.
    • The Borough code requires a separate and independent house sewer lateral for each qualifying building or residence, subject to the stated exception for certain rear buildings.
    “To connect such facilities and all sanitary sewage facilities [...] directly with the proper public sewer”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision or resubdivision of land inside Midland Park borough.

    • The owner must submit the requisite applications and sketch plats to the Borough Clerk at least two weeks before the regular Planning Board meeting.
    • Minor-subdivision approval is by unanimous action of the Subdivision Committee; County Planning Board approval may also be required.
    • The approved plat map or permitted deed description must be filed with the Clerk of the County of Bergen.

    minimum advance submission period: >= 2 weeks

    “prior to subdividing or resubdividing land”
  • Driveway accessLimited

    Driveway curb openings and driveway access for R-1 residential lots inside Midland Park borough.

    • R-1 individual-dwelling lots may have no more than one curb cut unless providing a circular driveway.
    • Two curb cuts are allowed only on lots at least 100 feet wide and must be at least 50 feet apart.
    • The plot plan submitted before a new dwelling construction permit must show proposed driveway curb-opening dimensions and locations.

    maximum curb-cut width: <= 20 feet · maximum driveway width from front lot line to front building line: <= 25 feet · minimum separation for two curb cuts: >= 50 feet (Only lots at least 100 feet wide may have two curb cuts)

    “Maximum curb cut width shall be 20 feet. Maximum driveway width. Curb cut extending to front lot line: 20 feet. Front lot line extending to front line of building (i.e., front yard): 25 feet.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in flood hazard areas inside Midland Park borough.

    • The applicant must apply to the Floodplain Administrator and obtain the required permit before development.
    • Depending on the nature and extent of development involving a building or structure, a floodplain development permit or approval may be required in addition to a building permit.
    • The application must identify and describe the development, locate the land, state intended use and occupancy, include required site and construction documents, state valuation, and be signed.
    • The permit becomes invalid if work does not commence within 180 days or is suspended or abandoned for 180 days; written extensions may be granted for periods not more than 180 days each.

    permit commencement period: 180 days (Written extensions may be granted for periods not more than 180 days each)

    “shall first make application to the Floodplain Administrator and shall obtain the required permit”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Construction, sewer, sewer-maintenance, and related permit fees inside Midland Park borough.

    • Construction permit fees are charged pursuant to the State Uniform Construction Code and the Borough's fee schedule.
    • A $0.0014-per-cubic-foot surcharge applies to new construction.
    • Sewer capital recovery is established by resolution each year.
    • The listed sewer fees and Board of Health fees are separate from other plumbing-code or Board of Health fees.

    State Uniform Construction Code surcharge: 0.0014 USD per cubic foot of new construction · sewer capital recovery: 2664.28 USD (Contracted by the property owner; established by resolution each year) · sewer maintenance permit fee: 35 USD · sewer maintenance permit nonrefundable fee: 25 USD

    “For maintenance and clean out of sewer laterals, permit fee | $35”

Rules another office applies inside Borough of Midland Park

Borough of Midland Park 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

    Every residence in the R-1 Residence District inside Midland Park borough.

    • For dwellings with more than one story, the first floor must have at least 700 square feet and the second floor at least 500 square feet.
    • The ordinance also states a maximum of one bedroom per 2,500 square feet of lot area.

    minimum floor area: >= 1000 square feet · minimum first-floor area for dwellings over one story: >= 700 square feet · minimum second-floor area for dwellings over one story: >= 500 square feet

    “Every residence shall have a minimum floor area of 1,000 square feet. Dwellings having more than one story shall have a minimum floor area of 700 square feet on the first floor and a minimum floor area of 500 square feet on the second floor. Maximum one bedroom per 2,500 square feet of lot area.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Lots in the R-1 Residence District inside Midland Park borough.

    • The minimum lot area is measured within 125 feet of the front street property line.
    • Street-line width must be at least 60 feet and setback-line width at least 100 feet.

    minimum lot area: >= 12500 square feet · minimum street-line width: >= 60 feet · minimum setback-line width: >= 100 feet · measurement depth from front street property line: 125 feet

    “There shall be a minimum lot area of 12,500 square feet which shall be measured within 125 feet of the front street property line; provided, however, that the lot width at the street line shall not be less than 60 feet and the lot width at the setback line shall not be less than 100 feet.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Principal buildings in the R-1 Residence District inside Midland Park borough.

    • If existing buildings on the same side of the street, in the same block, or within 200 feet establish a setback line less than 25 feet, new buildings must conform to that line, but may not project closer than 15 feet to the front street property line.
    • The ordinance also requires every lot to provide front, rear, and side yards required by its zone district.

    minimum front yard: >= 25 feet (Established setback exception, but never closer than 15 feet) · minimum rear yard: >= 25 feet · minimum side yard each: >= 12 feet

    “There shall be a minimum front yard of 25 feet; provided, however, that where existing buildings on the same side of the street, in the same block or within 200 feet form an established setback line less than 25 feet, new buildings shall conform to such established line, provided no new building may project closer than 15 feet to the front street property.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    R-1 Residence District lots inside Midland Park borough.

    • Engineering review is required for all improved-lot-coverage increases of more than 300 square feet.
    • Accessory buildings, garages, and sheds are subject to a separate footprint limit.

    maximum total building coverage: <= 30 percent of lot area · maximum improved lot coverage: <= 45 percent of lot area · maximum accessory-building footprint: 75% of principal-building footprint or 840 square feet, whichever is less

    “Total buildings: shall not exceed 30% of the lot area. Improved lot: shall not exceed 45% of the lot area. Total footprint of the accessory buildings, garages and sheds shall not exceed 75% of the footprint of the principle building or 840 square feet (e.g., 24 feet by 35 feet), whichever is less.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Principal buildings in the R-1 Residence District inside Midland Park borough.

    • The lesser of the two maximums controls.

    maximum principal-building height: 2.5 stories or 32 feet, whichever is less

    “The maximum height of a principal building shall be 2 1/2 stories or 32 feet, whichever is the lesser.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from construction permits inside Midland Park borough.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping inside Midland Park borough.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Midland Park borough.
  • Accessory dwellings — Accessory dwelling units inside Midland Park borough.
  • Who permits septic — Septic-system authority for land inside Midland Park borough.
6 more unanswered
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • 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 Midland Park publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Bergen County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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