Bolthole Index

Bergen County, New Jersey

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in North Arlington, New Jersey

Construction in the Borough of North Arlington, Bergen County, New Jersey needs a construction permit from the borough's own Construction Department under the state Uniform Construction Code12. The borough, not Bergen County, sets zoning through Chapter 20534. Septic permits come from the borough Board of Health5.

At a glance

Building permit
Required; issued by the North Arlington Construction Department12
Zoning
Borough zoning under Chapter 205; Bergen County does not zone34
Septic
Permit from the borough Board of Health5
Accessory buildings
Detached garages and other accessory buildings may not be lived in6
Owner-builder
Exempt from builder registration, not from permits7
Driveway width
Residential garage driveways no wider than 20 feet8

Who to call

Building permits

North Arlington Construction Department

Construction permits and code enforcement inside the borough

201-991-6060, ext. 111

214 Ridge Road North Arlington, NJ, 07031

Septic permits

North Arlington Health Department (Board of Health)

Borough health department; the Board of Health issues septic system permits

201-991-6060, ext. 121

214 Ridge Road North Arlington, NJ, 07031

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

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Do you need a building permit in North Arlington, NJ?

Yes. New Jersey's Uniform Construction Code makes it unlawful to construct, enlarge, repair, renovate, alter or demolish a structure, or change its use, without first filing an application and getting the required permit2. Ordinary maintenance is the exception2.

Inside North Arlington the borough has established its own Construction Department, with building, plumbing, electrical and fire-protection subcode officials1. Fees are set by municipal ordinance9. We could not confirm the borough's own step-by-step application process or fee amounts, so call the Construction Department before you file10.

Who issues building permits in North Arlington, and how do you reach them?

The North Arlington Construction Department issues construction permits for the borough1. The borough directory lists it at ext. 111 of the main borough number, and the borough offices are on Ridge Road10.

Bergen County does not issue building permits for private homes. New Jersey law lets only a qualifying pilot county run code enforcement, and only for county buildings or by shared-service agreement with a municipality11. A permit cannot be issued until all required state, county and local approvals are in place, so zoning and septic sign-off come first12.

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

North Arlington zones its own land. Chapter 205 of the borough code is the land-development and zoning chapter, with residential, commercial, industrial, park, public-utility and redevelopment districts, and its Schedule of Lot, Bulk and Yard Requirements sets lot and yard rules district by district3. Bergen County has no zoning authority of its own4.

Two specific rules we confirmed: no accessory building, including a detached garage, may be used for human habitation6, and a residential driveway to a private garage may not be wider than 20 feet8. We could not confirm borough rules for tiny homes or manufactured homes, so ask the Construction Department before planning either.

Portions of North Arlington lie in the Hackensack Meadowlands District, where the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority handles regional planning and zoning13. Check which zoning body governs a given parcel.

How do septic permits work in North Arlington?

Nobody may locate, construct or alter an individual sewage disposal system in North Arlington until the Board of Health has issued a permit5. New systems must also meet the state standards at N.J.A.C. 7:9A14.

State law ties this to building: the health authority must certify the sewerage facilities before a building permit issues, and the system must be inspected before it is covered1516. Where municipal sewer is available, the borough code requires connection17. Most lots in this part of Bergen County are sewered, so confirm with the borough Health Department whether septic is even an option on your lot18.

Can you build or live on a lot as an owner-builder in North Arlington?

New Jersey exempts a person who builds a new home for their own personal use from new-home-builder registration7. The exemption does not cover construction permits, inspections or code compliance7.

Before a certificate of occupancy can be issued for an owner-built home, the owner must file an affidavit with the construction official certifying the work conforms to law and acknowledging that the work is not covered by the New Home Warranty program19. We could not confirm any borough-specific owner-builder provision.

Building a home in North Arlington: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the parcel's zoning district under Chapter 205 and whether it falls in the Meadowlands District313.
  2. If the lot would use septic, get the Board of Health's permit and certification first515.
  3. File the construction permit application with the borough Construction Department1.
  4. Schedule the periodic inspections the code requires, including footings, rough plumbing and electrical, and framing20.
  5. Obtain the certificate of occupancy before anyone uses or occupies a new building21.

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

A driveway that connects to a Bergen County road needs a county road-access permit, with a $250 review fee22; a driveway onto a State highway needs a state access permit23. Subdivisions go to the County Planning Board for review24. For land outside the borough, see the Bergen County page.

County-level figures give the cost context: Bergen County's effective property tax rate is 1.7%25, and the typical home value is about $791,11626. Mapped flood hazard areas have their own borough chapter, which we could not fully confirm, so ask the Construction Department about flood rules for any parcel.

Watch-outs

  • Parts of North Arlington sit in the Hackensack Meadowlands District, where the NJSEA, not the borough alone, handles regional planning and zoning13.
  • We could not confirm the borough's own permit application steps, fee amounts, or well, tiny-home and manufactured-home rules; ask the Construction Department and Health Department1018.
  • Detached garages and other accessory buildings may not be used for human habitation, so a garage conversion is not a shortcut to a second dwelling6.

Sources

  1. Chapter 122: Construction Codes, Uniform (Borough of North Arlington), quoted and re-checked
  2. N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.14, Construction permits—when required (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  3. Chapter 205: Land Development (Borough of North Arlington), quoted and re-checked
  4. Bergen County Standards for Sustainable Land Development—Site Plans, quoted and re-checked
  5. Chapter 437: Sewage Disposal Systems, Individual (Borough of North Arlington), quoted and re-checked
  6. ecode360.com (Borough of North Arlington), quoted and re-checked
  7. Builder Registration and New Home Warranty for Builders (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. ecode360.com (Borough of North Arlington), quoted and re-checked
  9. The New Jersey State Uniform Construction Code (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. North Arlington Construction Department (northarlington.org)
  11. P.L. 2018, c.157 — County Code Enforcement Pilot Program (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. New Jersey Uniform Construction Code, N.J.A.C. 5:23 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Bergen County Master Plan: Public Facilities and Services, quoted and re-checked
  14. Chapter 437: Sewage Disposal Systems, Individual (Borough of North Arlington), quoted and re-checked
  15. New Jersey Statutes, R.S. 58:11-23 through 58:11-43 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. New Jersey Statutes, R.S. 58:11-23 through 58:11-43 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Chapter 298: Sewers (Borough of North Arlington), quoted and re-checked
  18. North Arlington Health Department (Board of Health) (northarlington.org)
  19. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, New Home Warranty—Consumer Information (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. Fee Schedule for Site Plan Application, quoted and re-checked
  23. Major Access Permits (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. Bergen County Standards for Sustainable Land Development—Subdivisions, quoted and re-checked
  25. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  26. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data

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 North Arlington

Borough of North Arlington’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction inside North Arlington borough under the New Jersey State Uniform Construction Code administered by the borough construction department.

    • The borough agency includes building, plumbing, electrical and fire-protection subcode officials.
    • Additional subcodes are those adopted by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.
    “There is hereby established in the Borough of North Arlington a State Uniform Construction Code enforcing agency to be known as the "North Arlington Construction Department," consisting of a Construction Code Official, Building Subcode Official, Plumbing Subcode Official, Electrical Subcode Official, Fire Protection Subcode Official and such other subcode officials for such additional subcodes as the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs, State of New Jersey, shall hereafter adopt as part of the State Uniform Construction Code.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside North Arlington borough; Chapter 205 is the borough land-development and zoning chapter.

    • The code states that the Schedule of Lot, Bulk and Yard Requirements is part of Chapter 205.
    • The code includes residential, commercial, industrial, park/recreation, public-utility and redevelopment-area districts.
    “The Schedule of Lot, Bulk and Yard Requirements is contained in Schedule II at the end of this chapter and is a part hereof.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Conversions of one-family dwellings to two-family dwellings in R-2 and R-3 Districts.

    • The 500-square-foot requirement applies to each dwelling unit in a conversion.
    • Off-street parking and district area, lot, yard and setback requirements also apply.
    • Each dwelling unit must have a separate entrance and bathroom.

    habitable dwelling space per dwelling unit: >= 500 square feet (R-2 and R-3 one-family-to-two-family conversions)

    “In R-2 and R-3 Districts, conversions of a one-family dwelling to a two-family dwelling are permitted, provided that: [...] There shall be provided at least 500 square feet of habitable dwelling space in each dwelling unit.”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Accessory buildings and structures in all residential zones inside North Arlington borough.

    • The restriction concerns accessory buildings; it does not independently resolve every possible accessory-dwelling configuration.
    “No accessory building, including detached garages, shall be used for human habitation.”
  • Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

    Individual subsurface sewage-disposal systems inside North Arlington borough; the Borough Board of Health administers the local permit and compliance certificate.

    • New systems must comply with N.J.A.C. 7:9A-1.1 et seq.
    • The code identifies the Board of Health as the issuing body.
    “No person shall locate, construct or alter any individual sewage disposal system until a permit for the location, construction or alteration of said sewage disposal system shall have been issued by the Board of Health.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Locating, constructing or altering an individual sewage-disposal system inside North Arlington borough.

    • The permit is issued by the Borough Board of Health.
    • State standards in N.J.A.C. 7:9A-1.1 et seq. are enforced.
    “No person shall locate, construct or alter any individual sewage disposal system until a permit for the location, construction or alteration of said sewage disposal system shall have been issued by the Board of Health.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    New or existing premises inside North Arlington borough where municipal sewer service is available.

    • Chapter 298 contains a section titled 'Connection required where service available.'
    • The opened material did not provide the section's operative distance or availability threshold.
    “§ 298-22 Connection required where service available.”
  • Driveway accessLimited

    Driveways providing access to permitted garages or parking areas in residential zones inside North Arlington borough.

    • Residential private-garage driveways may not exceed 20 feet in width.
    • The driveway exception applies to required yards.

    maximum residential private-garage driveway width: <= 20 feet

    “Driveways providing access to permitted garages or parking areas; provided, however, that in residential zones driveways used to provide access to private garages shall not be wider than 20 feet.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — Building permits for construction inside North Arlington borough.
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders performing construction inside North Arlington borough.
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside North Arlington borough.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside North Arlington borough.
  • Manufactured homes — Manufactured-home occupancy inside North Arlington borough.
6 more unanswered
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Permit process

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

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