Bolthole Index

Bergen County, New Jersey

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

Building in the Borough of Paramus, Bergen County, New Jersey requires a construction permit from the borough's Construction Official, and approved construction documents come first1. Paramus divides itself into its own zoning districts, so lot rules depend on the district2. Septic and well approvals sit with the health department having jurisdiction, which we could not confirm for Paramus3.

At a glance

Building permit
Required; issued by the borough Construction Official14
Building code
New Jersey Uniform Construction Code5
Zoning
Set by the borough, by district2
Certificate of occupancy
Required after final inspection6
Septic
Board of health certification before the building permit3
Owner-builder
Owner may file an affidavit; permits still required7

Who to call

Building permits

Paramus Building Department (Construction Official)

Construction permits and inspections inside the Borough of Paramus; the page also lists residential zoning and signage contacts

201-265-2100, ext. 2230

1 West Jockish Square, Lower Level, Paramus, NJ 07652

Health department

Paramus Health Department

The borough's local health department; ask whether it or Bergen County Health Services reviews septic and well plans for a Paramus address

201-265-2100, ext. 2300

1 West Jockish Square, Lower Level, Paramus, NJ 07652

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

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Do you need a building permit in Paramus, NJ?

Yes. Paramus does not issue a construction permit until its Construction Official approves all required construction documents for the work1. The permitted work must also comply with the building code and the Paramus Code8. The code is the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code5, and New Jersey's rule is that ordinary maintenance such as routine repair is the main exception9.

Once the application is complete, the state rule is that it must be approved or denied within 20 business days9. New Jersey also requires zoning approval before plan review for an owner-occupied one- or two-family addition or alteration10.

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

The Paramus Building Department, led by the borough's Construction Official, issues building permits inside Paramus4. Its inspectors are licensed by the State of New Jersey and enforce the Uniform Construction Code4. The department's page also lists residential zoning and signage contacts, so the same office is the first call for a zoning question on a house project4.

Bergen County does not take over this role: the county has no zoning authority over municipalities11. The county page, Bergen County, covers the county's own rules.

Does Paramus have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Paramus has its own zoning. The borough is divided into districts shown on a zoning map, including residential districts R-50, R-75, R-100 and R-1502. New Jersey leaves minimum lot size, setbacks, building height and floor area to each municipality's zoning ordinance, district by district1213.

The one dimensional rule we confirmed is for the R-50 one-family zone: buildings may cover 25% of the lot and impervious surfaces 50%14. We could not confirm Paramus's minimum dwelling size, accessory dwelling rules, or any rule on RVs, tiny homes or temporary camping, so ask the zoning officer through the Building Department before you plan around any of them4.

How do septic permits work in Paramus?

New Jersey law does not let a building permit issue until the board of health having jurisdiction certifies the proposed water supply and sewerage facilities3. A septic tank or field also cannot be covered until a board of health representative inspects it15.

We could not confirm who reviews septic plans for a Paramus address. Bergen County Health Services serves only the contracting towns, roughly 30, and not every municipality16. Start with the Paramus Health Department, which can say whether it or the county has jurisdiction17. Most of Bergen County sits on public sewer, so many Paramus lots may never need a septic system.

Building a home in Paramus: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the lot's zoning district and its rules with the zoning contacts at the Building Department4.
  2. If the lot will use septic or a well, get the health department's certification first; the building permit cannot issue before it3.
  3. File the construction permit application with the Construction Official and wait for approval of the construction documents1.
  4. If any part of the lot is in a flood hazard area, apply to the Floodplain Administrator first; a floodplain permit may be needed in addition to the building permit18.
  5. Build, stopping for the required inspections at footings, rough plumbing and electrical, and framing19.
  6. Request a final inspection and certificate of occupancy before you move in6.

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

A driveway onto a Bergen County road needs a county road-access permit, with a fee of $250 for a proposed residential driveway on a County road not subject to Site Plan Approval or Exemption20. A driveway onto a state highway needs an NJDOT access permit21. Subdividing a lot goes to the county planning board for review, though approval is required only when the lot touches a county road or drainage facility22.

Bergen County is dense, at about 4,114 people per square mile23, and its typical home value is $791,11624. The county's effective property tax rate is 1.7%25. For land outside Paramus, use the Bergen County page.

Watch-outs

  • Owner-builders in New Jersey are exempt from new-home builder registration, not from construction permits or inspections, and an affidavit is required before a certificate of occupancy can issue7.
  • The state's 2024 building subcode amendments took effect on August 17, 2026, so older plans may need review against the current code26.
  • We could not confirm Paramus's permit fees, driveway or curb-cut rules, or well permit process; ask the Building Department and the Health Department417.
  • A property in a flood hazard area needs a separate floodplain permit from the borough's Floodplain Administrator18.

Sources

  1. Chapter 181: Building Construction and Alteration Permits - Borough of Paramus, NJ (Borough of Paramus), quoted and re-checked
  2. Article VI: Zoning Map; Districts - Borough of Paramus, NJ (Borough of Paramus), 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. Paramus Building Department (Construction Official) (paramusborough.gov)
  5. Chapter 181: Building Construction and Alteration Permits - Borough of Paramus, NJ (Borough of Paramus), quoted and re-checked
  6. Chapter 181: Building Construction and Alteration Permits - Borough of Paramus, NJ (Borough of Paramus), quoted and re-checked
  7. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Chapter 181: Building Construction and Alteration Permits - Borough of Paramus, NJ (Borough of Paramus), quoted and re-checked
  9. Uniform Construction Code General Information, quoted and re-checked
  10. New Jersey Uniform Construction Code, N.J.A.C. 5:23 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Bergen County Standards for Sustainable Land Development—Site Plans, quoted and re-checked
  12. P.L. 2013, c.106 (Municipal Land Use Law amendments) (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. P.L. 2013, c.106 (Municipal Land Use Law amendments) (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Article IX: Residential One-Family (R-50) Zone - Borough of Paramus, NJ (Borough of Paramus), 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. bergencountynj.gov, quoted and re-checked
  17. Paramus Health Department (paramusborough.gov)
  18. Article IV: Permits - Borough of Paramus, NJ (Borough of Paramus), quoted and re-checked
  19. New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, New Home Warranty—Consumer Information (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Fee Schedule for Site Plan Application, quoted and re-checked
  21. Major Access Permits (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. Bergen County Standards for Sustainable Land Development—Subdivisions, quoted and re-checked
  23. Population density: Bolthole Index county data
  24. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  25. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  26. Current Construction Codes (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 Paramus

Borough of Paramus’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction and alteration of premises inside Paramus borough.

    • Required construction documents must be approved before the Construction Official issues the permit.
    • Permitted work must comply with the Building Code, Paramus Code, and other applicable laws, regulations, or rules.
    “The Construction Official shall not issue a permit authorizing the construction and/or alteration of a premises pursuant to this chapter of the Borough Code unless and until it approves all required construction documents for such proposed work.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction and alteration work inside Paramus borough.

    • The applicable code is the State of New Jersey Uniform Construction Code, as adopted and amended by the New Jersey Commissioner of Community Affairs.
    “BUILDING CODE — The State of New Jersey Uniform Construction Code, N.J.A.C. 5:23-1,1 et seq., as the same is adopted and may be amended from time-to-time by the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs, State of New Jersey.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Permitted work inside Paramus borough that requires a new or amended certificate of occupancy.

    • A final inspection must occur after all permitted work is completed and before issuance.
    • A temporary certificate may be issued before all work is complete only when the occupied portion can be maintained without endangering public safety, health, or welfare.
    “Upon application, the Construction Official is authorized to issue a temporary certificate of occupancy before the completion of the entire work covered by the permit, provided that the subject portion or portions of the building may be occupied and maintained in a manner that will not endanger public safety, health, or welfare.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside Paramus borough.

    • The Borough's zoning map is dated November 1, 2016 and may be amended by ordinance.
    • The code lists BCC, CEM, CR, GOV, HCC, HCC-2, LB, MFAC, MFML, MU, NB, RML, R-50, R-75, R-100, R-150, R-150ML, R-2F, R-AH, R-GC, and HP districts.
    “The Borough is hereby divided into the following zones or districts as shown on the Zoning Map:”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development in a flood hazard area inside Paramus borough.

    • The applicant must apply first to the Floodplain Administrator and obtain the required permit.
    • A floodplain development permit or approval may be required in addition to a building permit.
    • Applications must identify the development and site, state intended use and occupancy, include site plans and construction documents, grading and filling plans and other requested information, state project valuation, and be signed.
    “shall first make application to the Floodplain Administrator and shall obtain the required permit.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Construction and alteration permit applications inside Paramus borough.

    • Required construction documents must be approved before permit issuance.
    • The applicable Building Code and other laws, regulations, and rules apply to permitted work.
    “approves all required construction documents”

Rules another office applies inside Borough of Paramus

Borough of Paramus does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Lot coverageSpecified

    R-50 Residential One-Family Zone inside Paramus borough.

    • Building coverage is limited to 25 percent.
    • Impervious-surface coverage is limited to 50 percent.

    building coverage: <= 25 percent · impervious-surface coverage: <= 50 percent

    “By buildings: 25%. By impervious surfaces: 50%.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work inside Paramus borough.
  • Minimum dwelling size — One-family dwellings in Paramus borough residential zones.
  • Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Paramus borough.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Paramus borough.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Paramus borough.
12 more unanswered
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

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

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