Bolthole Index

Bergen County, New Jersey

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

The Borough of Ridgefield in Bergen County, New Jersey runs its own building permits through its Department of Building Inspection under the State Uniform Construction Code1, and the borough sets its own zoning by district2. Septic permits come from the health department having jurisdiction; we could not confirm which one covers Ridgefield, so ask the Borough Building Department. Bergen County has no county zoning3.

At a glance

Building permit
Required; issued by the Borough's Department of Building Inspection under the State Uniform Construction Code14
Zoning
Borough zoning by district; Bergen County does not zone23
Minimum lot size (District A)
5,000 square feet in the Single-Family Residence Zone5
Front setback (District A)
25 feet minimum6
Septic
Board of health approval needed before a building permit; which health office covers Ridgefield not confirmed7
Short-term rentals
Rentals of 30 days or less are not a permitted use8
Owner-builder
Own-use builders skip builder registration but still need permits9

Who to call

Building permits

Ridgefield Building Department / Code Enforcement

Building permits, construction inspections and zoning appointments inside the Borough of Ridgefield

(201) 943-5546

gyfantis@ridgefieldboro.com

700 Shaler Boulevard Ridgefield, NJ 07657

Health department

Bergen County Department of Health Services

Septic plan review for municipalities that contract with the county; confirm whether it covers Ridgefield

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

These are affiliate links — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Bolthole Index earns from qualifying purchases.

Do you need a building permit in Ridgefield, NJ?

Yes. Ridgefield established its own State Uniform Construction Code enforcing agency, the Department of Building Inspection1. New Jersey requires a construction permit for new construction and for structural, plumbing, mechanical and electrical work on existing buildings; ordinary maintenance is excepted4. A complete application must be approved or denied within 20 business days4.

The borough publishes its building fees in its code. A residential certificate of occupancy for new construction or rehabilitation is $125, and plan review is 20% of the permit fee and nonrefundable10. Owners who build their own home for personal use are excepted from builder registration only; a construction permit is still required9.

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

The Borough of Ridgefield's own Building Department / Code Enforcement handles building permits and inspections, at 700 Shaler Boulevard, telephone (201) 943-554611. Do not use Bergen County offices for building permits: New Jersey counties do not run building permits for private construction, which go through the municipal construction official12.

The office states that all construction work must be inspected in accordance with the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code regulations (N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.18)11.

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

Yes. Ridgefield publishes its own zoning districts, from District A Single-Family Residence and District B Two-Family through commercial, manufacturing and marshland zones2. Bergen County has no county zoning, because municipalities, not counties, zone land in New Jersey3.

In District A, the Single-Family Residence Zone, the minimum lot size is 5,000 square feet5, the front yard setback is 25 feet and one side yard must be at least 7 feet6. Principal buildings may not exceed two and one-half stories or 32 feet, and accessory buildings are limited to 15 feet13.

Portions of Ridgefield lie in the Hackensack Meadowlands District, where the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority handles regional planning and zoning14. A flood-hazard development permit is also required before building in any special flood hazard area15.

How do septic permits work in Ridgefield?

New Jersey requires the board of health having jurisdiction to certify septic and water plans before a building permit is issued7, and the septic system must be inspected before it is covered16. Which health office covers Ridgefield we could not confirm. Bergen County's Department of Health Services reviews septic plans only for the towns that contract with it17. Ask the Ridgefield Building Department before you buy11.

USDA rates 11.7% of Bergen County soils as not limited for a conventional drain field, so most lots there need a site evaluation or an engineered system18.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Ridgefield?

We could not confirm a Ridgefield rule on RV occupancy, tiny-home occupancy or accessory dwellings, so none should be assumed. In a borough with published zoning districts, a use has to fit the district2. Ask the Zoning Officer through the Building Department before you buy or move anything onto a lot11.

Renting a dwelling for 30 days or less is not a permitted use anywhere in Ridgefield8.

Building a home in Ridgefield: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the zoning district and its lot size and setbacks with the Zoning Officer11,2.
  2. Get septic plan certification from the health department having jurisdiction if the lot is not on sewer7.
  3. Apply to the Department of Building Inspection for a construction permit1.
  4. Request inspections in writing when work is ready; the office asks for at least 24 hours' notice11.
  5. Obtain a certificate of occupancy before using a new building19.

An owner who builds personally must file an affidavit with the construction official before a certificate of occupancy can be issued20.

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

For land outside Ridgefield, see the Bergen County page. The county's role is limited: subdivisions must be submitted to the County Planning Board for review, with approval required only when the land touches a county road or drainage facility21. A driveway onto a county road carries a $250 road access permit fee22, and a state highway needs a state access permit23.

Bergen County's effective property tax rate is 1.7%24.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm which health office issues septic permits inside Ridgefield, or any Ridgefield rule on wells or utility connection; ask the Ridgefield Building Department before you buy11.
  • Parts of Ridgefield are inside the Hackensack Meadowlands District, where regional zoning rules apply14.
  • Special flood hazard areas need a development permit before construction begins15.

Sources

  1. Part 6: Uniform Construction Codes (Borough of Ridgefield), quoted and re-checked
  2. Article IX: Zoning District Regulations (Borough of Ridgefield), quoted and re-checked
  3. Bergen County Standards for Sustainable Land Development—Site Plans, quoted and re-checked
  4. Uniform Construction Code General Information, quoted and re-checked
  5. Article IX: Zoning District Regulations (Borough of Ridgefield), quoted and re-checked
  6. Article IX: Zoning District Regulations (Borough of Ridgefield), quoted and re-checked
  7. New Jersey Statutes, R.S. 58:11-23 through 58:11-43 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. ecode360.com (Borough of Ridgefield), quoted and re-checked
  9. Builder Registration and New Home Warranty for Builders, quoted and re-checked
  10. Chapter 140: Building Construction (Borough of Ridgefield), quoted and re-checked
  11. Ridgefield Building Department / Code Enforcement (ridgefieldnj.gov)
  12. The New Jersey State Uniform Construction Code, quoted and re-checked
  13. Article IX: Zoning District Regulations (Borough of Ridgefield), quoted and re-checked
  14. Bergen County Master Plan: Public Facilities and Services, quoted and re-checked
  15. Part 10 Flood Hazard Areas (Borough of Ridgefield), 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. bergencountynj.gov, quoted and re-checked
  18. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  19. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Bergen County Standards for Sustainable Land Development—Subdivisions, 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. Effective property tax rate: 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 Ridgefield

Borough of Ridgefield’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Construction inside Ridgefield borough under the State Uniform Construction Code administered by the Borough's enforcing agency.

    • The Borough established a State Uniform Construction Code enforcing agency and Department of Building Inspection.
    “There is hereby established in the Borough of Ridgefield a State Uniform Construction Code enforcing agency, to be known as the "Department of Building Inspection,"”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside Ridgefield borough.

    • The published district list includes District A Single-Family Residence, District B Two-Family, District C Multiple-Family, R-TH Townhouse Residential, R-SR and TH Senior Citizens Housing and Townhouse Residential, O-TH Office and Townhouse, District D Retail Business/Commercial/Office, O-LR, O-C, C, O-5-MR, O-7-MR, C-H, OMH, NB, MF, District E, District F, District G, District H, District I and OAR-A.
    “Single-Family Residence Zone - District A Two-Family Zone - District B Multiple-Family Zone - District C R-TH Townhouse Residential Zone R-SR and TH Senior Citizens Housing and Townhouse Residential Zone O-TH Office and Townhouse Zone Retail Business, Commercial or Office Zone - District D O-LR Office Low-Rise Zone O-C Office Commercial Zone C Commercial Zone O-5-MR Office Mid-Rise Zone O-7-MR Office Mid-Rise Zone C-H Commercial and Hotel Zone OMH Office/Mid-Rise Hotel Zone NB Neighborhood Business Zone MF Medium Density Multifamily Zone Light Manufacturing Zone - District E Heavy Manufacturing Zone - District F Public Use Zone - District G Marshland Zone - District H Public Utility Zone - District I A – Overlay Residential One (OAR – A) Zoning District”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Construction or development, including manufactured-home placement, within any Ridgefield borough area of special flood hazard established in § 390-211.

    • A development permit must be obtained before construction or development begins.
    • Applications may require scaled duplicate plans, elevations, floodproofing information, professional certification for nonresidential floodproofing, and watercourse-alteration information.
    • The Zoning Officer or designee administers the article.
    “A development permit (as a form of a zoning permit) shall be obtained before construction or development begins, including placement of manufactured homes, within any area of special flood hazard established in § 390-211.”
  • Short-term rentalsProhibited

    Renting or leasing a dwelling unit for residential occupancy for 30 days or less inside Ridgefield borough.

    • The provision was added September 21, 2016 by Ordinance No. 2310 and incorporates Ordinance No. 2310-2016.

    maximum permitted residential rental period: > 30 days (Renting or leasing for 30 days or less is not a permitted use)

    “Notwithstanding any other contrary provisions as contained in this chapter, the renting or leasing of a dwelling unit for residential occupancy for a period of 30 days or less is not a permitted use by or within the Borough of Ridgefield as more specifically provided in Ordinance No. 2310-2016, as appears in the Ridgefield Code, the terms and provisions of which are incorporated into this provision of the Zoning Ordinance.”
  • Permit feesPublished

    Building permits and related certificates inside Ridgefield borough.

    • The fee section was amended through Ordinance No. 2540 on 2026-06-08.
    • Residential UCC certificates of occupancy are charged $125; nonresidential certificates are 10% of the permit fee.
    • Temporary certificate initial issuance has no fee; subsequent renewals are $50.
    • Plan review is 20% of the permit fee and nonrefundable.

    residential certificate of occupancy fee: 125 USD (New construction or rehabilitation) · nonresidential certificate of occupancy fee: 10 percent of permit fee · plan review fee: 20 percent of permit fee (Nonrefundable) · temporary certificate initial issuance: 0 USD · temporary certificate renewal: 50 USD (Each subsequent renewal)

    “Certificate of occupancy, UCC Residential (new construction or rehabilitation) $125 Nonresidential $10% of permit fee Certificate of Continued Occupancy, UCC, applicant requested $125 Temporary certificate of occupancy Initial issuance No fee Subsequent renewals, each $50 Plan review: none refundable, percentage of permit fee 20%”
  • Permit processPartial

    Construction and flood-hazard development permit administration inside Ridgefield borough.

    • The Department of Building Inspection administers the State Uniform Construction Code.
    • Flood-hazard development permits are obtained before construction or development in special flood-hazard areas.
    • Flood permit applications may require scaled plans, elevations, floodproofing certification and watercourse-alteration information.
    “A development permit (as a form of a zoning permit) shall be obtained before construction or development begins, including placement of manufactured homes, within any area of special flood hazard established in § 390-211.”

Rules another office applies inside Borough of Ridgefield

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

  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    District A Single-Family Residence Zone inside Ridgefield borough.

    • The source identifies District A as the Single-Family Residence Zone.

    minimum lot size: >= 5000 square feet

    “The following regulations apply to District A: Minimum lot size: 5,000 square feet.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    District A Single-Family Residence Zone inside Ridgefield borough.

    • Corner lots may use a minimum total side-yard width of seven feet only if a minimum thirteen-foot setback is maintained on any side yard facing a street.
    • Minimum one-side-yard width is seven feet.

    minimum front yard setback: >= 25 feet · minimum total width of side yard: >= 15 feet (Corner lots may have seven feet if a thirteen-foot street-side setback is maintained.) · minimum width of one side yard: >= 7 feet

    “Minimum front yard setback: 25 feet. Minimum total width of side yard: 15 feet. Corner lots shall be permitted a minimum total side yard width of seven feet, so long as a minimum thirteen-foot setback is maintained on any side yard facing a street. Minimum width of one side yard: seven feet.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    District A Single-Family Residence Zone inside Ridgefield borough.

    • Accessory buildings have a separate maximum height.
    • Basement height and roof-height provisions also apply.

    maximum principal building height: <= 32 feet (Two and one-half stories maximum) · maximum accessory building height: <= 15 feet

    “Maximum height of buildings: two and one-half (2 1/2) stories, but not to exceed 32 feet. Maximum height of accessory buildings: 15 feet.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — General building-permit requirement for construction inside Ridgefield borough.
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption inside Ridgefield borough.
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside Ridgefield borough.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Ridgefield borough residential districts.
  • Living in an RV — RV occupancy on land inside Ridgefield borough.
11 more unanswered
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption

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

← All of Bergen County: county rules, score and offices