Bolthole Index

Bergen County, New Jersey

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in River Edge, New Jersey

The Borough of River Edge, New Jersey requires a building permit before any work starts, and zoning review and approval must come first1. The borough sets its own zoning through its borough code2 and enforces the state construction code through its own Construction Code Enforcement Office3. Septic permits come from a health department, and we could not confirm which one covers a River Edge parcel4.

At a glance

Building permit
Required before any work starts1
Zoning
Borough zoning, applied by district; zoning approval comes before the permit application21
Who enforces the building code
River Edge's Construction Code Enforcement Office3
Certificate of occupancy
Required before sale or rental of a dwelling unit5
Septic
Health department inspection and approval; which one covers a parcel was not confirmed46
Owner-builder
Builder registration exception for a home built for your own use; permits still required7

Who to call

Building permits

Borough of River Edge Building Department (Construction Official and Zoning Officer)

Building permits, zoning review and construction inspections inside River Edge

(201) 599-6322

inspections@riveredgenj.org

10 River Edge Road, River Edge, NJ 07661

Septic permits

Bergen County Department of Health Services

Septic plan review for towns that contract with the county; confirm it has jurisdiction over your River Edge parcel

201-634-2600

healthdept@bergencountynj.gov

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

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Do you need a building permit in River Edge, NJ?

Yes. The Borough of River Edge requires permits before any work is started, and applies that to building, remodeling and additions1. The borough's Building Department states that permits are required before construction begins8.

River Edge's rule sits on top of the statewide Uniform Construction Code, which requires a construction permit for new construction and for work on existing buildings, with an exception for ordinary maintenance9. Contractors must show proof of New Jersey registration before a permit is issued1.

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

The Borough of River Edge issues its own building permits. The borough enforces the State Uniform Construction Code through a Construction Code Enforcement Office made up of the Construction Official and building, plumbing, electrical and fire protection subcode officials3.

The River Edge Building Department is at 10 River Edge Road, River Edge, NJ 07661, phone (201) 599-6322, email inspections@riveredgenj.org8. Do not call the Bergen County planning offices for a permit on a River Edge lot: construction permits are obtained through the municipal construction official9.

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

River Edge sets its own zoning. Chapter 416 of the Borough Code is the zoning chapter, and uses, height, yards, lot area and building location are regulated by zoning district2. Bergen County does not zone land; New Jersey leaves zoning to municipalities10.

So the answer to a setback, lot-size or building-height question depends on the district your lot sits in. State law lets municipal ordinances set those limits district by district, and River Edge's own code is where the numbers live11. Zoning review comes first: the Building Department requires zoning approval before a building permit application is submitted1. Ask the borough zoning officer which district a parcel is in before you buy.

How do septic permits work in River Edge?

New Jersey requires the health department having jurisdiction to certify the septic plan before a building permit can be issued, and to inspect the system before it is covered1213. Before a certificate of occupancy for a building using septic, the construction official requires a health-department Certificate of Compliance6.

Which health department covers a River Edge parcel is not something we could confirm: New Jersey leaves enforcement to municipal and county boards of health4. Bergen County Health Services reviews septic plans for towns that contract with it, so it is the first call14, and the River Edge Building Department can tell you who handles a given address15.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in River Edge?

We could not confirm a River Edge rule on living in an RV, camping on a lot or occupying a tiny home. The borough's zoning chapter is where such a rule would appear, and we found no provision addressing them. Do not assume that silence means the use is allowed. Ask the River Edge zoning officer, at the Building Department number above, before parking or placing any dwelling on a lot8. Manufactured HUD homes are limited statewide to single-family dwelling use16.

Building a home in River Edge: the steps, in order

  1. Ask the zoning officer which district the lot is in and what it allows2.
  2. Get zoning review and approval, which must come before the permit application1.
  3. If the home will use septic, get the health department's approval of the plan; the construction official needs it before issuing a permit12.
  4. Confirm your contractors are registered with the State of New Jersey1.
  5. Apply for the building permit with the Construction Code Enforcement Office3.
  6. Pass the staged inspections, including footings, rough plumbing and electrical, and framing17.
  7. Obtain the certificate of occupancy from the Construction Official before anyone moves in18.

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

Bergen County reviews subdivisions: every subdivision goes to the County Planning Board, and approval is required when it touches a County road or drainage facility19. A driveway onto a County road carries a road-access permit fee of $25020. For land outside River Edge, see the Bergen County page.

Building your own home does not remove the permit: the state exception is from builder registration, and the owner must file an affidavit before a certificate of occupancy is issued721. Property taxes are heavy: Bergen County's effective rate is 1.7%22, with a median bill of $10,001 a year23.

Watch-outs

  • A rental or sale of a River Edge dwelling needs a certificate of occupancy from the Construction Official first5.
  • A short-term rental application form exists on the borough's forms page, but we could not confirm whether River Edge allows the use; ask the Building Department before listing a property8.
  • We could not confirm River Edge rules on accessory dwelling units, private wells or off-grid sanitation; ask the Building Department and the health department before planning around them8.

Sources

  1. Building Department (Borough of River Edge), quoted and re-checked
  2. Chapter 416: Zoning (Borough of River Edge), quoted and re-checked
  3. Chapter 174: Construction Codes, Uniform (Borough of River Edge), quoted and re-checked
  4. NJDEP Septic System Professional Information (Borough of River Edge), quoted and re-checked
  5. Certificate of Occupancy provisions (Borough of River Edge), quoted and re-checked
  6. DCA Bulletin 79-7, Septic Systems (Borough of River Edge), quoted and re-checked
  7. Builder Registration and New Home Warranty for Builders, quoted and re-checked
  8. Borough of River Edge Building Department (Construction Official and Zoning Officer) (riveredgenj.org)
  9. The New Jersey State Uniform Construction Code, quoted and re-checked
  10. Bergen County Standards for Sustainable Land Development—Site Plans, quoted and re-checked
  11. P.L. 2013, c.106 (Municipal Land Use Law amendments) (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. New Jersey Statutes, R.S. 58:11-23 through 58:11-43 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. New Jersey Statutes, R.S. 58:11-23 through 58:11-43 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. bergencountynj.gov, quoted and re-checked
  15. Bergen County Department of Health Services (bergencountynj.gov)
  16. Manufactured/Modular Buildings Program (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, New Home Warranty—Consumer Information (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Bergen County Standards for Sustainable Land Development—Subdivisions, quoted and re-checked
  20. Fee Schedule for Site Plan Application, quoted and re-checked
  21. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  23. Median property tax bill: 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 River Edge

Borough of River Edge’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Building, remodeling, additions and listed work inside River Edge borough.

    • Permits must be obtained before work starts.
    • Zoning review and approval is required before a building-permit application is submitted.
    • Contractors must provide proof of State of New Jersey registration before permit issuance.
    “PERMITS ARE REQUIRED PRIOR TO ANY WORK BEING STARTED”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Construction-code enforcement inside River Edge borough.

    • The Borough enforces the State Uniform Construction Code through its Construction Code Enforcement Office.
    “There is hereby established in the Borough of River Edge a State Uniform Construction Code enforcing agency to be known as the "Construction Code Enforcement Office," consisting of a Construction 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.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Sale, rental or tenant occupancy of dwelling houses and dwelling units inside River Edge borough.

    • A certificate is required before sale of a dwelling unit.
    • A certificate and permit are required before renting, leasing or allowing tenant occupancy.
    • A certificate is issued by the Construction Official.
    • Rental applications require written application and inspection consent.
    “No person shall rent, lease or permit any tenant to occupy any dwelling house, dwelling unit or any portion of the premises occupied for a separate and distinct commercial use unless such a person first obtains from the Construction Official a certificate of occupancy and permit authorizing any of the foregoing:”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside River Edge borough; Borough Code Chapter 416 is its zoning chapter.

    • The code states that uses, height, yards, lot area and building-location regulations apply by zoning district.
    “[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of River Edge 12-22-1986 by Ord. No. 923 (Ch. XV of the 1975 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]”

Rules another office applies inside Borough of River Edge

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

  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    Individual septic systems serving property inside River Edge borough.

    • New Jersey develops the septic standards.
    • Municipal and county Boards of Health implement and enforce them.
    • The particular health department having jurisdiction for a River Edge parcel was not identified in the reviewed official materials.
    “The regulations are implemented and enforced by municipal and county Boards of Health. However, most Boards of Health contract local health departments to assist with local onsite wastewater management, which involves implementation of N.J.A.C. 7:9A, septic plan reviews, permitting and enforcement of health and environmental violations in accordance to the code.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    Septic systems serving property inside River Edge borough, including systems being abandoned or disconnected for public sewer hookup.

    • Inspection is by the health department having jurisdiction.
    • Before a certificate of occupancy for a building using septic, the construction official requires a health-department Certificate of Compliance.
    “Subsurface sewage disposal (septic) systems, including those that are abandoned without and associated hookup to a public sewer system, are to be inspected by the health department having jurisdiction.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from construction permits inside River Edge borough.
  • Living in an RV — Long-term or residential RV occupancy on private land inside River Edge borough.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside River Edge borough.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside River Edge borough.
  • Manufactured homes — Manufactured-home occupancy inside River Edge borough.
5 more unanswered
  • Accessory dwellings
  • 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 River Edge publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Bergen County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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