Bolthole Index

Burlington County, New Jersey

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Delran Township, New Jersey

Delran Township, New Jersey requires a construction permit for new construction, and the township's Construction Office issues it12. Delran sets its own zoning, and its Zoning Department issues zoning permits34. Septic applications go to the Burlington County Environmental Health Division5; we could not confirm which health authority covers a particular Delran address.

At a glance

Building permit
Required; issued by the township Construction Office21
Zoning
Township zoning ordinance (Chapter 355); the county does not zone36
Minimum lot, A-1 district
1 acre, except open-space development7
Septic
Applications to Burlington County Environmental Health; confirm jurisdiction for your address58
Sewer connection
Required within six months once a public sewer line is completed in the street9
Certificate of occupancy
Final inspection first; township zoning certificate of conformance also required1011
RV or tiny home living
Not confirmed; ask the Zoning Department4

Who to call

Building permits

Delran Township Construction Office

Construction permits and inspections under the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code inside Delran Township

(856) 461-8667

constructioninspections@delrantownship.org

900 Chester Avenue, Delran, NJ 08075

Zoning

Delran Township Zoning Department

Zoning, fence, sign and flat work permits inside Delran Township

(856) 461-8667

900 Chester Avenue, Delran, NJ 08075

Septic permits

Burlington County Health Department, Environmental Health Division

Applications for permits to construct or alter individual septic systems, and well permits, under the county Septic and Well Program

609-265-5548

15 Pioneer Blvd., Westampton, NJ 08060

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Delran Township means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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

Yes. Delran Township zones its own land under Chapter 355 of the township code3, and Burlington County has no zoning authority of its own over township land6. Zoning rules vary by district, so find your parcel's district first12.

In the A-1 Agricultural district, the minimum lot size is one acre unless the township's open-space development article applies7. Principal buildings there need a front setback of 50 feet from a county or state right-of-way and 35 feet from other rights-of-way, plus a side setback of 20 feet13. Impervious coverage is capped at 60% of the lot and building height at 35 feet1415.

In the R-1 Single-Family Residence district, the side setback drops to 10 feet16, impervious coverage is capped at 50%17, and building height is capped at 35 feet18. We did not confirm minimum home size or accessory dwelling rules; ask the Zoning Department4.

Do you need a building permit in Delran Township, and who issues it?

Yes. A construction permit is required for any new construction and for structural, plumbing, mechanical and electrical work on existing buildings2. In Delran, the Construction Office and the Zoning Department sit together in the township's Community Development office, and between them they issue construction permits and zoning permits1. Fence, sign and flat work permits come from the Zoning Department4.

A complete application must be released or denied within 20 business days19. Before a certificate of occupancy is issued, the township zoning officer must also issue a zoning certificate of conformance, with a decision within 10 business days of a written application20. We could not confirm Delran's permit fee schedule; call the Construction Office1.

How do septic permits work in Delran Township?

Septic is separate from building permits. New Jersey law bars a building permit until the board of health having jurisdiction certifies the sewerage facilities, and septic systems must be inspected before they are covered2122. Burlington County's Environmental Health Division takes applications to construct or alter an individual septic system5.

We could not confirm whether the county or a township board of health has jurisdiction for a given Delran address, so ask the Environmental Health Division before you buy5. Where a public sewer line is available, Delran requires owners with private septic facilities to connect within six months after the line is completed in the abutting street, at the owner's expense9.

Soils matter too. Only about 0.2% of Burlington County soils are rated "not limited" for a conventional drain field, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system23.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on your land in Delran Township?

We could not confirm Delran's rules on RV occupancy, temporary camping or tiny homes, and the Zoning Department is the office to ask4. Because Delran sets its own zoning, the answer depends on the township ordinance and your district, not on the county3.

One statewide rule is confirmed: manufactured HUD homes are limited to use group R-5, single-family dwellings24. That rule does not answer whether you may live in an RV while you build.

Building a home in Delran Township: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm your parcel's zoning district and its lot size, setbacks and coverage limits with the Zoning Department4.
  2. Get septic approval, or confirm sewer availability, before applying for a building permit219.
  3. Apply for a construction permit with the Construction Office1.
  4. Expect construction to stop for inspections, including footing, foundation, utility including septic, midpoint and final inspections for one- and two-family dwellings25.
  5. Pass the final inspection to receive the Certificate of Occupancy10, and obtain the township zoning certificate of conformance11.

If you build your own home, an affidavit is required before a certificate of occupancy can issue26.

What stays with Burlington County, and what to check before you buy in Delran

Septic and well permits stay with the Burlington County Environmental Health Division5, and the county planning board reviews subdivisions that affect county road or drainage facilities27. Land division inside Delran is also regulated by the township, so ask before splitting a lot28. For land outside the township, see the Burlington County page.

Before buying, confirm the zoning district, septic or sewer status, and flood hazard status with the township. Driveways onto a State highway need a NJDOT access permit29. Burlington County's effective property tax rate is 2.4%30.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm Delran's rules for RVs, tiny homes, accessory dwellings, minimum home size or permit fees; call the Zoning Department or Construction Office before you buy4.
  • County septic and well permits apply separately from township building permits, and building permits cannot issue before the board of health certifies septic facilities21.
  • A township zoning certificate of conformance is required in addition to the construction certificate of occupancy11.

Sources

  1. Delran Township Construction Office (delrantownship.org)
  2. Uniform Construction Code General Information, quoted and re-checked
  3. Article IV: Agricultural Zoning District A-1 - Township of Delran, NJ (Delran Township), quoted and re-checked
  4. Delran Township Zoning Department (delrantownship.org)
  5. Burlington County Health Department, Environmental Health Division (burlingtoncountynj.gov)
  6. P.L. 2013, c.106 — Municipal Land Use Law amendments (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  7. Article IV: Agricultural Zoning District A-1 - Township of Delran, NJ (Delran Township), quoted and re-checked
  8. Environmental Health, quoted and re-checked
  9. Township of Delran, NJ: Access and Connection to Sewer Facilities (Delran Township), quoted and re-checked
  10. Uniform Construction Code General Information, quoted and re-checked
  11. Township of Delran, NJ: Zoning Officer; Zoning Permits; Certificates of Conformance (Delran Township), quoted and re-checked
  12. Table of Contents - Township of Delran, NJ (eCode360) (Delran Township), quoted and re-checked
  13. Article IV: Agricultural Zoning District A-1 - Township of Delran, NJ (Delran Township), quoted and re-checked
  14. Article IV: Agricultural Zoning District A-1 - Township of Delran, NJ (Delran Township), quoted and re-checked
  15. Article IV: Agricultural Zoning District A-1 - Township of Delran, NJ (Delran Township), quoted and re-checked
  16. Article V: Single-Family Residence District R-1 - Township of Delran, NJ (Delran Township), quoted and re-checked
  17. Article V: Single-Family Residence District R-1 - Township of Delran, NJ (Delran Township), quoted and re-checked
  18. Article V: Single-Family Residence District R-1 - Township of Delran, NJ (Delran Township), quoted and re-checked
  19. Uniform Construction Code General Information, quoted and re-checked
  20. Township of Delran, NJ: Zoning Officer; Zoning Permits; Certificates of Conformance (Delran Township), 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. New Jersey Statutes, R.S. 58:11-23 through 58:11-43 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. 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
  24. Manufactured/Modular Buildings Program (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  25. New Jersey Department of Community Affairs consumer construction information, quoted and re-checked
  26. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  27. New Jersey State Hazard Mitigation Plan Capability Assessment, quoted and re-checked
  28. Table of Contents - Township of Delran, NJ (eCode360) (Delran Township), quoted and re-checked
  29. Major Access Permits (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  30. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 24, 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 Delran Township

Delran Township’s own rules

  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Use or occupancy of any building, structure or premises created, erected, changed, converted, altered or enlarged inside Delran township limits.

    • This is a zoning certificate of conformance issued by the township zoning officer, not a confirmed building-code certificate of occupancy.
    • The zoning officer may issue it only after verifying construction conforms to the finally approved site or subdivision plans (§ 355-102 b.).
    • Decision required within 10 business days after a written application (§ 355-102 c.).

    decision deadline: 10 business days (after receipt of written application)

    “it shall be unlawful to use or permit the use of any building, structure or premises or part thereof hereafter created, erected, changed, converted, altered or enlarged wholly or partly in its use or structure until a certificate of conformance permitting the occupancy thereof shall have been applied for and issued therefor by the zoning officer.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Delran township limits: the township's own zoning ordinance, Chapter 355 Zoning of the Township of Delran code, governs use and bulk of land and buildings.

    • Zoning applies inside the township's limits only; the county does not administer this ordinance for township land.
    • Code legislation is shown through 12-12-2023 on the eCode360 table of contents; no separate effective date is stated for chapter 355 in the opened text.
    “it shall be unlawful to use or permit the use of any building, structure or premises or part thereof hereafter created, erected, changed, converted, altered or enlarged wholly or partly in its use or structure until a certificate of conformance permitting the occupancy thereof shall have been applied for and issued therefor by the zoning officer.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Land inside Delran township limits, by zoning district named in Chapter 355 Zoning (for example A-1 Agricultural and R-1 Single-Family Residence).

    • The district list is in Chapter 355 Articles III onward; only the A-1 and R-1 articles were opened. The zoning map referenced in Article III was not opened.
    • Other districts (for example M-1, M-2, M-3, NC-1, O-1, ID-1) appear as separate articles in the eCode360 search index and were not verified here.
    “chapter 355 zoning (§ 355-1 – § 355-137)”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Single-family and other uses on land in the A-1 Agricultural zoning district inside Delran township.

    • Lot size is one acre except as permitted under Article IV-A of Chapter 355 (open-space development), which was not opened.
    • Horses, ponies and other livestock have separate acreage conditions in § 355-10 that were not summarized here.

    minimum lot size: 1 acre (except as permitted in article iva)

    “a. the minimum lot size shall be one acre except as permitted in article iva, below.”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Principal buildings in the A-1 Agricultural zoning district inside Delran township.

    • Front setback is 50 feet from a county or state right-of-way and 35 feet from other rights-of-way.
    • Reverse-frontage rear setback is 50 feet from a county or state right-of-way; other rear setback is 35 feet.
    • Accessory sheds must be at least 10 feet from any lot line (§ 355-13 i.(10)).

    minimum front yard setback (other right-of-way): >= 35 feet (county or state right-of-way: 50 feet) · minimum rear yard setback (other rear property line): >= 35 feet (reverse frontage from county or state right-of-way: 50 feet) · minimum side yard setback: >= 20 feet

    “d. setback requirements. (1) minimum front yard setback: (a) fifty feet from any county or state right-of-way; (b) thirty-five feet from any other right-of-way. (2) minimum rear yard setback: (a) fifty feet from any county or state right-of-way for reverse frontage. (b) thirty-five feet from any other rear property line. (3) minimum side yard setback: 20 feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • District specific (with conditions) — Principal buildings in the R-1 Single-Family Residence district inside Delran township.
      “d. setback requirement: (1) minimum front yard setback: (a) fifty feet from any county or state right-of-way; (b) thirty-five feet from any other right-of-way. (2) minimum rear yard setback: (a) fifty feet from any county or state right-of-way for reverse frontage. (b) thirty-five feet from any other rear property line. (3) minimum side yard setback: 10 feet.”
  • Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Impervious coverage on lots in the A-1 Agricultural zoning district inside Delran township.

    • Clearing is limited to 80% of the lot area for construction, subject to an adjustment clause in § 355-13 g.
    • Accessory buildings count toward the impervious and lot coverage limits (§ 355-13 i.(3)).

    maximum impervious coverage: <= 60 percent of total lot area

    “f. maximum impervious coverage: 60% of total lot area.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Principal buildings in the A-1 Agricultural zoning district inside Delran township.

    • Accessory buildings may not exceed 25 feet in height (§ 355-13 i.(2)).
    • Sheds are limited to 10 feet in height (§ 355-13 i.(10)(b)).

    maximum building height: <= 35 feet

    “e. maximum building height: 35 feet. [amended 4-25-2006 by ord. no. 2006-4] f. maximum impervious coverage: 60% of total lot area.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Houses, buildings and properties inside Delran township limits that have a private sanitary sewer facility, or new plumbing, where a public sewer line is available in the abutting street, alley or right of way.

    • Owners with approved private sanitary sewer facilities must connect all sanitary and other plumbing facilities directly to the public sewer within six months after a sewer line is completed in the abutting street, alley or right of way, at the owner's expense.
    • After connection, the private sanitary sewer facility must be emptied and filled with fresh earth and may not be used again for sewage.
    • The sewer department may refuse to connect a system not designed or installed under applicable law and township rules (§ 281-12).
    • Water connection requirements were not established within the research budget; water is recorded as unknown.

    connection deadline after sewer line completion: 6 months (applies to owners with approved private sanitary sewer facilities)

    “the owners of all houses, buildings and properties having approved private sanitary sewer facilities will be required at their expense to connect all available sanitary and other plumbing facilities directly with the public sewer line within six months after completion of a sewer line within any street, alley or right of way abutting such houses, buildings and properties.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Division of land inside Delran township limits.

    • Based only on the table of contents entry for Chapter 310 Subdivision of Land; the subdivision standards and approval procedure were not opened.
    • Zoning Board and planning approvals referenced in § 355-102 b. may also apply.
    “chapter 310 subdivision of land (§ 310-1 &ndash; § 310-69)”
  • Permit processPartial

    Zoning certificates of conformance for land and buildings inside Delran township limits.

    • Covers only the zoning certificate of conformance step; the zoning permit and building permit process (Chapter 355 Article XX and Chapter 118) were not opened.
    • Certificates of conformance are granted or denied by the zoning officer within 10 business days after receipt of written application.

    decision deadline: 10 business days (after receipt of written application)

    “all applications for certificates of conformance shall be received by the zoning officer and shall be granted or denied by the zoning officer within 10 business days after receipt of such written applications.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Delran Township or Burlington County directly.

  • Building permit — Building permits for construction inside Delran township.
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemption for owner-occupied homes inside Delran township.
  • Building code adopted — Construction codes in force for buildings inside Delran township.
  • Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Delran township.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area inside Delran township.
15 more unanswered
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • 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 Delran Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Burlington County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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