Bolthole Index

Burlington County, New Jersey

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

Washington Township, Burlington County, New Jersey sets its own zoning, built around Pinelands districts1, and prohibits living in RVs and other mobile units inside the township2. Building permits are required under the Uniform Construction Code3, and the township has handed that code's enforcement to the state4. Septic permits run through the Burlington County septic program5.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes, set by the township in its own districts16
Building permit
Required under the state Uniform Construction Code3
Who enforces the building code
The state Department of Community Affairs, not a township building department4
Septic
Burlington County septic program (confirm for your address)5
RV living
Prohibited unless the zoning chapter or campground chapter authorizes it2
Minimum lot, PV-R zone
3.2 acres, with exceptions7
Minimum home size, PV-R zone
1,000 square feet, more for two-story or 4+ bedroom homes8
Owner-builder
Allowed, but permits and inspections still apply9

Who to call

Zoning

Washington Township Zoning Official

Zoning questions and zoning maps for land inside Washington Township

609-965-3242

zoningofficial@wtbcnj.org

2436 Route 563, Egg Harbor City, NJ 08215

Building permits

Washington Township Construction Code Official

Construction permits and inspections under the Uniform Construction Code, enforced by a Department of Community Affairs official at township hall

609-567-3653

2436 Route 563, Egg Harbor City, NJ 08215

Septic permits

Burlington County Health Department, Environmental Health Division

Applications for permits to construct or alter 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 23, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Does Washington Township, NJ have zoning?

Yes. Washington Township adopts its own zoning, and every parcel inside the township is assigned a district on the township zoning map1. The districts are Pinelands Village-Residential (PV-R), Pinelands Village-Neighborhood Business (PV-NB), Pinelands Village-Industrial (PV-I), Special Agricultural (SA) and Pinelands Preservation (PP)6. They implement the New Jersey Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan, so Pinelands rules sit on top of township rules1.

Burlington County does not zone Washington Township land. The county publishes municipal zoning maps, but the applicable rules depend on the township where the parcel sits10. Call the Zoning Official11 to confirm your parcel's district before you make an offer.

What are the lot size, setback and home size rules in Washington Township?

Rules differ by district. In the PV-R zone, single-family lots need at least 3.2 acres, with exceptions for grandfathered one-acre lots and certain minor subdivisions7. PV-R principal buildings need a front setback of at least 50 feet, side yards of at least 20 feet and a rear yard of at least 40 feet12. PV-R lot coverage is capped at 20 percent for buildings and 30 percent for all structures and improvements13, and principal buildings top out at 35 feet or 2 1/2 stories, whichever is less14.

A PV-R single-family home must be at least 1,000 square feet, rising to 1,200 square feet for two-story homes and homes with four or more bedrooms8. In the SA zone, buildings need a setback of at least 50 feet and structures may cover no more than 20 percent of the lot1516. A dwelling accessory to a farm in the SA zone needs a parcel of at least 40 acres under or qualified for agricultural assessment17.

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

Yes. New Jersey's Uniform Construction Code requires a construction permit for building work, and permits are issued by a construction official rather than by the county3. Washington Township has relinquished its jurisdiction over the code and transferred administration and enforcement to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs4. The township's Construction page lists a Construction Code Official with a state email address and office hours at Municipal Hall18.

Once a complete application is filed, the enforcing agency must release or deny it within 20 business days19. Owner-builders can pull permits for their own one- or two-family home, but permits and inspections still apply9. Fee amounts were not confirmed; ask the Construction Code Official.

How do septic permits work in Washington Township?

New Jersey requires a septic plan approval from the health department with jurisdiction before a construction permit can be issued for a building on septic20. Burlington County handles individual septic systems through its Septic and Well Program5, and the Environmental Health Division takes applications for permits to construct or alter a system21. We could not confirm from the township's code whether the county health department or another board of health covers every Washington Township address, so confirm with the Environmental Health Division before you buy.

Soils matter. Only a very small share of Burlington County soils rate as not limited for a conventional drain field22, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system. Septic inspections happen before the system is covered23. Well permits are also required, issued by municipal or county health officials24.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Washington Township?

No for RVs. Washington Township prohibits recreational vehicles, travel trailers and other mobile units used as a dwelling or sleeping unit, unless the land development chapter or the campground chapter specifically authorizes the use2. Campground units cannot be lived in full time, apart from one caretaker site per campground2. The one exception is a temporary license, after Planning and Zoning Board review, for a mobile unit while a damaged or destroyed home is rebuilt2.

We could not confirm how the township treats a fixed tiny home on a foundation. Ask the Zoning Official before you buy land for one.

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

  1. Ask the Zoning Official which district your parcel is in and what lot size, setbacks and uses apply11.
  2. If you need to divide land, expect planning and zoning board approval, with Burlington County Planning Board review for minor subdivisions25.
  3. Get septic plan approval from the county Environmental Health Division2021.
  4. Apply for a construction permit with the Construction Code Official18; no permit may issue until all required state, county and local approvals are in place26.
  5. Build through the required inspections, including footing, foundation, utility including septic, midpoint and final27.
  6. Pass the final inspection and get a certificate of occupancy before you move in28.

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

Land outside Washington Township follows other rules; see the Burlington County page. For this township, the county handles septic and wells5 and reviews minor subdivisions alongside the township25. A driveway onto a state highway needs a state access permit29.

Burlington County's effective property tax rate is 2.4 percent30, with a median bill of about $7,902 a year31. Floodplain rules and other township requirements were not confirmed, so ask the township about flood hazard areas before closing.

Watch-outs

  • Pinelands rules apply on top of township zoning, so ask the Zoning Official about Pinelands limits before you plan a lot split or a build1.
  • RVs, travel trailers and other mobile units may not be lived in anywhere in the township without specific authorization2.
  • The township has given construction code enforcement to the state, so building permits do not come from a township building department4.
  • We could not confirm fees, driveway rules, flood hazard rules or the treatment of tiny homes; call the township at 609-965-324211.

Sources

  1. Township of Washington NJ Code Chapter 275 Land Development, Article II Zoning Districts and Zoning Map (Washington Township), quoted and re-checked
  2. Township of Washington NJ Code Chapter 442 Trailers, Mobile Homes and Mobile Units (Washington Township), quoted and re-checked
  3. NJ Department of Community Affairs - Uniform Construction Code (2026 county census)
  4. Township of Washington NJ Code Chapter 180 Construction Codes, Uniform (Washington Township), quoted and re-checked
  5. Environmental Health, quoted and re-checked
  6. Township of Washington NJ Code Chapter 275 Land Development, Article II Zoning Districts and Zoning Map (Washington Township), quoted and re-checked
  7. Township of Washington NJ Code Chapter 275, Article III Pinelands Village-Residential Zone (PV-R) (Washington Township), quoted and re-checked
  8. Township of Washington NJ Code Chapter 275, Article III Pinelands Village-Residential Zone (PV-R) (Washington Township), quoted and re-checked
  9. N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.15 Construction permits-application (2026 county census)
  10. Municipal Zoning Maps, quoted and re-checked
  11. Washington Township Zoning Official (wtbcnj.org)
  12. Township of Washington NJ Code Chapter 275, Article III Pinelands Village-Residential Zone (PV-R) (Washington Township), quoted and re-checked
  13. Township of Washington NJ Code Chapter 275, Article III Pinelands Village-Residential Zone (PV-R) (Washington Township), quoted and re-checked
  14. Township of Washington NJ Code Chapter 275, Article III Pinelands Village-Residential Zone (PV-R) (Washington Township), quoted and re-checked
  15. Township of Washington NJ Code Chapter 275, Article VI Special Agricultural Zone (SA) (Washington Township), quoted and re-checked
  16. Township of Washington NJ Code Chapter 275, Article VI Special Agricultural Zone (SA) (Washington Township), quoted and re-checked
  17. Township of Washington NJ Code Chapter 275, Article VI Special Agricultural Zone (SA) (Washington Township), quoted and re-checked
  18. Washington Township Construction Code Official (wtbcnj.org)
  19. Uniform Construction Code General Information, quoted and re-checked
  20. Bulletin 79-7 Septic Systems, quoted and re-checked
  21. Burlington County Health Department, Environmental Health Division (burlingtoncountynj.gov)
  22. 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
  23. New Jersey Statutes, R.S. 58:11-23 through 58:11-43 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. Bulletin 88-10: Private On-Site Water Supply Systems (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  25. Township of Washington NJ Code Chapter 275, Article VIII Land Subdivision Procedures (Washington Township), quoted and re-checked
  26. New Jersey Uniform Construction Code, N.J.A.C. 5:23 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  27. New Jersey Department of Community Affairs consumer construction information, quoted and re-checked
  28. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (New Jersey statewide rule), 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
  31. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 23, 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 Washington Township

Washington Township’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent

    All land inside Washington township's limits, under the township's own zoning districts in Chapter 275 (Land Development)

    • Chapter 275 Article II assigns each parcel a district from the township zoning map, and the chapter controls if the map conflicts with its text.
    • The zoning districts implement the New Jersey Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan.
    “the following zoning districts and schedules of limitations are hereby established to safeguard the general health, safety and welfare of the municipal residents”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts for land inside Washington township

    • Districts are PV-R (Pinelands Village-Residential), PV-NB (Pinelands Village-Neighborhood Business), PV-I (Pinelands Village-Industrial), SA (Special Agricultural) and PP (Pinelands Preservation).
    • The zoning map is referenced in § 275-9 and governs district assignments.
    “the zoning districts are as follows: pv-r pinelands village-residential pv-nb pinelands village-neighborhood business pv-i pinelands village-industrial sa special agricultural pp pinelands preservation”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Single-family residential dwellings in the Pinelands Village-Residential (PV-R) zone inside Washington township

    • Two- or two-and-a-half-story buildings: 1,200 square feet minimum, of which at least 800 square feet must be on the first floor.
    • Four bedrooms or more: 1,200 square feet minimum.

    minimum gross floor area: >= 1000 square feet (1,200 sq ft for two-story or 4+ bedroom homes (see conditions))

    “single-family residential uses: 1,000 square feet minimum with the following exceptions:”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Single-family residential uses in the Pinelands Village-Residential (PV-R) zone inside Washington township

    • Exception: any lot that had a minimum area of one acre at the time of the effective date of this subsection is deemed conforming, but a larger lot may be required for the wastewater quality standards in § 275-96.
    • Exception: a minor-subdivision applicant who (or whose immediate family) has owned the lot since the chapter's effective date may apply to create three undersized lots of at least one acre.
    • Lot width: 100 feet minimum; 200 feet minimum for lots requiring 3.2 acres and using a conventional on-site septic system.
    • Pinelands waiver: unless the Pinelands Commission grants a waiver under N.J.A.C. 7:50-4.61 et seq., no residential dwelling unit may be on a parcel under 40,000 square feet, excluding road rights-of-way.

    minimum lot area: >= 3.2 acres (one-acre grandfathered lots and minor-subdivision exception in conditions)

    “(a) minimum of 3.2 acres, subject to the following exceptions:”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Principal and accessory buildings in the Pinelands Village-Residential (PV-R) zone inside Washington township

    • Front yard setback exceptions: roadside stands 30 feet minimum; greater front setbacks may be required under § 275-93 scenic preservation standards.
    • Exceptions: church rear yards 50 feet; public and private schools side 50 feet and rear 50 feet; private stables side and rear 50 feet.
    • Building projections into any yard may not exceed four feet (§ 275-15).

    front yard setback (principal): >= 50 feet (roadside stand 30 feet; scenic preservation (§ 275-93) may require more) · side yard setback (principal): >= 20 feet (public and private schools 50 feet) · rear yard setback (principal): >= 40 feet (churches and schools 50 feet) · side yard setback (accessory): >= 10 feet (private stables 50 feet) · rear yard setback (accessory): >= 20 feet (private stables 50 feet)

    “front yard setback: 50 feet minimum with the following exceptions:”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    All lots in the Pinelands Village-Residential (PV-R) zone inside Washington township

    • The 20% limit applies to buildings only; the 30% limit applies to all structures and improvements, excluding landscaping and underground improvements.

    lot coverage by buildings: <= 20 percent · lot coverage by all structures and improvements: <= 30 percent (excludes landscaping and underground improvements)

    “lot coverage by buildings only: 20% maximum.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Building heightSpecified

    Buildings in the Pinelands Village-Residential (PV-R) zone inside Washington township

    • Exceptions in § 275-14: governmental public buildings and churches may reach 50 feet or 3 1/2 stories, with setbacks increased one foot per foot above 35 feet; farm buildings may reach 50 feet if not used residentially, with the same setback increase.

    principal building height: <= 35 feet (or 2 1/2 stories, whichever is less; public buildings, churches and farm buildings have exceptions) · accessory building height: <= 15 feet (or 1 1/2 stories, whichever is less)

    “principal buildings: a maximum of 35 feet or 2 1/2 stories, whichever is less.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Living in an RVProhibited

    Recreational vehicles, travel trailers and other mobile units (as defined in Chapter 442 § 442-7) used as a dwelling or sleeping unit on land inside Washington township

    • Chapter 442 § 442-8: the prohibition applies 'unless specifically authorized by chapter 275, land development, or any amendments thereto, or chapter 155, campgrounds'.
    • Chapter 155 § 155-6 bars residential occupancy of campground units, with one full-time caretaker campsite allowed per campground.
    • Chapter 442 § 442-9 allows a temporary license for a mobile unit while a principal dwelling that was damaged or destroyed is rebuilt, after review by the Planning and Zoning Board.
    • The definition of 'mobile units' in § 442-7 was not captured in full in the opened text; the definition is referenced but not quoted here.
    “mobile units as defined in § 442-7 of this article are prohibited within the township of washington”
  • Accessory dwellingsLimited

    Residential dwelling units accessory to a farm in the Special Agricultural (SA) zone inside Washington township

    • The dwelling must be accessory to an active agricultural operation.
    • It must be for an operator or employee of the farm who is actively engaged in and essential to the agricultural operation.
    • The property must have an active production history, or a farm management plan must demonstrate the property will be farmed.

    minimum parcel size for farm dwelling: >= 40 acres (parcel must be under or qualified for agricultural assessment)

    “to be located on a parcel of land of at least 40 acres in size which is under or qualified for agricultural assessment”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Land subdivisions and resubdivisions inside Washington township (Chapter 275 Article VIII)

    • The planning and zoning board (or zoning board of adjustment where it has jurisdiction) approves, conditionally approves or disapproves plats by resolution before filing with the county recording officer.
    • Minor subdivisions require concurrent Burlington County Planning Board review or approval and Pinelands Commission application requirements (§ 275-105).
    • Minor subdivision approval expires 190 days after municipal approval unless a plat or deed is filed with the county recording officer, municipal engineer and tax assessor.
    • Preliminary major subdivisions require a certified survey with topographic contours and soil borings at one per five acres (§ 275-57d).
    “any lands, lots or parcels resulting or remaining from a minor subdivision may not be submitted for another minor subdivision for a period of 24 months from the date of initial municipal approval.”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Bed-and-breakfast inns as a conditional use in the Pinelands Village-Residential (PV-R) zone inside Washington township

    • Owner must operate the inn and occupy the premises during use; the principal use must be a single-family residence.
    • Township license required; licenses expire December 31 each year and the annual fee is $100.
    • Stays are limited to 30 days in any 120-day period.
    • No cooking facilities in guest rooms.

    maximum guest rooms: <= 5 rooms

    “no more than five rooms shall be used as guest rooms for bed-and-breakfast inn guests.”

Rules another office applies inside Washington Township

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

  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Building construction inside Washington township under the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code, which the township has transferred to state enforcement

    • Chapter 180 Article I (adopted 4-2-1981 by ord. no. 2-1981) relinquishes the township's jurisdiction over the uniform construction code and transfers administration and enforcement to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.
    • The transfer takes effect 120 calendar days after a certified copy is forwarded to the department, or when the department exercises its jurisdiction, whichever is sooner.
    • The township does not adopt a separate local building code in Chapter 180.
    “hereby relinquishes its jurisdiction for the administration and enforcement of the uniform construction code and hereby transfers jurisdiction for the administration and enforcement of the uniform construction code to the department of community affairs of the state of new jersey”

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — New residential construction inside Washington township
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction of a home inside Washington township
  • Inspections — Building inspections for new homes inside Washington township
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes inside Washington township
  • Tiny homes — Tiny homes used as dwellings inside Washington township
12 more unanswered
  • Manufactured homes
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Permit fees
  • 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 Washington 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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