Bolthole Index

Burlington County, New Jersey

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Wrightstown, New Jersey

Wrightstown borough, in Burlington County, New Jersey, has its own zoning ordinance with 12 districts12, and building permits are required under the state Uniform Construction Code, enforced by the borough's Department of Code Enforcement and Inspection34. Septic permits are a Burlington County Health Department matter, not a borough one5.

At a glance

Building permit
Required, issued by the borough's construction office under the state code34
Zoning
Yes, borough ordinance with 12 districts12
Septic
Burlington County Health Department56
Minimum lot (R-2)
12,000 sq ft with 80 ft frontage7
Minimum home size (R-2)
1,200 sq ft for a detached dwelling8
Height limit (R-1 to R-3)
30 ft and 2.5 stories9
Owner-builder
Allowed to build own home, but permits and inspections still apply10

Who to call

Building permits

Wrightstown Borough Construction Office

Construction permits, plan review and inspections under the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code inside the borough, with building, electrical, plumbing and fire subcode officials

609-723-4450

Zoning

Wrightstown Joint Land Use Board

Subdivision, site plan and variance applications heard by the borough's land use board

609-723-4450

Septic permits

Burlington County Health Department, Environmental Health Division

Applications for permits to construct or alter individual subsurface sewage disposal (septic) systems, repair or replacement of components, 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 Borough of Wrightstown means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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

Yes. The Borough of Wrightstown adopts its own zoning ordinance, Chapter 219, and divides the borough into 12 districts1. Burlington County does not zone; zoning in New Jersey is a municipal power11.

The main single-family district, R-2, requires a minimum lot of 12,000 square feet with 80 feet of frontage and lot width7. In R-1 the minimum lot area is 9,000 square feet12, and in R-3 a subdivision lot needs 15,000 square feet per dwelling13. Where public sewer is not available, development needs a minimum of one acre14.

In R-2, principal buildings need a 30-foot front yard, 10-foot side yards and a 40-foot rear yard15. In R-3 the figures are 40 feet in front, 20 on each side and 60 in the rear16. Principal buildings may cover up to 20 percent of an R-2 lot17. Detached homes in R-2 must have at least 1,200 square feet of gross floor area8, and buildings in R-1 through R-3 are capped at 30 feet and 2.5 stories9.

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

Yes. Construction work inside Wrightstown borough requires a building permit under the state Uniform Construction Code, with exceptions for ordinary repairs and minor work3. The borough runs its own enforcing agency, the Department of Code Enforcement and Inspection, with building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and fire subcode officials18. Contact the Wrightstown Construction Office at 609-723-445019.

When a complete application is filed, the local enforcing agency must release or deny it within 20 business days20. Fees are set by the borough's fee schedule in Chapter 57, so confirm current amounts with the construction office before budgeting21. A certificate of occupancy is required before a new building is used22.

How do septic permits work inside Wrightstown?

Septic permits are not issued by the borough's construction office. In Burlington County, applications to construct or alter an individual subsurface sewage disposal system go to the Burlington County Health Department's Septic and Well Program523. State law bars a building permit until the board of health having jurisdiction certifies the sewerage and water supply plans24, and the system must be inspected before it is covered25.

We could not confirm which health office reviews a specific Wrightstown lot, or whether the lot can connect to public sewer. Where a public wastewater system is accessible to land proposed for development, the borough's code obligates the developer to build sewer connections26. Ask the Wrightstown Municipal Utilities Authority and the county Environmental Health Division at 609-265-5548 before assuming a septic system is an option23.

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

We could not confirm any borough rule on living in an RV, camping on a lot, or occupying a tiny home. The zoning text we reviewed lists detached dwellings as the single-family principal use, and the borough's code also has a chapter on temporary housing that we could not review. Ask the Wrightstown Construction Office at 609-723-4450 and the zoning officer before parking or placing anything you plan to sleep in19.

For a manufactured home, New Jersey limits HUD homes to use group R-5, single-family dwellings, and installation follows federal standards27. Whether Wrightstown's zoning permits one on a given lot is unconfirmed.

Building a home in Wrightstown: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the lot's zoning district and dimensions against the borough's zoning map, which is on file with the borough clerk2.
  2. Check sewer and septic: ask the county Environmental Health Division and the borough about sewer availability2326.
  3. If you are subdividing, file with the borough clerk at least two weeks before a regular board meeting28; the Joint Land Use Board meets the second Monday of each month29.
  4. File a construction permit application with the borough's construction office3.
  5. Stop for the required inspections, including footing, framing and the final inspection30.
  6. Get a certificate of occupancy before moving in22. If you built the home yourself, an affidavit to the construction official is required first31.

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

Septic and well approvals stay with the county and state health officials, not the borough532. For land outside the borough, see the Burlington County page, because each municipality sets its own zoning33.

Before you buy, check the airport hazard area density limit that applies where the zoning map delineates that area7. Burlington County's effective property tax rate is 2.4 percent34, with a median bill of $7,902 a year35. Conventional septic soils rate poorly countywide: only 0.2 percent of soils are rated not limited for a drain field, so expect a site evaluation36.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm Wrightstown rules for RVs, tiny homes, accessory dwellings, short-term rentals, floodplain development or driveways; ask the construction office at 609-723-4450 before you commit19.
  • A permit is still required if you build your own home; the state's owner-builder exception covers only builder registration and warranty rules, not permits or inspections10.
  • A driveway onto a State highway needs a New Jersey DOT access permit, separate from borough approvals37.

Sources

  1. Article III: Zoning Districts and Zoning Map - Borough of Wrightstown, NJ (Borough of Wrightstown), quoted and re-checked
  2. Article III: Zoning Districts and Zoning Map - Borough of Wrightstown, NJ (Borough of Wrightstown), quoted and re-checked
  3. Chapter 57: Construction Codes, Uniform - Borough of Wrightstown, NJ (Borough of Wrightstown), quoted and re-checked
  4. Chapter 57: Construction Codes, Uniform - Borough of Wrightstown, NJ (Borough of Wrightstown), quoted and re-checked
  5. Environmental Health, quoted and re-checked
  6. Environmental Health (2026 county census)
  7. Article IV: District Regulations - Borough of Wrightstown, NJ (Borough of Wrightstown), quoted and re-checked
  8. Article IV: District Regulations - Borough of Wrightstown, NJ (Borough of Wrightstown), quoted and re-checked
  9. Article IV: District Regulations - Borough of Wrightstown, NJ (Borough of Wrightstown), quoted and re-checked
  10. Builder Registration and New Home Warranty for Builders (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. P.L. 2013, c.106 — Municipal Land Use Law amendments (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Article IV: District Regulations - Borough of Wrightstown, NJ (Borough of Wrightstown), quoted and re-checked
  13. Article IV: District Regulations - Borough of Wrightstown, NJ (Borough of Wrightstown), quoted and re-checked
  14. Article V: General Provisions and Design Standards - Borough of Wrightstown, NJ (Borough of Wrightstown), quoted and re-checked
  15. Article IV: District Regulations - Borough of Wrightstown, NJ (Borough of Wrightstown), quoted and re-checked
  16. Article IV: District Regulations - Borough of Wrightstown, NJ (Borough of Wrightstown), quoted and re-checked
  17. Article IV: District Regulations - Borough of Wrightstown, NJ (Borough of Wrightstown), quoted and re-checked
  18. Chapter 57: Construction Codes, Uniform - Borough of Wrightstown, NJ (Borough of Wrightstown), quoted and re-checked
  19. Wrightstown Borough Construction Office (wrightstownborough.com)
  20. Uniform Construction Code General Information, quoted and re-checked
  21. Chapter 57: Construction Codes, Uniform - Borough of Wrightstown, NJ (Borough of Wrightstown), quoted and re-checked
  22. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. Burlington County Health Department, Environmental Health Division (burlingtoncountynj.gov)
  24. New Jersey Statutes, R.S. 58:11-23 through 58:11-43 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  25. New Jersey Statutes, R.S. 58:11-23 through 58:11-43 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  26. Article V: General Provisions and Design Standards - Borough of Wrightstown, NJ (Borough of Wrightstown), quoted and re-checked
  27. Manufactured/Modular Buildings Program (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  28. Article VII: Land Subdivision and Site Plan Review - Borough of Wrightstown, NJ (Borough of Wrightstown), quoted and re-checked
  29. Wrightstown Joint Land Use Board (wrightstownborough.com)
  30. New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, New Home Warranty—Consumer Information (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  31. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  32. Bulletin 88-10: Private On-Site Water Supply Systems (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  33. Municipal Zoning Maps, quoted and re-checked
  34. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  35. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  36. 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
  37. Major Access Permits (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

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 Borough of Wrightstown

Borough of Wrightstown’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction work inside Wrightstown borough limits

    • Exempt: ordinary repairs that involve no violation of the regulations (§ 57-7(a)) and minor work as determined by the subcode officials (§ 57-7(b)).
    • Emergency work may proceed first but must be applied for within 72 hours (§ 57-7(c)).
    • Approval certificate from the Wrightstown Municipal Utilities Authority is required before permit issuance where work affects its facilities (§ 57-7(d)).
    “permits shall be required in accordance with n.j.a.c. 5:23, except as provided in n.j.a.c. 5:23-2.5(a)(2) where no permit shall be required.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Construction inside Wrightstown borough limits

    • Borough code enforcement is under the State Uniform Construction Code (N.J.A.C. 5:23) as cited in § 57-7; the borough's enforcing agency administers it.
    • Subcode officials are those the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs adopts as part of the state uniform construction code (§ 57-1(a)).
    “there is hereby established in the borough of wrightstown a state uniform code enforcing agency to be known as the department of code enforcement and inspection”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted construction inside Wrightstown borough limits

    • Inspections are run by the borough's Department of Code Enforcement and Inspection with construction, building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical and fire subcode officials, or a contracted on-site inspection agency (§ 57-1).
    • Inspection schedule and stages were not reviewed.
    “there is hereby established in the borough of wrightstown a state uniform code enforcing agency to be known as the department of code enforcement and inspection, consisting of a construction code official, building subcode official, plumbing subcode official, electrical subcode official, mechanical subcode official, fire subcode official,”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Development and new construction inside Wrightstown borough limits

    • The development-improvement sentence is from the general provisions for development; the fee schedule lists a CO fee and temporary CO fees ($25 first TCO; $50 thereafter).
    • Certificate of occupancy chapter section § 219-62 is listed but its text was not opened.

    certificate of occupancy fee: 10% of new construction fee (minimum $150)

    “(3) the fee to be charged for a certificate of occupancy shall be paid before a certificate is issued.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Wrightstown borough limits; the borough's own zoning ordinance, Chapter 219 Zoning and Land Development

    • The borough's code (eCode360) lists Chapter 219 as Zoning and Land Development, Part II General Legislation.
    • Adoption ordinance number and date were not verified on the code page.
    “for the purpose of this chapter, the borough of wrightstown is hereby divided into 12 districts as follows”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside Wrightstown borough limits

    • The code names 12 districts: R-1, R-2, R-3, APT 1, APT 2, HIST APT 2, RC, INST/R/C, MUD, GC, OC/R, and R/O.
    • The zoning map is incorporated by reference; the editor's note says it is on file in the office of the borough clerk. The map itself was not opened.

    number of zoning districts: 12 districts

    “the boundaries of these zoning districts are established on the map entitled "zoning map; borough of wrightstown,"”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Detached dwellings in the R-2 single-family district inside Wrightstown borough (same § 219-13(f) text sits in the R-1/R-2/R-3 section)

    • Apartment and townhouse minimum gross floor areas are separate (§ 219-14(f): garden apartment efficiency 600 sq ft, one bedroom 700 sq ft, two bedroom 900 sq ft).

    minimum gross floor area, detached dwelling: >= 1200 sq ft

    “the minimum gross floor area of detached dwellings shall not be less than 1,200 square feet.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    R-2 medium-density single-family residential district (main single-family district) inside Wrightstown borough

    • The code describes R-2 as recognizing the prevailing subdivision pattern.
    • Lots must have frontage on a street (§ 219-12: so that all lots have frontage on a street).
    • Airport hazard area density limit under § 219-11 applies where the zoning map delineates that area.

    minimum lot area: >= 12000 sq ft · minimum frontage and lot width: >= 80 ft

    “the minimum lot size is 12,000 square feet with a minimum frontage and lot width of 80 feet.”
    3 more reviewed findings on this topic
  • SetbacksSpecified

    R-2 medium-density single-family residential district inside Wrightstown borough (principal buildings)

    • Accessory buildings in R-2: distance to side line 10 ft, distance to rear line 10 ft, distance to other building 15 ft (§ 219-13(e)).
    • Accessory buildings may be erected in side and rear yard areas only (§ 219-22(d)).

    front yard: >= 30 ft · side yard, each: >= 10 ft · rear yard: >= 40 ft

    “side yard, each (feet) 10 10 20 30 front yard (feet) 30 30 40 40 rear yard (feet) 40 40 60 50”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    R-2 medium-density single-family residential district inside Wrightstown borough

    • Same 20% principal-building coverage in R-1 and R-3; R-3 accessory coverage is 5%.

    maximum building coverage of principal building: <= 20 percent of lot · maximum building coverage of accessory buildings: <= 5 percent of lot

    “maximum building coverage of principal building 20% 20% 20% 20%”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Single-family residential districts R-1, R-2 and R-3 inside Wrightstown borough (same § 219-13(d) text for all three)

    • Churches may be taller (55 ft); exception cross-reference to § 219-47.1 height limits was not opened.
    • Accessory uses: private tool sheds not to exceed 12 feet in height (§ 219-13(c)(2)).

    maximum building height: <= 30 ft (churches 55 ft; except as allowed in § 219-47.1) · maximum stories: <= 2.5 stories

    “no building shall exceed 30 feet in height and 2.5 stories, except that churches shall not exceed 55 feet and except further as allowed in § 219-47.1.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Development on land inside Wrightstown borough that is within the wastewater facility plan or where a public collection system is accessible

    • Text obligates the developer to build sewer lines and building connections when the public system is accessible to the proposed development; it is not an express rule for a single house on an existing lot.
    • Work that affects Wrightstown Municipal Utilities Authority facilities needs its approval certificate before a permit (§ 57-7(d)).
    • Public water connection under § 219-45 (water supply) was not reviewed; water connection requirement is unknown.
    “where a public wastewater treatment plant and collection system is accessible to a property proposed for development, the developer shall construct such wastewater treatment facilities and/or sanitary sewer lines and building connections”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land inside Wrightstown borough limits

    • Minor and major subdivisions and site plans are reviewed under Article VII (§ 219-56 to § 219-58); the land development fee schedule is at § 219-60 and was not opened.
    • Design standards are those of N.J.A.C. 5:21.1-8 (§ 219-61, per the table of contents).
    “an applicant desiring to proceed with a minor subdivision shall file with the clerk at least two weeks prior to the date of a regular meeting of the board”
  • Permit feesPublished

    Construction permit fees charged by Wrightstown borough's construction code enforcing agency

    • Fee schedule is printed as an editor's-note schedule in Chapter 57 § 57-3; it can be amended, so confirm against the current code before quoting amounts.
    • Plan review fee is per the fee schedule; construction fee for new construction carries a state surcharge of $0.0006 per cubic foot (§ 57-4) and the surcharge is on NJ BHI.
    • Permit fee for in-ground pool shown as $265; above-ground $100.

    in-ground pool permit fee: 265 USD · state surcharge on new construction: 0.0006 USD per cubic foot

    “a surcharge of a $0.0006 per cubic foot of volume of new construction.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for homeowners building on their own land inside Wrightstown borough limits
  • Living in an RV — Occupancy of recreational vehicles on private land inside Wrightstown borough limits
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Wrightstown borough limits
  • Tiny homes — Tiny home occupancy inside Wrightstown borough limits
  • Manufactured homes — Manufactured or mobile home occupancy inside Wrightstown borough limits
10 more unanswered
  • 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

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

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