Bolthole Index

Camden County, New Jersey

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

The Borough of Runnemede, in Camden County, New Jersey, sets its own zoning under Chapter 395 of the borough code1. Building permits are required under New Jersey's statewide Uniform Construction Code and are handled by the borough's Construction and Code Enforcement office23. Septic systems are reviewed by the Camden County Septic and Wells Unit, not the borough4.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes. Runnemede adopts and enforces its own zoning ordinance (Chapter 395)1
Building permit
Required under the state Uniform Construction Code; the borough construction office handles it23
Septic
Camden County Septic and Wells Unit4
Minimum lot, R-1
6,000 square feet with 60 feet of frontage for a new dwelling5
Minimum lot, R-2
20,000 square feet with 100 feet of frontage for a new dwelling6
Owner-builder
Allowed to build a home for personal use, but permits and inspections still apply7
RV or tiny-home living
Not confirmed; ask the borough zoning officer8

Who to call

Building permits

Runnemede Construction and Code Enforcement

Building permits, zoning permit applications and certificates under the borough's construction office

856-939-2815

24 North Black Horse Pike, Runnemede, New Jersey 08078

Septic permits

Camden County Septic and Wells Unit

Reviews plans, inspects installation and repair, and issues compliance certificates for individual sewage disposal systems, and reviews private well test results

(856) 374-6064

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

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

Yes. The Borough of Runnemede applies its own Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 395 of the borough code, to land inside borough limits1. Camden County does not zone; New Jersey gives zoning power to municipalities9.

The ordinance divides the borough into Residence R-1, R-2 and R-3, Commercial, General Office, Special Economic Development, Limited Access Highway Proximity and Public/Quasi-Public Lands districts10. Rules differ by district:

  • R-1: a new dwelling needs a lot of at least 6,000 square feet with at least 60 feet of frontage, though existing lots are excepted5. Buildings may cover up to 35% of the lot11 and may not exceed 2 1/2 stories or 30 feet12. A one-story house needs at least 900 square feet of floor area, and taller houses at least 1,40013. Where no building stands within 100 feet on the same side of the street, the front setback is at least 25 feet14.
  • R-2: a new dwelling needs at least 20,000 square feet and 100 feet of frontage6, with coverage capped at 25%15 and a minimum floor area of 1,200 square feet16. The comparable front setback is at least 30 feet17.

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

Yes. New Jersey's Uniform Construction Code requires a building permit before construction, enlargement, alteration or demolition, and ordinary maintenance is the main exception18. In Runnemede the borough's Construction and Code Enforcement office handles permits, and its page links the state permit application packet3.

A zoning review is a separate step. The borough's zoning permit applications cover additions, decks, sheds, fences, pools and similar work3. The state also says no construction permit issues until all required state, county and local approvals are in place19. We could not confirm the borough's current permit fees or the exact application order, so ask the construction office.

How do septic permits work in Runnemede?

Septic is not a borough permit. The Camden County Septic and Wells Unit oversees individual sewage disposal system reviews, including plan review, installation, repair and compliance certificates420. Where Runnemede's code covers septic systems on lots in its older sewer-moratorium section, it also sends the application to the county health department, after the borough sewer authority approves a dry sewer line21.

New Jersey requires the health authority to certify sewerage facilities before a building permit issues22, and a septic system cannot be covered until it is inspected23. Runnemede is a dense, built-up borough, so check with the borough whether public sewer is available at your lot before planning a septic system. USDA rates almost none of Camden County's soils as unlimited for a conventional drain field24, so expect a site evaluation.

Can you build your own home in Runnemede?

Yes, with limits. New Jersey's builder-registration rules except a person who builds a new home for their own personal use, but that is not a permit exemption: construction permits and code compliance still apply7. An owner-built home also needs an affidavit filed with the construction official before a certificate of occupancy can issue25. Inspections happen at set stages, including footings, rough plumbing and electrical, and framing26. We could not confirm any borough-specific owner-builder rule.

Can you live in an RV, tiny home or manufactured home in Runnemede?

We could not confirm the borough's rules on long-term RV living, camping, tiny homes or manufactured homes, so do not assume any of them is allowed. The borough code lists a chapter on trailers and trailer camps that we have not been able to read. Ask the borough zoning officer before buying. New Jersey's construction code does not settle the question, because municipal zoning and site approvals are separate from the construction pathway for a tiny home8.

Building a home in Runnemede: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the lot's zoning district and the lot-size, coverage and setback rules for it with the borough zoning office10.
  2. If you are dividing land, ask the borough about subdivision approval under its subdivision chapter27.
  3. Get septic or sewer approval: the Camden County Septic and Wells Unit for any septic system4.
  4. Apply for the construction permit with the borough construction office3.
  5. Schedule the required inspections as work proceeds26.
  6. Obtain a certificate of occupancy before moving in28.

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

Camden County does not issue building permits or zoning in Runnemede. It reviews septic systems4, and its Planning Board reviews subdivisions in the county29. County road right-of-way work, such as a driveway onto a county road, goes through the Camden County Department of Public Works, not the borough. For land outside the borough, see the Camden County page.

Before buying, ask about sewer availability, the zoning district and any existing-lot exceptions, and flood status. Camden County's effective property tax rate is 3.1%30.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm Runnemede's building-permit fees, its construction chapters or its accessory-dwelling rules; ask the Construction and Code Enforcement office at 856-939-28153.
  • Side and rear setbacks and full use tables for each zoning district were not available to us, so confirm them with the borough zoning officer before you design14.
  • Septic rules inside the borough rest on an older sewer-moratorium section, so confirm with the Camden County Septic and Wells Unit whether your lot must use public sewer31.

Sources

  1. Chapter 395: Zoning - Borough of Runnemede, NJ (eCode360) (Borough of Runnemede), quoted and re-checked
  2. Construction Permit Application Packet & Related Forms, quoted and re-checked
  3. Runnemede Construction and Code Enforcement (runnemedenj.org)
  4. Septic and Wells, quoted and re-checked
  5. Chapter 395: Zoning - Borough of Runnemede, NJ (eCode360) (Borough of Runnemede), quoted and re-checked
  6. Chapter 395: Zoning - Borough of Runnemede, NJ (eCode360) (Borough of Runnemede), quoted and re-checked
  7. Consumer Information for New Home Buyers, quoted and re-checked
  8. The New Jersey State Uniform Construction Code: General Information, quoted and re-checked
  9. P.L. 2013, c.106 — Municipal Land Use Law amendments (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Chapter 395: Zoning - Borough of Runnemede, NJ (eCode360) (Borough of Runnemede), quoted and re-checked
  11. Chapter 395: Zoning - Borough of Runnemede, NJ (eCode360) (Borough of Runnemede), quoted and re-checked
  12. Chapter 395: Zoning - Borough of Runnemede, NJ (eCode360) (Borough of Runnemede), quoted and re-checked
  13. Chapter 395: Zoning - Borough of Runnemede, NJ (eCode360) (Borough of Runnemede), quoted and re-checked
  14. Chapter 395: Zoning - Borough of Runnemede, NJ (eCode360) (Borough of Runnemede), quoted and re-checked
  15. Chapter 395: Zoning - Borough of Runnemede, NJ (eCode360) (Borough of Runnemede), quoted and re-checked
  16. Chapter 395: Zoning - Borough of Runnemede, NJ (eCode360) (Borough of Runnemede), quoted and re-checked
  17. Chapter 395: Zoning - Borough of Runnemede, NJ (eCode360) (Borough of Runnemede), quoted and re-checked
  18. N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.14, Construction permits—when required (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. New Jersey Uniform Construction Code, N.J.A.C. 5:23 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Camden County Septic and Wells Unit (camdencounty.com)
  21. Chapter 292 Sewers, moratorium lateral and septic section - Borough of Runnemede, NJ (eCode360) (Borough of Runnemede), 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. New Jersey Statutes, R.S. 58:11-23 through 58:11-43 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. 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
  25. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  26. New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, New Home Warranty—Consumer Information (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  27. Chapter 395: Zoning - Borough of Runnemede, NJ (eCode360) (Borough of Runnemede), quoted and re-checked
  28. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  29. Subdivision and Site Plan Review, quoted and re-checked
  30. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  31. Chapter 292 Sewers, moratorium lateral and septic section - Borough of Runnemede, NJ (eCode360) (Borough of Runnemede), 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 Runnemede

Borough of Runnemede’s own rules

  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Runnemede borough limits (Borough of Runnemede, Camden County, NJ)

    • The Borough's own Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 395, Zoning) applies inside the borough limits; the official zoning map is on file in the borough zoning office.
    • Chapter 395 was adopted 1-2-1979 by Ord. No. 329 and amended since; the eCode360 table of contents states it includes legislation through 05-26-2026.
    “[history: adopted by the mayor and council of the borough of runnemede 1-2-1979 by ord. no. 329 (ch. 109 of the 1970 code).”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside Runnemede borough limits

    • Chapter 395 lists the Residence R-1, R-2, R-3, Commercial C, General Office GO, Special Economic Development SED, Limited Access Highway Proximity and Public/Quasi-Public Lands districts; boundaries are on the zoning map kept in the borough zoning office.
    • Full use tables for each district were not read in this run.
    “for the purposes of this chapter, the borough of runnemede is divided into the following seven classes of districts: residence r-1 district residence r-2 district residence r-3 district commercial c district general office go district special economic development sed district limited access highway proximity district public/quasi - public lands”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Dwellings erected in the Residence R-1 district inside Runnemede borough

    • Minimum floor area depends on the number of stories.

    minimum floor area, one-story dwelling: >= 900 square feet · minimum floor area, 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 story dwelling: >= 1400 square feet

    “every dwelling house hereafter erected shall have a minimum floor area as follows: (a) 900 square feet for a one-story dwelling. (b) 1,400 square feet for dwellings of 1 1/2 stories, two stories or 2 1/2 stories.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • District specific (with conditions) — Dwellings erected in the Residence R-2 district inside Runnemede borough
      “every dwelling hereafter erected shall have a minimum floor area of 1,200 square feet. a dwelling of more than one story shall have a minimum foundation area of 800 square feet.”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    New residence or dwelling on a lot in the Residence R-1 district inside Runnemede borough

    • Frontage on a cul-de-sac bulb is measured at the setback line.
    • Present existing lots with minimum frontage of 40 feet and minimum area of 4,000 square feet are excepted.
    • Exempt: preexisting lots that have residential structures built as of January 1, 2021, and preexisting lots larger than 50% of the other lots on the street (Ord. 21-02).

    minimum lot area: >= 6000 square feet (preexisting lots exempt; see conditions) · minimum lot frontage: >= 60 feet (preexisting lots exempt; see conditions)

    “no residence or dwelling shall be erected or constructed unless the lot contains at least 6,000 square feet and has frontage of at least 60 feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • District specific (with conditions) — New residence or dwelling on a lot in the Residence R-2 district inside Runnemede borough
      “no residence or dwelling shall be erected or constructed unless the lot contains at least 20,000 square feet and has frontage of at least 100 feet.”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Front yard setback for a new building in the Residence R-1 district inside Runnemede borough

    • Where half or more of the residences on the street block conform to a setback building line, the new building may not project beyond that line.
    • Where more than half do not conform, the new building may not project beyond the least-setback building on that side of the street or 10 feet, whichever is greater.
    • Side and rear yard setbacks were not captured in this record; Attachment 1 (Schedule of Regulations) was not opened.

    minimum front setback when no building exists within 100 feet on same side of street: >= 25 feet (street-block conforming setback rules apply)

    “when no buildings exist within 100 feet on the same side of the street of the building to be erected, the setback building line shall be not less than 25 feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • District specific (with conditions) — Front yard setback for a new building in the Residence R-2 district inside Runnemede borough
      “when no building exists within 100 feet on the same side of the street of the building to be erected, the setback building line shall not be less than 30 feet.”
  • Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Lots in the Residence R-1 district inside Runnemede borough

    • Lot coverage includes all buildings.

    maximum lot coverage: <= 35 percent of lot area

    “the maximum percent of lot coverage, including all buildings, shall not exceed 35% of the total area of the lot.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Any building or structure in the Residence R-1 district inside Runnemede borough

    • Also limited to a maximum of 2 1/2 stories.

    maximum building height: <= 30 feet (also a maximum of 2 1/2 stories)

    “the height of any building or structure shall be restricted to a maximum of 2 1/2 stories but shall not exceed 30 feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • District specific (with conditions) — Any building or structure in the Residence R-2 district inside Runnemede borough
      “the height of any building or structure shall be restricted to a maximum of 2 1/2 stories but shall not exceed 30 feet.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupSewer (with conditions)

    Lots on streets that had sewer service under the former state-imposed moratorium, inside Runnemede borough, where a septic system was installed pending sewer

    • The text is an older section (adopted 1953, amended 1975) that refers to the sewerage authority, dissolved 12-28-2005 by Ord. 05-24, whose functions moved to Chapter 60, Sewer Utility Department.
    • The § 292-7 time limit text was truncated in the page read, so it was not confirmed.
    • The general connection rule for new homes where public sewer is available was not located in this run; water connection (Chapter 382) was not opened.
    “said owner shall agree in writing by letter to the runnemede borough sewerage authority to connect the lateral sewer lines to the system within the term and under the specifications of § 292-7 hereof, after sewerage becomes available by reason of the termination of the state-imposed moratorium.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land inside Runnemede borough

    • Subdivision approval is governed by Chapter 331, Subdivision of Land and Site Plan Review; Chapter 331 text was not opened in this run.
    • Site development plans do not replace subdivision plan submission.
    “site development plans shall not limit the requirements for submission of subdivision plans for subdivision approval as otherwise provided in chapter 331, subdivision of land and site plan review, of the code of the borough of runnemede.”

Rules another office applies inside Borough of Runnemede

Borough of Runnemede 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 septicCounty (with conditions)

    Septic system installation permits for lots inside Runnemede borough, administered by the Camden County Health Department

    • Stated in Runnemede Chapter 292 § 292-6 for lots in the moratorium-era sewer section; the Camden County Health Department service area was not confirmed on a county page.
    • State septic standards (N.J.A.C. 7:9A) were not researched in this run.
    “application for a permit to install a septic system must be reviewed and approved by the camden county health department, subsequent to prior written approval of a dry sewer line from the runnemede sewerage authority.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Installing a septic system on a lot inside Runnemede borough under the moratorium-era sewer section of Chapter 292

    • Requires prior written approval of a dry sewer line from the Runnemede sewerage authority before county review.
    • The general septic permit process for lots not under that section was not located.
    “application for a permit to install a septic system must be reviewed and approved by the camden county health department, subsequent to prior written approval of a dry sewer line from the runnemede sewerage authority.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Building permit — Building permit for construction inside Runnemede borough
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for homeowners building on their own land inside Runnemede borough
  • Building code adopted — Building code adopted for construction inside Runnemede borough
  • Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Runnemede borough
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new dwellings inside Runnemede borough
13 more unanswered
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • Short-term rentals
  • 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 Borough of Runnemede publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Camden County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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