Bolthole Index

Cape May County, New Jersey

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in West Wildwood, New Jersey

The Borough of West Wildwood, in Cape May County, New Jersey, adopts and administers its own zoning in Chapter 340 of its code1. Building permits come from the borough's own construction enforcing agency under the state Uniform Construction Code2. Septic systems in Cape May County are reviewed by the county Environmental Services Department3; we could not confirm how that applies to lots inside the borough.

At a glance

Building permit
Required; issued by the borough's construction enforcing agency24
Zoning
Borough zoning, Chapter 340 Land Use and Development1
Permit fees
$18 per $1,000 of cost for renovations; $0.022 per cubic foot for new construction; $36 minimum5
R-1 minimum lot
3,200 sq ft, 40 ft wide, 80 ft deep6
R-1 minimum home size
800 sq ft of habitable floor area7
RV living
Not confirmed; the R-1 code covers storage only8
Septic
Cape May County Environmental Services reviews septic systems countywide3
Owner-builder
Exception to new-home builder registration only; permits still required9

Who to call

Building permits

West Wildwood Construction Official

Construction permits, subcode review and inspections under the Uniform Construction Code inside the borough

609-522-2444

701 West Glenwood Avenue, West Wildwood, NJ 08260

Zoning

West Wildwood Borough Clerk (zoning permit applications)

Zoning permit applications; the Planning/Zoning Board handles variances

609-522-4845

701 West Glenwood Avenue, West Wildwood, NJ 08260

Septic permits

Cape May County Health Department, Environmental Services Division

Septic system (subsurface sewage disposal) design review, permits and inspections for Cape May County

609-465-1209

6 Moore Road, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210

Planning & zoning

Cape May County Planning Department

Subdivision and site plan review, comprehensive planning and flood-hazard-map information for Cape May County; does not set municipal zoning

609-465-1080

planningbd@co.cape-may.nj.us

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 Borough of West Wildwood means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does West Wildwood, NJ have zoning, and what does it allow?

Yes. The Borough of West Wildwood adopts and administers its own zoning in Chapter 340, the Land Development Ordinance in its eCode360 code1. Cape May County does not zone parcels; land use and lot size are set by each municipality's own zoning ordinance10.

In the R-1 Residential Zone, the main single-family district, the permitted principal use is single-family residences1. The R-1 minimum lot is 3,200 square feet, with at least 40 feet of width and 80 feet of depth6. A dwelling needs at least 800 square feet of habitable floor area7. Buildings can cover up to 55% of the lot and all structures and paving up to 65%11. Principal buildings may reach three habitable stories and 40 feet, measured from the base flood elevation12.

We read only the R-1 article; the Town Commercial zone and other districts were not confirmed13. Ask the borough which zone a parcel is in before you rely on these figures.

What are the setbacks in West Wildwood's R-1 zone?

In R-1, a principal building needs a 10-foot front yard and a 10-foot rear yard14. Each side yard is one foot for every 10 feet of lot frontage, and never less than five feet14. Accessory buildings, such as sheds, sit at least 20 feet from the front line and 4 feet from side and rear lines14.

Decks and stairs may encroach into required setbacks but no closer than 4 feet to any property line, and they cannot be roofed over14. Undersized older lots may qualify for reduced side and rear setbacks under another section of the code that we did not read, so a nonconforming lot is a question for the zoning office14.

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

Yes. New Jersey requires a permit before constructing, enlarging, altering or demolishing a structure, or changing its use4. Inside West Wildwood, the borough runs its own state-mandated enforcing agency, the Department of Construction Inspection, headed by a construction official2. Cape May County does not issue these permits; the county's role is limited to subdivision and site-plan review15.

Fees are set by borough ordinance: $18 per $1,000 of estimated cost for renovations, alterations and repairs, and $0.022 per cubic foot for new construction, each with a $36 minimum, paid before the permit is issued5. That schedule was last amended in 2007, so confirm current amounts with the West Wildwood Construction Official16. Zoning permit applications are available from the Borough Clerk17.

Work on a water or sewer service connection needs a separate permit from the borough clerk's office18.

How do septic permits work inside West Wildwood?

We could not confirm the septic rules for lots inside the borough. Septic systems in Cape May County are designed and inspected under the County Environmental Health Act by the county Environmental Services Department, working with licensed engineers3. The department also checks plans against the Planning Board, the Pinelands Commission and NJDEP wetlands and coastal programs19. The state requires a permit and an inspection before a septic system is covered20.

West Wildwood also operates water and sewer service, and its code requires a borough permit for work on connection piping18. Whether a particular lot must hook up to borough sewer or may use septic is unconfirmed. Call the Cape May County Health Department, Environmental Services Division and the Borough Clerk before you buy21.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in West Wildwood?

We could not confirm that you can. The R-1 code allows boats, campers, RVs and travel trailers to be parked or stored only in rear and side yards, within accessory-building setback lines8. They must stay at least 4 feet from any rear or side property line and from any structure, and cannot remain on a lot more than 180 consecutive days8.

That text covers storage, not living in an RV, and the other zones were not checked8. We found no tiny-home rule either way. A dwelling in R-1 must meet the 800 square foot minimum, which a typical tiny home does not7. Ask the Borough Clerk and Construction Official in writing before assuming either is allowed17.

Building a home in West Wildwood: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the parcel's zone and the setbacks, lot size and coverage limits with the Borough Clerk17.
  2. Ask the Environmental Services Division whether the lot needs a septic permit or a borough sewer connection21.
  3. If you need a variance, the Planning/Zoning Board hears it17.
  4. Apply to the Construction Official for a construction permit and pay the fee before it is issued5.
  5. Stop work for the required inspections, including footings, rough plumbing and electrical, and framing22.
  6. Get a certificate of occupancy before anyone moves in23.

Owner-builders are exempt only from new-home builder registration, and must file an affidavit with the construction official24.

What to check before you buy land in West Wildwood

Flood exposure comes first: the R-1 height limit is measured from the base flood elevation, so flood maps affect how much house a lot can hold12. The Cape May County Planning Department publishes flood hazard map information25. These figures are for Cape May County, not the borough alone: typical home value is about $804,63726, the effective property tax rate is 1.3%27, and a typical home insurance premium is about $2,322 a year28.

If you are looking at land outside the borough, the Cape May County page covers the county's rules for the rest of the county.

Watch-outs

  • Only the R-1 Residential Zone was read in full; if a parcel sits in the Town Commercial or another district, its use and dimensional rules may differ13.
  • The building permit fee schedule was last amended in 2007, so current amounts may differ; confirm with the Construction Official before budgeting5.
  • We could not confirm whether inspections, certificates of occupancy or septic permits follow special borough rules; ask the Construction Official and the Cape May County Environmental Services Division21.
  • Recent borough amendments to setbacks and accessory structures were adopted in 2024 and were not checked against the code text, so verify current setbacks with the borough14.

Sources

  1. Article IV: R-1 Residential Zone, Chapter 340 Land Use and Development - Borough of West Wildwood, NJ (Borough of West Wildwood), quoted and re-checked
  2. Chapter 210: Construction Codes, Uniform - Borough of West Wildwood, NJ (Borough of West Wildwood), quoted and re-checked
  3. Septic Systems, quoted and re-checked
  4. N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.14, Construction permits—when required (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  5. Chapter 210: Construction Codes, Uniform - Borough of West Wildwood, NJ (Borough of West Wildwood), quoted and re-checked
  6. Article IV: R-1 Residential Zone, Chapter 340 Land Use and Development - Borough of West Wildwood, NJ (Borough of West Wildwood), quoted and re-checked
  7. Article IV: R-1 Residential Zone, Chapter 340 Land Use and Development - Borough of West Wildwood, NJ (Borough of West Wildwood), quoted and re-checked
  8. Article IV: R-1 Residential Zone, Chapter 340 Land Use and Development - Borough of West Wildwood, NJ (Borough of West Wildwood), quoted and re-checked
  9. Builder Registration and New Home Warranty for Builders (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  10. Cape May County Farmland Preservation Plan, quoted and re-checked
  11. Article IV: R-1 Residential Zone, Chapter 340 Land Use and Development - Borough of West Wildwood, NJ (Borough of West Wildwood), quoted and re-checked
  12. Article IV: R-1 Residential Zone, Chapter 340 Land Use and Development - Borough of West Wildwood, NJ (Borough of West Wildwood), quoted and re-checked
  13. Article IV: R-1 Residential Zone, Chapter 340 Land Use and Development - Borough of West Wildwood, NJ (Borough of West Wildwood), quoted and re-checked
  14. Article IV: R-1 Residential Zone, Chapter 340 Land Use and Development - Borough of West Wildwood, NJ (Borough of West Wildwood), quoted and re-checked
  15. Cape May County Subdivision and Site Plan Resolution, quoted and re-checked
  16. West Wildwood Construction Official (westwildwood.org)
  17. West Wildwood Borough Clerk (zoning permit applications) (westwildwood.org)
  18. Chapter 538: Water and Sewer Service - Borough of West Wildwood, NJ (Borough of West Wildwood), quoted and re-checked
  19. Septic Systems, quoted and re-checked
  20. New Jersey Statutes, R.S. 58:11-23 through 58:11-43 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Cape May County Health Department, Environmental Services Division (capemaycountynj.gov)
  22. New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, New Home Warranty—Consumer Information (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (2026 county census)
  25. Cape May County Planning Department (capemaycountynj.gov)
  26. Typical home value (Zillow): Bolthole Index county data
  27. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  28. Typical home insurance premium: 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 Borough of West Wildwood

Borough of West Wildwood’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    New construction, alterations and repairs of buildings inside West Wildwood borough, under the New Jersey State Uniform Construction Code as enforced by the borough.

    • Chapter 210 § 210-1 establishes the borough's enforcing agency, the Department of Construction Inspection, with a construction official as chief administrator and building, plumbing, electrical and fire protection subcode officials.
    • The section says the subcode officials are set by resolution, and that the state commissioner may add further subcodes.
    “there is hereby established in the borough of west wildwood a state uniform construction code enforcing agency”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside West Wildwood borough limits; the borough adopts and administers its own zoning in Chapter 340 Land Use and Development (Land Development Ordinance) of its eCode360 code.

    • Zoning districts, use rules and dimensional limits are set by Chapter 340; development must follow the district rules for the parcel's zone.
    • The R-1 Residential Zone article was checked directly; the other zones (T-C Town Commercial, marine, conservation, overlays) were not opened in this research pass.
    • Recent amendments listed on borough agendas (Ordinance 619(2024) on setbacks and accessory structures; Ordinance 631(2024) on salt storage) were not verified against the code text.
    “the following principal uses shall be permitted in this district: a. single-family residences.”
  • Zoning districtsPartial

    Zoning districts of West Wildwood borough (Chapter 340 Article III and following)

    • Confirmed text covers the R-1 Residential Zone only (Article IV).
    • Search results show further articles for the T-C Town Commercial zone (ecode360.com/38936413), the Article III zoning district list (ecode360.com/38936285), and the Article X supplemental regulations (ecode360.com/38936585), which were not read.
    “the following principal uses shall be permitted in this district: a. single-family residences.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Single-family dwellings in the R-1 Residential Zone (main single-family district) inside West Wildwood borough

    • The same 800 square foot minimum applies to each unit of a three-family conditional use in R-1 (§ 340-27 b.(2)).
    • Amended 5-3-2024 by Ordinance 619 per the section's amendment note; the text as opened is the amended version.

    minimum habitable floor area per dwelling unit: >= 800 square feet

    “minimum habitable floor area for each dwelling unit shall be 800 square feet.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Lots in the R-1 Residential Zone (main single-family district) inside West Wildwood borough

    • Nonconforming lots may have side and rear setbacks reduced under § 340-53, but not below 5 feet per side or 4 feet for the rear; that section was not opened.
    • Three-family conditional use requires 8,800 square feet (§ 340-27 b.(1)).

    minimum lot area: >= 3200 square feet · minimum lot depth: >= 80 feet · minimum lot width: >= 40 feet

    “minimum lot area shall be 3,200 square feet.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Principal and accessory buildings in the R-1 Residential Zone (main single-family district) inside West Wildwood borough

    • Side yard formula is one foot per 10 feet of lot frontage, never less than 5 feet; the front and rear figures apply as stated.
    • Deck and stair encroachment into required setbacks: no closer than 4 feet to any property line, not roofed over, limited to the first habitable floor (§ 340-28 k.).
    • Principal-building yards were amended 5-3-2024 by Ordinance 619 per the section's amendment note.
    • Nonconforming lots may have side and rear setbacks reduced under § 340-53, not below 5 feet per side or 4 feet rear; that section was not opened.
    • Setbacks for the R-1 three-family conditional use are larger (front 10, side 15 each, rear 10) under § 340-27 b.(5).

    principal building front yard: 10 feet · principal building side yard: 1 foot per 10 feet of lot frontage, minimum 5 feet (never less than five feet) · principal building rear yard: 10 feet · accessory building front yard: 20 feet · accessory building side yard: 4 feet · accessory building rear yard: 4 feet

    “each side yard shall be a minimum of one foot for each 10 feet of lot frontage, but in no event shall any side yard be less than five feet.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Lots in the R-1 Residential Zone (main single-family district) inside West Wildwood borough

    • Three-family conditional use: building coverage 55%, lot coverage 65% (§ 340-27 b.(7)-(8)), the same limits.

    maximum building coverage: <= 55 percent · maximum lot coverage: <= 65 percent

    “g. maximum building coverage shall be 55%. h. maximum lot coverage shall be 65%.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Principal buildings in the R-1 Residential Zone (main single-family district) inside West Wildwood borough

    • Height is measured from the base flood elevation to the topmost point of the roof.
    • Amended 7-2-2004, 4-2-2008 and 2-24-2016 per the section's amendment notes.

    maximum building height: <= 40 feet · maximum habitable stories: <= 3 stories

    “maximum building height shall be three habitable stories and shall not exceed 40 feet in height to the topmost point of the roof from the base flood elevation.”
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Boats, campers, RVs and travel trailers parked or stored on lots in the R-1 Residential Zone inside West Wildwood borough (storage, not residential occupancy)

    • Permitted only in rear and side yards, within accessory building setback lines.
    • Must be at least four feet from any rear or side property line and at least four feet from any structure.
    • Boats, trailers, campers or boats on trailers cannot be stored on a lot for more than 180 consecutive days.
    • Boats or boats on a trailer must be secured to resist flotation when stored for 30 days or more.
    • The text addresses storage only; it does not state whether an RV may be lived in, and the other zones were not checked.

    minimum distance from rear or side property line: >= 4 feet · maximum storage period on a lot: <= 180 consecutive days

    “boats, campers, rvs and travel trailers shall be permitted to park or be stored in rear and side yards within accessory building setback lines and subject to the following:”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Construction permit subcode fees for work inside West Wildwood borough (Chapter 210 § 210-2)

    • Renovations, alterations and repairs: $18 per $1,000 of estimated cost, minimum $36. New construction: $0.022 per cubic foot of volume, minimum $36. Additions: $0.022 per cubic foot of added volume, minimum $36.
    • Fees are paid before the permit is issued.
    • Elevator fees and a 15% municipal surcharge on elevator fees are also in the schedule (not separately recorded).
    • The section was last amended by Ordinance 468 (2007) per its history note; the fee amounts were not checked against any newer schedule, and the borough's 2024 sewer fee ordinance is separate.

    renovation/alteration/repair fee: 18 USD per $1,000 of estimated cost (minimum fee $36) · new construction fee: 0.022 USD per cubic foot of building volume (minimum fee $36)

    “(b) for renovations, alterations and repairs and any other construction not covered by volume computation: $18 per $1,000 of estimated cost of the work, provided that the minimum fee shall be $36.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Construction and utility connection permits inside West Wildwood borough

    • Construction permits: fees paid before issuance (Chapter 210 § 210-2).
    • Water and sewer service connection work: a valid permit from the borough clerk's office plus the schedule A fee, security and inspection escrow, and a 24-hour notice before work begins (Chapter 538 § 538-1).
    • Permits for work on water/sewer connections expire if work does not start within 30 days unless extended.
    “no person, firm corporation or partnership shall install, operate, replace, modify or perform work of any other nature on any water and/or sewer service connection piping or fixture under the control of the borough of west wildwood without first having obtained and being in possession of a valid permit to do such work issued by the borough clerk's office”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Borough of West Wildwood or Cape May County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder construction of a home inside West Wildwood borough
  • Inspections — Inspections of construction inside West Wildwood borough
  • Certificate of occupancy — Certificates of occupancy for buildings inside West Wildwood borough
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside West Wildwood borough
  • Tiny homes — Occupancy of a tiny home inside West Wildwood borough
13 more unanswered
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • 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 West Wildwood publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Cape May County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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