Bolthole Index

Gloucester County, New Jersey

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

The Borough of Paulsboro in Gloucester County, New Jersey adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance1 and enforces the state Uniform Construction Code through its own construction code department2. Gloucester County does not zone3. Septic permits in the county are handled by the county's Environmental Health office4. Trailers and camp cars may not stay on a lot longer than 24 hours5.

At a glance

Zoning
Borough zoning ordinance (Chapter 80) with residence, commercial, manufacturing and industrial districts16
Building permit
Required; issued by the borough construction code department under the state Uniform Construction Code27
Minimum lot (R-1)
6,000 sq ft per family and 50 ft of frontage8
Minimum lot (R-1A)
10,000 sq ft per family and 100 ft of frontage9
RV or trailer living
Limited to 24 hours on a street or lot; trailer parks prohibited510
Septic
Gloucester County Environmental Health reviews septic plans countywide; sewer status of a given Paulsboro lot not confirmed4
Owner-builder
Own-use builders skip builder registration, but still need permits, inspections and an affidavit before a certificate of occupancy1112

Who to call

Building permits

Borough of Paulsboro Code/Construction Department

Construction permit applications under the state Uniform Construction Code, plus zoning administration, for property inside the borough.

856-423-1500

Zoning

Borough of Paulsboro Land Use Board

Review of land use applications; application packets come from the Borough Clerk.

856-423-1500

Septic permits

Gloucester County Department of Health and Human Services, Environmental Health

Plan review and License to Operate certification for individual septic systems in Gloucester County.

856-218-4101

204 E Holly Avenue, Sewell, NJ 08080

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

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

Yes. The Borough of Paulsboro adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance, Chapter 801. The borough is divided into R-1, R-1A and R-2 residence districts, C-1, C-1A and C-2 commercial districts, and manufacturing, industrial park and marina industrial business park districts6. Gloucester County has no power to zone, so the borough ordinance is the one that counts3.

In the R-1 district, a single-family lot needs at least 6,000 square feet per family and 50 feet of street frontage8. R-1 front yards must be at least 30 feet deep, though the long side of a corner lot may drop to 15 feet13. Buildings may cover no more than 35% of an R-1 lot14.

In R-1A, lots need at least 10,000 square feet per family and 100 feet of frontage9, and buildings may cover no more than 35% of the lot15. We could not confirm dimensions for the other districts, building height limits, minimum dwelling size or accessory dwelling rules; ask the zoning officer at the Code/Construction Department16.

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

Yes. Paulsboro enforces New Jersey's Uniform Construction Code through its own agency, the borough construction code department2. State rules require a permit before construction, alteration, repair or change of use, with an exception for ordinary maintenance7. Call the Code/Construction Department at 856-423-150016.

The borough publishes fees in its construction code chapter: renovation work costs $34 per $1,000 of estimated cost with a $90 minimum, and plumbing and electrical minimums are $5017. The chapter was amended in 2023 and has strike-through text, so confirm current figures with the department17.

A certificate of occupancy is required before a change in occupancy of an existing dwelling; the application is $50 plus $50 per reinspection18. Zoning review runs through the borough's Land Use Board, which reviews applications against the zone19.

Can you live in an RV, trailer or tiny home in Paulsboro?

Not for long. Paulsboro's trailer chapter makes it unlawful to park or place a trailer or camp car on a street or on any premises in the borough for longer than 24 hours, except for repairs or storage5. A trailer under repair or in storage may not be used as a sleeping place or dwelling5. Trailer parks, trailer camps and camp parks are prohibited outright10.

We could not confirm how the borough treats tiny homes or manufactured homes as dwellings. The trailer definition could reach a towed tiny home, so ask the Code/Construction Department before buying16.

How do septic permits work in Paulsboro?

Septic permits for New Jersey homes come from the board of health with jurisdiction, and the building permit cannot issue until that board certifies the sewage facilities20. In Gloucester County, Environmental Health handles individual sewage disposal system applications4. New systems must be certified through a License to Operate before use21.

The county lists a $600 new-construction septic fee and a $500 alteration fee in its 2026 schedule22. We could not confirm whether a particular Paulsboro lot is on public sewer, which would change the answer. Ask the borough's Water-Sewer department, then call Environmental Health at 856-218-410121.

Building a home in Paulsboro: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the lot's zoning district with the borough zoning officer and the Land Use Board19.
  2. Check sewer service with the borough, or start a septic application with Gloucester County Environmental Health21.
  3. File the construction permit application with the Code/Construction Department16; no permit issues until required approvals are in place23.
  4. Expect periodic inspections, including footings, rough plumbing and electrical, and framing24.
  5. An owner-builder must file an affidavit with the construction official before a certificate of occupancy can issue12.
  6. Get the certificate of occupancy before moving in25.

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

Gloucester County does not zone or issue building permits for private homes; the county's role is septic and well review, subdivision review and county-road access3426. For land outside Paulsboro, see the Gloucester County page.

Flood rules, subdivision rules, driveway or curb-cut permits and well rules inside the borough are unconfirmed; ask the Code/Construction Department16. County figures: the effective property tax rate is 2.8%27, and the median property tax bill is $7,964 a year28.

Watch-outs

  • Chapter 80 was amended in April 2026 by an ordinance whose text we did not review, so confirm current district rules with the zoning officer1.
  • The borough's construction fee section contains strike-through figures, so ask the Code/Construction Department for the current schedule17.
  • Owner-builder status skips builder registration but not permits or inspections11.
  • Our review found no confirmed rules on flood zones, wells or driveways inside Paulsboro; ask the borough before you buy16.

Sources

  1. Chapter 80 Zoning, Article II Classification of Districts (eCode360) (Borough of Paulsboro), quoted and re-checked
  2. Chapter 23 Construction Codes, Uniform (eCode360) (Borough of Paulsboro), quoted and re-checked
  3. P.L. 2013, c.106 — Municipal Land Use Law amendments (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  4. Septic Systems, quoted and re-checked
  5. Chapter 74 Trailers and Camp Cars (eCode360) (Borough of Paulsboro), quoted and re-checked
  6. Chapter 80 Zoning, Article II Classification of Districts (eCode360) (Borough of Paulsboro), quoted and re-checked
  7. N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.14, Construction permits—when required (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. Chapter 80 Zoning, Article III R-1 Residence Districts (eCode360) (Borough of Paulsboro), quoted and re-checked
  9. Chapter 80 Zoning, Article IIIA R-1A Residence Districts (eCode360) (Borough of Paulsboro), quoted and re-checked
  10. Chapter 74 Trailers and Camp Cars (eCode360) (Borough of Paulsboro), quoted and re-checked
  11. Builder Registration and New Home Warranty for Builders (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Chapter 80 Zoning, Article III R-1 Residence Districts (eCode360) (Borough of Paulsboro), quoted and re-checked
  14. Chapter 80 Zoning, Article III R-1 Residence Districts (eCode360) (Borough of Paulsboro), quoted and re-checked
  15. Chapter 80 Zoning, Article IIIA R-1A Residence Districts (eCode360) (Borough of Paulsboro), quoted and re-checked
  16. Borough of Paulsboro Code/Construction Department (paulsboronj.org)
  17. Chapter 23 Construction Codes, Uniform (eCode360) (Borough of Paulsboro), quoted and re-checked
  18. Chapter 22 Certificates of Occupancy (eCode360) (Borough of Paulsboro), quoted and re-checked
  19. Borough of Paulsboro Land Use Board (paulsboronj.org)
  20. New Jersey Statutes, R.S. 58:11-23 through 58:11-43 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Gloucester County Department of Health and Human Services, Environmental Health (gloucestercountynj.gov)
  22. Submission Requirements for Wells & Septic Systems, quoted and re-checked
  23. New Jersey Uniform Construction Code, N.J.A.C. 5:23 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, New Home Warranty—Consumer Information (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  25. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  26. Land Development Review & Approval Committee, quoted and re-checked
  27. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  28. Median property tax bill: 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 Paulsboro

Borough of Paulsboro’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Construction inside Paulsboro borough is enforced under the state Uniform Construction Code through the borough's own enforcing agency.

    • The enforcing agency is the borough of Paulsboro construction code department, headed by a construction official and subcode officials (§ 23-1a).
    • Code history: adopted 12-28-1976 by ord. no. 601, amended in its entirety 7-30-2014 by ord. no. 06.14 (chapter history).
    “there is hereby established in borough of paulsboro a state uniform construction code enforcing agency to be known as the "borough of paulsboro construction code department,"”
  • InspectionsLimited

    Inspections of existing dwelling and commercial units for a change in occupancy inside Paulsboro borough; new-construction inspections are governed by the state Uniform Construction Code and were not read here.

    • The inspection must check fitness for human habitation and compliance with borough ordinances (§ 22-4b).
    • Inspection and noncompliance notice must occur within 10 working days of a complete application and fee (§ 22-7b, c).
    “the construction code official or housing official shall thereupon cause inspection to be made of the subject dwelling unit to determine if such unit is fit for human habitation and in compliance with all applicable borough ordinances and laws of the state of new jersey related to maintenance, safety and health.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Change in occupancy of existing dwelling and commercial units inside Paulsboro borough. A separate certificate is issued for new construction under the fee schedule.

    • Certificate of occupancy fee for new construction is 10% of total construction fees, minimum $50 (§ 23-2e(5)(a)).
    • Application for a change-in-occupancy certificate is $50 plus $50 for the first reinspection and $50 for each additional reinspection; the fee section was amended 6-17-2025 by ord. no. 25.12 (§ 22-7).
    • Owner must apply; buyer may assume responsibility in writing (§ 22-11).
    • Items in § 22-12 (exterior, interior, electrical, plumbing) must be met at inspection.
    • Temporary 30-day extension for non-life-threatening, non-health-related items (§ 22-13).

    change-in-occupancy certificate application fee: 50 USD (plus $50 per reinspection)

    “certificates of occupancy shall hereafter be required for all existing dwelling and commercial units in the borough of paulsboro before a change in occupancy of any such unit may be effected, allowed or otherwise permitted.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Paulsboro borough limits: the borough adopts and administers its own zoning ordinance (Chapter 80, Zoning).

    • The zoning map is incorporated by reference and is on file in the office of the borough clerk (§ 80-7).
    • Chapter 80 was amended by Ord. No. 26.05 (cannabis amendment; zoning amendment, ch 6a and ch 80) listed on the eCode360 page dated 2026-04-14; that amendment's text was not reviewed.
    “the borough of paulsboro is hereby divided into districts, which shall be designated as follows:”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside Paulsboro borough: R-1, R-1A, R-2, C-1, C-1A, C-2, M, IP and MIBP residence, commercial, manufacturing, industrial park and marina industrial business park districts.

    • The district list is in § 80-6; the zoning map that fixes boundaries is incorporated by reference and kept in the borough clerk's office (§ 80-7).
    • Only R-1 and R-1A area rules were opened; the R-2 and other districts were not read.
    “r-1 residence districts r-1a residence districts [added 6-4-1980 by ord. no. 12.80] r-2 residence districts c-1 commercial districts c-1a commercial districts c-2 commercial districts m manufacturing districts ip industrial park districts [added 8-15-1989 by ord. no. 05.89] mibp marina industrial business park districts”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    R-1 residence district inside Paulsboro borough, single-family detached dwelling lots.

    • Frontage: each lot shall have a frontage on at least one street, of not less than 50 feet (§ 80-12a).
    • Side-yard text carries the amendment note [amended 6-28-1966 by ord. no. 463]; Ord. No. 26.05 (2026-04-14) amended Chapter 80 and its text was not reviewed.

    minimum lot area per family: >= 6000 square feet · minimum street frontage: >= 50 feet

    “a lot area of not less than 6,000 square feet per family shall be provided for every building hereafter erected or used in whole or in part as a dwelling. each lot shall have a frontage on at least one street, of not less than 50 feet.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — R-1A residence district inside Paulsboro borough.
      “a lot area of not less than 10,000 square feet per family shall be provided for every building hereafter erected or used in whole or in part as a dwelling. each lot shall have a frontage on at least one street of not less than 100 feet.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    R-1 residence district inside Paulsboro borough.

    • Front-yard depth may be reduced to not less than 15 feet on the long side of a corner lot (§ 80-12c).
    • Entrance-door rule in § 80-12f can increase side-yard distance where an entrance door faces a side lot line.
    • Front yard is subject to the exception in § 80-37, which was not opened.
    • R-1A setbacks were not verified (text truncated in the captured page).

    front yard depth: >= 30 feet (may be reduced to 15 feet on the long side of a corner lot) · aggregate side yards: >= 15 feet · minimum single side yard: >= 6 feet · rear yard depth: >= 25 feet

    “there shall be a front yard on each street on which a lot abuts, which shall be not less than 30 feet in depth, except as provided in § 80-37 hereof. the front yard on the long side of a corner lot may be reduced to a depth of not less than 15 feet.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    R-1 residence district inside Paulsboro borough: share of lot area that buildings may occupy.

    • No exception was read in § 80-12b.

    maximum building coverage of lot: <= 35 percent

    “not more than 35% of the area of each lot may be occupied by buildings.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Trailers and camp cars (towed or self-propelled vehicles used as a permanent or temporary dwelling or sleeping place, with no foundation beyond wheels, jacks or skirtings) on streets or private premises inside Paulsboro borough.

    • The 24-hour limit does not apply to a trailer or camp car undergoing repairs or storage, which may not be used as a sleeping place or dwelling during that time.
    • Persons who used or occupied a trailer or camp car as living quarters before April 3, 1951 may continue, provided water, sewer and waste facilities meet borough and Board of Health requirements.
    • Traveling carnivals and similar groups with written authority from the Mayor and Council are exempt, if part of their receipts go to a local civic group.
    • Penalty section 74-6 was not opened.

    maximum parking or placement period on a street or premises: <= 24 hours (repairs or storage)

    “it shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to park or place, either permanently or temporarily, any trailer or camp car on any street or highway in the borough of paulsboro or upon any premises whatsoever within the limits of the borough of paulsboro for a period longer than 24 hours, except for the purpose of making repairs or storage”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Temporary camping with trailers and camp cars inside Paulsboro borough. Tent camping is not addressed by Chapter 74.

    • Same 24-hour limit as the RV occupancy claim, applying to trailers and camp cars parked on streets or premises.
    • Trailer camps and trailer parks are separately prohibited (see the separate prohibited claim).

    maximum period on premises: <= 24 hours (repairs or storage)

    “it shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to park or place, either permanently or temporarily, any trailer or camp car on any street or highway in the borough of paulsboro or upon any premises whatsoever within the limits of the borough of paulsboro for a period longer than 24 hours, except for the purpose of making repairs or storage”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Prohibited — Operating a trailer camp, trailer park or camp park inside Paulsboro borough.
      “no person shall engage in the business of conducting or operating a camp for trailers or camp cars within the limits of the borough of paulsboro, and all such trailer parks, trailer camps and camp parks are hereby prohibited.”
  • Permit feesPublished

    Construction, plumbing, electrical and fire-protection permit fees inside Paulsboro borough.

    • Chapter 23 fee section was amended 10-9-2023 by ord. no. 13.23 and contains strike-through text in the plumbing and electrical minimums (plumbing minimum shown as $60 struck to $50); confirm current figures with the construction code department.
    • Renovation fee is $34 per $1,000 of estimated cost with a $90 minimum; plumbing and electrical minimum fees are $50; swimming pool permit fees are $100 aboveground and $250 below ground.
    • Chapter 22 fee amended 6-17-2025 by ord. no. 25.12 (§ 22-7).

    new construction fee per cubic foot (listed use groups): 0.0371 USD per cubic foot (use groups a-1 through f-2 and s-1, s-2 at $0.030; commercial farm buildings at $0.0080) · renovation, alteration and repair fee: 34 USD per 1000 of estimated cost (minimum fee $90)

    “the new construction fee shall be in the amount of $0.0371 per cubic foot for use groups designated as b, h, i-1, i-2, i-3, m, e, r-1, r-2, r-3, r-4 and u.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work inside Paulsboro borough.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling floor area inside Paulsboro borough.
  • Building height — Building height inside Paulsboro borough, R-1 and R-1A districts.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny homes used as dwellings inside Paulsboro borough.
  • Manufactured homes — Manufactured homes used as dwellings inside Paulsboro borough.
11 more unanswered
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • 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 Paulsboro publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Gloucester County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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