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

At a glance

Building permit

Required under the state Uniform Construction Code; the borough construction department handles it²⁵

Zoning

Borough zoning chapter and zoning map apply inside Farmingdale¹

Septic

Monmouth County Board of Health is the borough's listed health department³

Sewer connection

New or improved structures that may be occupied must connect to borough sewer before occupancy where available⁴

Certificate of occupancy

Required for new buildings; the borough will not issue one for a sewer violation⁶⁷

Owner-builder

A permit is still required; the exemption only covers builder registration⁸

Who to call

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 13, 2026.

Does Farmingdale, NJ have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, tiny homes and setbacks?

Yes. The Borough of Farmingdale divides its land into zoning districts under its own zoning chapter, and uses and development remain subject to the borough zoning map and land-development regulations¹. Monmouth County does not zone for the borough; the county's own regulations leave land use and development intensity to municipal zoning⁹.

Lot size, setbacks, minimum home size and height are set district by district in New Jersey, so the answer depends on which zone a parcel sits in¹⁰¹¹. We could not confirm the borough's rules on RV occupancy, tiny homes or camping; ask the Zoning Officer through the borough's administrative offices before planning any of them¹².

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

Yes. New Jersey's Uniform Construction Code requires a permit before covered construction, alteration or demolition begins². In Farmingdale the Construction Department handles permits, and submission and scheduling go through the Borough Administrative Office⁵. Inspections are by appointment, and fees depend on the scope of work⁵.

Monmouth County does not issue the building permit; the code is enforced by municipal code officials¹³. Farmingdale's own code chapters did not give us a separate general permit rule, so the state code is the operative requirement.

How do septic permits work inside Farmingdale?

The borough lists the Monmouth County Board of Health as its health department³. Monmouth County's Office of Public Health states that it oversees septic-system approvals and inspections for its member municipalities¹⁴. Call the county Office of Public Health to confirm how a specific lot is handled.

New Jersey requires a permit for sewerage facilities, including septic, and inspection before the system is covered¹⁵¹⁶. Wells need a state drilling permit¹⁷. Much of Farmingdale is served by borough sewer, which changes the septic question entirely, as the next section explains.

Do you have to connect to Farmingdale's sewer?

Where the borough sewer is ready and available, a new, modified or improved structure that may be occupied by people must connect before it is occupied or used⁴. Existing structures must connect within 120 days after the system is ready and available⁴.

The borough will not issue a certificate of occupancy if the Code Enforcement Officer finds a violation of the sewer chapter⁷. Whether a septic system is permitted on a lot that lacks sewer access was not stated in the borough code we reviewed, so ask the borough utilities office and the Monmouth County Board of Health.

Building a home in Farmingdale: the steps, in order

1. Ask the Zoning Officer which district the parcel is in and whether the use and lot dimensions fit¹².
2. Confirm sewer or septic with the borough and the Monmouth County Board of Health³.
3. Check whether a subdivision or a driveway onto a county road triggers county review¹⁸.
4. Submit the construction permit application through the Borough Administrative Office⁵.
5. Schedule inspections by appointment; the state requires at least 24 hours' notice¹⁹.
6. Obtain the certificate of occupancy before moving in⁶.

Owner-builders skip builder registration for a home built for personal use, but not the construction permit⁸.

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

Monmouth County reviews certain subdivisions and site plans, including those that touch county roads or drainage, and municipal building permits for covered projects cannot issue until that approval is in hand¹⁸. A driveway onto a state highway needs a state access permit²⁰.

For land outside the borough, see the Monmouth County page; the county's figures there apply to the whole county, not just Farmingdale.

Watch-outs

• We could not confirm the borough's rules on RV living, tiny homes, accessory dwellings or minimum lot size; ask the Zoning Officer through the borough administrative offices at 732-938-4077³.
• The borough's construction and zoning positions are part-time, and inspections and zoning visits are by appointment, so allow lead time⁵.
• County septic oversight is stated for member municipalities, so confirm with the Monmouth County Office of Public Health that it covers a specific address¹⁴.

Sources

1. Borough of Farmingdale, NJ Zoning Provisions (Borough of Farmingdale), quoted and re-checked
2. N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.14, Construction permits—when required (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
3. Borough of Farmingdale Administrative Offices (farmingdaleborough.org)
4. Chapter 17: Sewers - Borough of Farmingdale, NJ (Borough of Farmingdale), quoted and re-checked
5. Farmingdale Construction Department (farmingdaleborough.org)
6. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
7. Chapter 17: Sewers - Borough of Farmingdale, NJ (Borough of Farmingdale), quoted and re-checked
8. N.J.A.C. 5:25 — Regulations Governing New Home Warranties and Builders' Registration, quoted and re-checked
9. Monmouth County Development Regulations Volume I, quoted and re-checked
10. P.L. 2013, c.106 (Municipal Land Use Law amendments) (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. Farmingdale Zoning Officer (farmingdaleborough.org)
13. The New Jersey State Uniform Construction Code — General Information, quoted and re-checked
14. Office of Public Health Consumer Public Health/Inspection Services, quoted and re-checked
15. New Jersey Statutes, R.S. 58:11-23 through 58:11-43 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
16. New Jersey Statutes, R.S. 58:11-23 through 58:11-43 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
17. Bulletin 88-10: Private On-Site Water Supply Systems (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
18. Monmouth County Development Regulations Volume I, quoted and re-checked
19. New Jersey Department of Community Affairs consumer construction information, quoted and re-checked
20. Major Access Permits (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 13, 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.