Bolthole Index

Monmouth County, New Jersey

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in the Borough of Matawan, New Jersey

The Borough of Matawan, in Monmouth County, New Jersey, requires a building permit for construction, enforced under the state Uniform Construction Code by the borough's own code enforcement agency1. Matawan adopts and administers its own zoning2. Septic permits inside the borough come from the Monmouth County health officer, not the borough3. Borough construction and zoning staff are a shared service with Aberdeen Township4.

At a glance

Building permit
Required; issued by the borough's code enforcement agency under the state code15
Zoning
Yes; the borough has its own zone districts and a zoning permit26
Septic
Permit from the Monmouth County health officer; public sewer is the general rule78
Certificate of occupancy
Required before a building or use is occupied9
Floodplain
Site plan approval and state stream-encroachment permit where appropriate10
Owner-builder
State affidavit rules apply; no borough-specific exemption confirmed11

Who to call

Building permits

Matawan construction and zoning office (shared service with Aberdeen Township)

Construction permits, zoning permits and certificates of occupancy for property in the Borough of Matawan

732-583-4200

1 Aberdeen Square, Aberdeen, NJ 07735

Septic permits

Monmouth County Office of Public Health

Approvals and inspections of septic systems and wells for member municipalities

732-431-7456

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

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Borough of Matawan means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Matawan, New Jersey?

Yes. New Jersey requires a construction permit for new construction and for structural, plumbing, mechanical and electrical work on existing buildings5. In Matawan the borough runs that program itself through its Borough Code Enforcement Department, made up of construction, building, plumbing, electrical and fire-protection subcode officials1.

Matawan also requires a separate zoning permit from the Zoning Official before any building work with a construction value over $100, and for any change in the use of land6. Before anyone may occupy a new or altered building, the Construction Official must issue an occupancy permit9.

Owner-builders are not exempt from permits that we could confirm. The state's owner-built affidavit filed with the construction official is required before a certificate of occupancy issues11; ask the borough's construction office whether any permit exemption applies to your project.

Who issues building permits and zoning approval in Matawan, and how do you reach them?

Matawan's construction and zoning functions are a shared service with Aberdeen Township. The borough's own directory says construction and zoning "has moved to the building department" at 1 Aberdeen Square in Aberdeen, so building permits and zoning permits for Matawan addresses are handled there rather than at Matawan's borough hall on Broad Street4. Call 732-583-4200, extension 121 for construction and extension 120 for zoning4.

The borough's published permit process says a zoning application is made in writing by the owner or authorized agent, states the intended use and comes with a plan12. Construction permit fees must be paid before the permit issues and work begins12.

Does Matawan have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size, setbacks, RVs and tiny homes?

Yes. The Borough of Matawan is divided into zone districts under its own Development Regulations, and the official zoning map is filed with the Borough Clerk213. The code lists residential districts such as R-100 and R-75, along with commercial, industrial and mixed-use districts13.

Minimum lot size, setbacks, building height and lot coverage are set district by district in Matawan's own ordinance, as is normal for New Jersey municipalities1415. Look up your parcel's district on the borough's zoning map before you plan anything.

We could not confirm any borough rule that specifically addresses RV living, temporary camping or tiny homes. Do not assume that silence means permission; ask the zoning office at the number above before you buy.

How do septic permits and sewer connections work in Matawan?

Matawan's code requires every building or use to be served by public sanitary sewer, and public water wherever practicable8. Where the borough's trunk lines are installed or the Borough Engineer gives notice, connection to the sewer is required within six months8. For most lots in town, sewer rather than septic is the expected answer.

Where septic is allowed, no one may locate, construct or alter an individual sewage disposal system without a permit from the County Health Officer, and the application may need a certificate from a New Jersey-licensed professional engineer7. The Monmouth County Office of Public Health oversees septic and well approvals and inspections for its member municipalities16. Privies, back houses and outside toilets are prohibited17.

A new well needs a state drilling permit18; we could not confirm a borough-specific well rule, so ask the County Office of Public Health.

Building a home in Matawan: the steps, in order

  1. Find your parcel's zone district on the borough's official zoning map and confirm the use you want is allowed there13.
  2. Apply in writing to the Zoning Official for a zoning permit, with a plan; the borough issues zoning permits within 45 days of application12.
  3. Confirm sewer and water availability with the borough; septic needs a County Health Officer permit87.
  4. If the lot is in a delineated floodplain, get Unified Planning Board site plan approval and a state stream-encroachment permit where appropriate10.
  5. Apply for the construction permit through the Matawan construction office, which is shared with Aberdeen4.
  6. File the owner-builder affidavit with the construction official if you are building your own home11.
  7. Obtain the occupancy permit from the Construction Official before moving in9.

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

Zoning stays with the borough: New Jersey counties have no power to zone19. Monmouth County does review some subdivisions and site plans that touch county roads or drainage facilities20, and a driveway that connects to a county road can trigger county review21. A driveway onto a state highway needs a state permit22. Inside the borough, driveway width is set during site plan review23.

On cost, Monmouth County's effective property tax rate is 1.8%24, and the county's median property tax bill is $10,001 per year25. For land outside the borough, see the Monmouth County page.

Watch-outs

  • Construction and zoning for Matawan are handled at the Aberdeen Township building department office, not at Matawan borough hall4.
  • A zoning permit and a construction permit are two separate approvals, and an occupancy permit is required before use69.
  • Sewer connection can become mandatory on the borough's notice, so septic is not a long-term plan on a lot near a trunk line8.
  • We could not confirm borough rules on RV occupancy or tiny homes, or a borough exemption from permits for owner-builders; the state owner-built affidavit still applies11, and the zoning office can answer the rest.

Sources

  1. Chapter 13 Building and Construction (Borough of Matawan), quoted and re-checked
  2. Chapter 34 Development Regulations (Borough of Matawan), quoted and re-checked
  3. Chapter BH5 Individual Sewage Disposal Systems (Borough of Matawan), quoted and re-checked
  4. Matawan construction and zoning office (shared service with Aberdeen Township) (matawanborough.com)
  5. N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.14, Construction permits—when required (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  6. Article II: Enforcement and Administration (Borough of Matawan), quoted and re-checked
  7. Chapter BH5 Individual Sewage Disposal Systems (Borough of Matawan), quoted and re-checked
  8. Article VI: Performance and Design Standards (Borough of Matawan), quoted and re-checked
  9. ecode360.com (Borough of Matawan), quoted and re-checked
  10. Chapter XXXIV Development Regulations PDF (Borough of Matawan), quoted and re-checked
  11. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. Article II: Enforcement and Administration (Borough of Matawan), quoted and re-checked
  13. Article IX: Establishment of Zone Districts and Zoning Map (Borough of Matawan), quoted and re-checked
  14. P.L. 2013, c.106 (Municipal Land Use Law amendments) (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. P.L. 2013, c.106 (Municipal Land Use Law amendments) (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Monmouth County Office of Public Health (co.monmouth.nj.us)
  17. Article VI: Performance and Design Standards (Borough of Matawan), quoted and re-checked
  18. Bulletin 88-10: Private On-Site Water Supply Systems (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. P.L. 2013, c.106 — Municipal Land Use Law amendments (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Monmouth County Development Regulations Volume I, quoted and re-checked
  21. Monmouth County Development Regulations, Volume I — Application, Review and Approval Procedures, quoted and re-checked
  22. Major Access Permits (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. matawanborough.com (Borough of Matawan), quoted and re-checked
  24. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  25. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

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.

Answers from the rulebook for Borough of Matawan

Borough of Matawan’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, erection, or alteration of a building in Matawan borough involving construction or value in excess of $100, and changes in land use.

    • A written application is required from the owner or authorized agent.
    • The application must include the intended use and a plan.
    • The zoning permit is issued within 45 days and has a one-year life; annual renewal may be approved for up to three years.

    construction or value threshold: > 100 USD · zoning permit issuance period: 45 days · zoning permit life: 1 year

    “Zoning permits shall be secured from the Zoning Official prior to construction, erection or alteration of any building or part of the building involving a construction or value in excess of $100 and for any change in the use of land.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Building-code enforcement inside Matawan borough through the Borough Code Enforcement Department under the New Jersey State Uniform Construction Code.

    • The enforcing agency consists of construction, building, plumbing, electrical, and fire-protection subcode officials.
    • Officials must be qualified under applicable New Jersey statutes and N.J.A.C. 5:23.
    “There is hereby established a State Uniform Construction Code Enforcing Agency to be known as the Borough Code Enforcement Department, consisting of a Construction Official, Building Subcode Officials, Plumbing Subcode Officials, Electrical Subcode Officials, Fire Protection Subcode Official and such other subcode officials for such additional subcodes as the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs, State of New Jersey, shall hereafter adopt as part of the State Uniform Construction Code.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Any land use and any building constructed, erected, altered, reoccupied, or reused inside Matawan borough.

    • An occupancy permit must be issued by the Construction Official.
    • An occupancy permit issued under the State Uniform Construction Code also satisfies the borough chapter.
    • Where sanitary sewer and/or public water is unavailable, the application is referred to the Health Official; Fire Official certification is also required.
    • An occupancy permit is required whenever a use variance is granted.

    decision period: 10 days (from written application)

    “No land shall be occupied or used, in whole or in part, and no building hereinafter constructed, erected or altered shall be occupied or used, in whole or in part, for any use whatsoever, until an occupancy permit has been issued by the Construction Official certifying that the use and building, if any, comply with the provisions of this chapter.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Matawan borough; the borough administers its own Development Regulations and zoning districts.

    “In accordance with the purpose and intent of this chapter, the Borough of Matawan is hereby divided into the following zone districts:”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts and the official zoning map inside Matawan borough.

    • The official zoning map is filed in the Borough Clerk's office and is part of Chapter 34.
    • District boundaries generally follow lot lines, street center lines, railroad rights-of-way, or river/stream centers unless otherwise shown.
    • The code lists R-100, R-75, R-50 I, R-M, SC, R-C, GB, SB, DPD, HI, IND, RID, GO, MUD, and MUD-160 districts.
    “The boundaries of all zone districts set forth in this chapter shall be shown on a map bearing date of adoption. The map shall be filed in the office of the Borough Clerk and shall hereafter be the Official Zoning Map of the Borough. Such map is hereby declared a part of this chapter and shall be duly certified by the Borough Clerk.”
  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    Individual sewage disposal systems inside Matawan borough; the borough code assigns permit and certification functions to the County Health Officer.

    • The borough adopts N.J.A.C. 7:9A standards.
    • The Monmouth County Office of Public Health states it oversees septic approvals and inspections for member municipalities.
    “Permit Required. No person shall locate, construct or alter any individual sewage disposal system until a permit for the location, construction or alteration of the sewage disposal system shall have been issued by the County Health Officer.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Locating, constructing, or altering an individual sewage disposal system inside Matawan borough.

    • The permit is issued by the County Health Officer.
    • The application may require a certificate from a New Jersey-licensed professional engineer stating that the design complies with the adopted code.
    “Permit Required. No person shall locate, construct or alter any individual sewage disposal system until a permit for the location, construction or alteration of the sewage disposal system shall have been issued by the County Health Officer.”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Sanitation systems serving land inside Matawan borough when public sewer is not practicable.

    • Public sanitary sewer is the general requirement.
    • Septic systems may be used when applicable but must comply with Borough and State Board of Health or other authority requirements.
    • Privies, back houses, and outside toilets are prohibited.
    “In cases where water is supplied by driven well and/or sanitary sewerage is treated by septic tank installations, such installations shall conform to the standard requirements of the Borough and State Boards of Health or other authority having jurisdiction thereof.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

    Buildings and uses inside Matawan borough.

    • Public sanitary sewer is required for all buildings or uses.
    • Public water is required wherever practicable.
    • If public service is not practicable, a statement from the agency controlling sewer and water connections is required.
    • Driven wells and septic installations must conform to Borough and State Board of Health or other applicable authority requirements.
    • Where trunk lines are installed or the Borough Engineer gives notice, connection to sanitary sewer is required within six months.

    sewer connection deadline: 6 months (after trunk-line installation or Borough Engineer notification)

    “All buildings or uses shall be served by a public sanitary sewerage facility, and a public water supply shall be required wherever practicable. A statement from the appropriate agency controlling sanitary sewer and public water connections shall be required in any case where such service is not practicable. In cases where water is supplied by driven well and/or sanitary sewerage is treated by septic tank installations, such installations shall conform to the standard requirements of the Borough and State Boards of Health or other authority having jurisdiction thereof.”
  • Driveway accessLimited

    Driveways and parking access inside Matawan borough subject to site-plan review.

    • Adequate ingress and egress must be provided.
    • Driveway width is determined during site-plan review based on use, topography, and similar considerations.
    “There shall be adequate provision for ingress and egress to all parking spaces. The width of access drives or driveways shall be determined as part of site plan review depending on use, topography and similar considerations.”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development within a delineated floodplain inside Matawan borough.

    • A site plan must be submitted to and approved by the Unified Planning Board.
    • A New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection stream-encroachment permit is required where appropriate.
    • All necessary borough approvals are required.
    • No certificate of occupancy may issue until approval conditions are satisfied.
    • Floodplain development is also subject to elevation, floodproofing, flood-insurance, and other chapter conditions.
    “No person or persons shall engage in development within a delineated floodplain until a stream encroachment permit has been issued by the Department of Environmental Protection where appropriate and all necessary approvals have been obtained from the Borough.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning and construction-permit processes inside Matawan borough.

    • Zoning applications are written, identify intended use, and include a plan.
    • Zoning permits are issued within 45 days and last one year, with possible annual renewal for up to three years.
    • Construction permit fees must be paid before issuance and commencement of work.

    zoning permit decision period: 45 days · zoning permit duration: 1 year

    “All requests for zoning permits shall be made in writing by the owner or his authorized agent on a form to be supplied by the Zoning Official and shall include a statement of the use or intended use of the building or land and shall be accompanied by a plan which shall be prepared and submitted in accordance with the standards established by Article III, Site Plan Review, of this chapter. Zoning permits shall be issued within 45 days of application and shall have a one year life.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders seeking exemption from construction permits or inspections inside Matawan borough.
  • Inspections — Building inspections for construction inside Matawan borough.
  • Living in an RV — RV occupancy on private land inside Matawan borough.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Matawan borough.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Matawan borough.
6 more unanswered
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • 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 Matawan publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Monmouth County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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