Bolthole Index

Morris County, New Jersey

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Mount Arlington, New Jersey

The Borough of Mount Arlington, New Jersey, in Morris County, issues its own construction permits through its Construction Department, and nearly every improvement needs zoning review before work begins12. Zoning is the borough's, not Morris County's3. Septic permits come from the Mount Arlington Board of Health4.

At a glance

Building permit
Required; issued by the borough Construction Department25
Zoning
Borough zoning; review needed before work starts, even for permit-exempt projects1
Septic permit
Required; issued by the Borough Board of Health4
New construction fee
$0.43 per cubic foot, $70 minimum6
Final inspection penalty
$2,000 if cited for skipping final inspections7
Owner-occupied work
Owner may sign as exempt applicant on the state permit form8

Who to call

Building permits

Borough of Mount Arlington Construction Department

Construction permits, inspections and certificates of occupancy under the State Uniform Construction Code, plus zoning applications, inside Mount Arlington

973-398-6832 x114

419 Howard Boulevard Mount Arlington, NJ 07856

Septic permits

Borough of Mount Arlington Board of Health

Permits to locate, construct or alter individual sewage disposal systems inside Mount Arlington

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

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Do you need a building permit in Mount Arlington, NJ?

Yes. Inside Mount Arlington, construction permits are required for decks, swimming pools, kitchen and bathroom renovations, finished basements, water heaters, sheds, new electric, generators, transfer switches and new plumbing, and the borough says those are only examples29. New homes fall under New Jersey's Uniform Construction Code, which the borough enforces through its own Building Department5.

New construction is charged $0.43 per cubic foot with a $70 minimum, and plan review is 20% of the construction permit fee, credited toward it6. Payment must be cash or check; the borough does not take credit cards10.

If you are unsure whether a project needs a permit, the borough asks you to call the Construction Department before starting2.

Who issues building permits in Mount Arlington, and how do you reach them?

The Borough of Mount Arlington Construction Department issues building permits and runs inspections for addresses inside the borough9. Call 973-398-6832 ext 114 or visit 419 Howard Boulevard; inspections are scheduled by phone and need your permit number109.

Morris County does not issue building permits. Permit applications go to the local construction office in the municipality where the work happens11. Mount Arlington's Construction Department is the right counter, not a county or Morristown office.

Homeowners are responsible for calling for every inspection, and a cited failure to get final inspections carries a $2,000 penalty7.

Does Mount Arlington have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size, setbacks and RVs?

Yes. Mount Arlington zones through borough ordinance, and the borough publishes a Zoning Application & Procedures page, a Zoning Schedule 1 and a Zoning Map12. New Jersey counties have no zoning power, so Morris County sets none for the borough3.

In general, every improvement needs zoning review before work begins, even when it is exempt from a construction permit1. For an owner-occupied one- or two-family addition or alteration, zoning approval must be in place before plan review proceeds13.

Minimum lot size, setbacks, lot coverage and height are set district by district in the borough's zoning ordinance, and we could not confirm those figures1415. Ask the Zoning Officer at the Construction Department which district your parcel is in. We also could not confirm whether RV or tiny-home occupancy is allowed on a lot in Mount Arlington; ask the Zoning Officer before you plan on either.

How do septic permits work in Mount Arlington?

A permit from the Mount Arlington Board of Health is required before anyone locates, constructs or alters an individual sewage disposal system inside the borough4. The borough code sets application fees of $150 for new construction and $75 for alterations4.

New Jersey law also bars the building permit until the board of health certifies the proposed water supply and sewerage facilities, so septic approval comes before the construction permit16. The state requires inspection before a septic system is covered17.

We could not confirm the borough's rules for private wells or off-grid sanitation; ask the Board of Health through the borough.

Building a home in Mount Arlington: the steps, in order

  1. Call the Zoning Officer at the Construction Department to confirm your district and file a zoning application19.
  2. Get septic approval from the Board of Health, which must certify before a building permit issues416.
  3. If the lot is a one-family lot with slopes of 15% or less, submit a land-surveyor site plan showing a paved driveway at no more than 13% grade18.
  4. File the construction permit application with the borough Construction Department10.
  5. Call for each inspection with your permit number7.
  6. Obtain a certificate of occupancy; an owner-built home also needs an owner's affidavit filed with the construction official19.

What stays with Morris County, and what to check before you buy in Mount Arlington

Morris County's rules cover land outside the borough; see the Morris County page for unincorporated-area answers. Inside Mount Arlington, the county does not set zoning or issue building permits3.

A driveway onto a county road needs a county permit, and a driveway onto a state highway needs a state access permit2021. Subdivisions that front on county roads go to the county for review22.

Morris County's median property tax bill is $10,001 a year at an effective rate of 1.8%2324. Only 12.4% of county soils are rated not limited for a conventional septic drain field, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system25.

Watch-outs

  • Zoning review applies to nearly every improvement, including fences, sheds and pools that are exempt from a construction permit1.
  • Skipping final inspections can bring a $2,000 penalty, even on old permits that were never closed out, though the borough says no penalty is incurred if you call to get them done7.
  • Mount Arlington's district lot sizes, setbacks, RV and tiny-home rules, and private-well rules are not confirmed here; the borough's Chapter 17 zoning schedule governs the first three, so ask the Zoning Officer and Construction Department before you buy12.
  • The Construction Department takes cash or check only10.

Sources

  1. Construction - Borough of Mount Arlington (Borough of Mount Arlington), quoted and re-checked
  2. Construction - Borough of Mount Arlington (Borough of Mount Arlington), quoted and re-checked
  3. P.L. 2013, c.106 — Municipal Land Use Law amendments (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  4. Chapter 204 Sewage Disposal Systems (Borough of Mount Arlington), quoted and re-checked
  5. Chapter 67 Construction Codes, Uniform (Borough of Mount Arlington), quoted and re-checked
  6. Chapter 67 Construction Codes, Uniform (Borough of Mount Arlington), quoted and re-checked
  7. Construction - Borough of Mount Arlington (Borough of Mount Arlington), quoted and re-checked
  8. nj.gov, quoted and re-checked
  9. Borough of Mount Arlington Construction Department (mountarlingtonnj.org)
  10. Construction - Borough of Mount Arlington (Borough of Mount Arlington), quoted and re-checked
  11. Construction Permit Application Packet & Related Forms, quoted and re-checked
  12. Construction - Borough of Mount Arlington (Borough of Mount Arlington), quoted and re-checked
  13. New Jersey Uniform Construction Code, N.J.A.C. 5:23 (New Jersey statewide rule), 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. New Jersey Statutes, R.S. 58:11-23 through 58:11-43 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. New Jersey Statutes, R.S. 58:11-23 through 58:11-43 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Chapter 67 Construction Codes, Uniform (Borough of Mount Arlington), quoted and re-checked
  19. N.J.A.C. 5:23, Uniform Construction Code (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  20. Morris County Land Development Standards, quoted and re-checked
  21. Major Access Permits (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  22. Land Development Review, quoted and re-checked
  23. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  24. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  25. 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

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 Mount Arlington

Borough of Mount Arlington’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Decks, swimming pools, bathroom and kitchen renovations, finished basements, water heaters, sheds, new electrical work, generators, transfer switches, and new plumbing inside Mount Arlington borough.

    • The official page says these are examples and advises contacting the Construction Department when uncertain.
    • Permit fees depend on the work performed.
    “Permits are required for decks, swimming pools, renovating bathrooms & kitchens, finishing basements, water heaters, sheds, new electric, whole house generators, transfer switches and new plumbing to list a few.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction inside Mount Arlington borough through the borough's State Uniform Construction Code enforcing agency.

    • The enforcing agency consists of borough construction and subcode officials qualified under New Jersey law.
    • The code is the State Uniform Construction Code adopted and administered through the borough agency.
    “There is hereby established in the Borough of Mount Arlington a State Uniform Construction Code enforcing agency to be known as the "Building Department," consisting of a Construction Official, Building Subcode Official, Fire Protection 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.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Construction work requiring inspection under the State Uniform Construction Code inside Mount Arlington borough.

    • The homeowner must call for inspections.
    • A permit number is required to schedule an inspection.
    • Failure to obtain final inspections may result in a $2,000 penalty.

    final inspection penalty: 2000 USD

    “It is ultimately the Homeowners responsibility to call for any and all inspections. If you have an old permit, call the office and get the inspections. No penalty will be incurred. If you are cited for not obtaining final inspections the penalty will be $2,000.”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Construction inside Mount Arlington borough for which a certificate of occupancy is issued.

    • Inspectors review structural, plumbing, heating and air-conditioning, and electrical work before issuance.
    • The page does not establish that every existing residential occupancy requires a certificate of occupancy.
    “The Inspectors review structural construction, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, and electrical work prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy to ensure compliance with the State Uniform Construction Code.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Mount Arlington borough; municipal zoning review applies to improvements.

    • The official construction page directs applicants to zoning applications, zoning schedules, and a zoning map.
    • All improvements generally require zoning review before work begins, even when construction-permit exempt.
    “In general all improvements require zoning review before work may begin even if the project is exempt from construction permit requirements.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning information inside Mount Arlington borough.

    • The official borough construction page publishes links for a Zoning Application & Procedures, Zoning Schedule 1, and Zoning Map.
    • The district-specific dimensional values were not extracted because the linked Chapter 17 material was inaccessible during this run.
    “Zoning Application & Procedures Zoning Schedule 1 Zoning Map”
  • Who permits septicMixed (with conditions)

    Individual and non-individual subsurface sewage disposal systems inside Mount Arlington borough.

    • The borough code assigns administrative authority to the Borough Board of Health.
    • The borough website states that public health services are provided by the Mount Olive Township Health Department.
    “The administrative authority as referred to in the aforesaid regulations shall be construed to mean the Board of Health of the Borough of Mount Arlington.”
  • Septic permitRequired

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

    • The permit must be issued by the Board of Health.
    • A licensed New Jersey engineer, health officer, or sanitarian must certify compliance with N.J.A.C. 7:9-1.1 et seq.
    • The code establishes application fees of $150 for new construction and $75 for alterations.

    new system permit application fee: 150 USD · alteration permit application fee: 75 USD

    “No person shall locate, construct or alter any individual sewage disposal system until a permit for the location, construction or alteration of said sewage disposal system shall have been issued by the Board of Health.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    One-family residential lots with slopes of 15% or less inside Mount Arlington borough.

    • A licensed-land-surveyor site plan must be submitted before issuance of a building permit.
    • The site plan must provide a paved driveway to a service garage or parking area with a grade not exceeding 13%.

    maximum driveway grade: <= 13 percent · lot slope applicability threshold: <= 15 percent

    “For the use of a one-family residential lot with slopes of 15% or less and accessory uses thereto, a site plan prepared by a licensed land surveyor shall be submitted to the Construction Official for approval prior to the issuance of a building permit.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Construction permits and related certificates inside Mount Arlington borough.

    • Construction permit fees are the sum of subcode, administrative, and miscellaneous fees and are paid before issuance.
    • New construction is charged $0.43 per cubic foot with a $70 minimum.
    • Plan review is 20% of the construction permit fee and is credited toward that fee.
    • Certificate of occupancy fees are $65 for Use Group R-5 and $100 for other use groups.
    • Fees are rounded to the nearest dollar; mandatory state rules supersede inconsistent local fee provisions.

    new construction fee: 0.43 USD per cubic foot (minimum fee $70) · plan review fee: 20 percent of construction permit fee (credited toward construction permit fee) · certificate of occupancy fee, R-5: 65 USD · certificate of occupancy fee, other use groups: 100 USD

    “For new construction, including additions, the fee shall be $0.43 per cubic foot of building or structure volume, provided that the minimum fee shall be $70.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Construction-permit process inside Mount Arlington borough.

    • Applicants should contact the Construction Department when uncertain whether a permit is required.
    • Inspections are scheduled by telephone and require the permit number.
    • Payments must be cash or check; the official page states that credit cards are not accepted.
    “To schedule an inspection, you must call the Construction Department at 973-398-6832 ext 114. Your permit number is required for all inspection requests.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work inside Mount Arlington borough.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Residential districts inside Mount Arlington borough.
  • Minimum lot size — Residential zoning districts inside Mount Arlington borough.
  • Setbacks — Residential zoning districts inside Mount Arlington borough.
  • Lot coverage — Residential zoning districts inside Mount Arlington borough.
12 more unanswered
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • 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 Mount Arlington publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Morris County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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