Bolthole Index

Somerset County, New Jersey

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in Montgomery Township, New Jersey

Montgomery Township, New Jersey requires a zoning permit for most work that needs a building permit1, and a building permit for new construction2. The township's own zoning and construction offices handle those34. Septic systems need a permit from the Board of Health5. Somerset County does not set zoning for the township6.

At a glance

Building permit
Required for new construction and work on existing buildings; issued locally under the state Uniform Construction Code2
Zoning
Township zoning ordinance and zoning map; variances go to the Zoning Board of Adjustment78
Zoning permit
Required for most activities that need a building permit, plus some others1
Septic
Board of Health permit required before locating, building or altering a system5
RV or tiny home living
Not confirmed; ask the Zoning Officer3
Owner-builder
An owner may build their own home for personal use; permits and inspections still apply9
Short-term rentals
Prohibited for stays of 30 days or less10

Who to call

Building permits

Montgomery Township Building & Construction (Construction Official)

Building and construction permits and inspections inside Montgomery Township

908-359-8211

100 Community Drive, Skillman, NJ 08558

Zoning

Montgomery Township Planning & Zoning

Zoning permits, variance, subdivision and site plan applications inside Montgomery Township

908-206-7307

100 Community Drive, Skillman, NJ 08558

Health department

Montgomery Township Health Department (Board of Health)

Local health department; the Board of Health approves septic permits inside Montgomery Township

908-533-9326

100 Community Drive, Skillman, NJ 08558

Septic permits

Somerset County Department of Health, Consumer Health Services (Sewage Disposal)

Percolation tests, septic design review and septic permits in Somerset County

908-231-7155

20 Grove Street, P.O. Box 3000, Somerville, NJ 08876-1262

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

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Do you need a building permit in Montgomery Township, NJ?

Yes. New Jersey's Uniform Construction Code requires a construction permit for new construction and for structural, plumbing, mechanical and electrical work on existing buildings, with an exception for ordinary maintenance and routine repair2. Montgomery Township adds a second layer: a zoning permit is required for most activities that need a building permit, and for some other activities1.

Small projects count too. Sheds over 200 square feet need both a zoning permit and a building permit11, and a zoning permit is needed to expand a driveway12. A complete application must be approved or denied within 20 business days, and construction may begin only after the permit is issued2.

Who issues building permits and zoning approval in Montgomery Township?

Montgomery Township issues both through its own offices at 100 Community Drive in Skillman4. The Building & Construction office, led by the Construction Official, handles building permits and inspections4. The Planning & Zoning office handles zoning permits and variance, subdivision and site plan applications3. Somerset County does not zone, so each municipality sets its own zoning6.

The Zoning Board of Adjustment hears variances when a use or development does not meet the ordinance standards7. Septic permits are a separate office: see the septic section below.

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

Yes. The Montgomery Township Zoning Ordinance sets standards for how property can be used and developed in the township7. You can find your property's zone on the township's Zoning Map8.

Lot size and setbacks depend on the district. The township states that a lot between 1 and 2 acres falls under R-1 setbacks, and cluster and apartment or townhouse zoning has special setback requirements13. We could not confirm minimum dwelling size, lot coverage or building height by district, so ask the Zoning Officer at Planning & Zoning before you buy3. Subdivisions use the same general application as variances and site plan review14.

How do septic permits work in Montgomery Township?

Nobody may locate, construct or alter a septic system in Montgomery Township until the Board of Health, or its authorized agent, issues a permit5. The township's permit and construction-inspection fee for a new system is $55015. A new system also needs final design review and approval before the permit is issued, and site approvals have a limited validity period5.

Somerset County's Consumer Health Services also reviews septic designs, witnesses percolation tests and issues septic permits countywide16. Which office stamps your permit is something we could not pin down, so call the Montgomery Township Health Department first and the county second17. Soils matter: only a small share of Somerset County soils rate as not limited for a conventional drain field, so plan for a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system18.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home in Montgomery Township?

We could not confirm whether Montgomery Township allows long-term RV occupancy, temporary camping, tiny homes, manufactured homes or accessory dwellings on private land. Ask the Zoning Officer through Planning & Zoning, and get the answer in writing before you buy3.

One statewide rule is clear: recreational park trailers, also called park models, are subject to the Uniform Construction Code and need an installation permit19. Do not assume a township rule is silent just because it is hard to find.

Building a home in Montgomery Township: the steps, in order

  1. Look up your zone on the township Zoning Map8.
  2. Ask the Zoning Officer about setbacks and permitted uses for that zone, and apply for a variance if the plan does not fit7.
  3. Get septic site approval from the Board of Health before final design5.
  4. Apply for the zoning permit and the building permit1.
  5. Build, stopping for inspections; the septic utility-service inspection is one of them20.
  6. Pass the final inspection and obtain the Certificate of Occupancy before anyone moves in21.

What to check before you buy land in Montgomery Township

Montgomery Township sits inside Somerset County, whose page covers land elsewhere in the county county page. Short-term rentals of 30 days or less are prohibited in the township10.

County-level numbers: Somerset County's effective property tax rate is 1.9%22, and the typical home value is about $673,00023. We could not confirm well-permit rules, floodplain rules or sewer and water availability for the township, so ask the Health Department and the Construction Official174.

Watch-outs

  • Short-term rentals of 30 days or less are unlawful in Montgomery Township, whoever owns the dwelling10.
  • Zoning permits are separate from building permits, and both are needed for sheds over 200 square feet11.
  • We could not confirm RV, tiny-home, accessory-dwelling or floodplain rules for the township; ask Planning & Zoning before you commit3.
  • Even an owner building their own home still needs permits and inspections9.

Sources

  1. How Do I? | Montgomery Township, NJ (Montgomery Township), quoted and re-checked
  2. Uniform Construction Code General Information, quoted and re-checked
  3. Montgomery Township Planning & Zoning (montgomerynj.gov)
  4. Montgomery Township Building & Construction (Construction Official) (montgomerynj.gov)
  5. Chapter BH6: Individual Sewage Disposal Systems - Township of Montgomery, NJ (Montgomery Township), quoted and re-checked
  6. NJ DCA - Uniform Construction Code / Municipal Land Use (2026 county census)
  7. Zoning Board of Adjustment | Montgomery Township, NJ (Montgomery Township), quoted and re-checked
  8. Township of Montgomery, NJ Code Table of Contents (Montgomery Township), quoted and re-checked
  9. NJ DCA - The New Jersey State Uniform Construction Code (2026 county census)
  10. Chapter 8: Building, Housing and Farming - Township of Montgomery, NJ (Montgomery Township), quoted and re-checked
  11. How Do I? | Montgomery Township, NJ (Montgomery Township), quoted and re-checked
  12. How Do I? | Montgomery Township, NJ (Montgomery Township), quoted and re-checked
  13. How Do I? | Montgomery Township, NJ (Montgomery Township), quoted and re-checked
  14. How Do I? | Montgomery Township, NJ (Montgomery Township), quoted and re-checked
  15. Chapter BH6: Individual Sewage Disposal Systems - Township of Montgomery, NJ (Montgomery Township), quoted and re-checked
  16. Somerset County Department of Health, Consumer Health Services (Sewage Disposal) (somersetcountynj.gov)
  17. Montgomery Township Health Department (Board of Health) (montgomerynj.gov)
  18. 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
  19. New Jersey Administrative Code, N.J.A.C. 5:23-9.3, quoted and re-checked
  20. Uniform Construction Code General Information, quoted and re-checked
  21. Uniform Construction Code General Information, quoted and re-checked
  22. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  23. Typical home value (Zillow): 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 Montgomery Township

Montgomery Township’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Sheds over 200 square feet inside Montgomery Township.

    • A zoning permit is also required for sheds over 200 square feet.

    shed area threshold: > 200 square feet

    “Sheds over 200 square feet require a zoning and building permit.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Property use and development inside Montgomery Township.

    • A property owner seeking use or development that does not comply with the ordinance standards must apply for a variance to the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
    “The Montgomery Township Zoning Ordinance sets standards on how property can be used and developed in the township.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside Montgomery Township.

    • The Township's Zoning Board interprets the zoning map and zoning ordinance.
    “You can find what zone your property is in by viewing our Zoning Map.”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Residentially zoned property inside Montgomery Township; Township guidance identifies R-1 setbacks for lots between one and two acres.

    • Cluster and apartment/townhouse zoning have special setback requirements.
    • Other district-specific lot-size numbers were not retrieved.
    “Other zones can view your minimum lot size and setbacks here. If your lot is between 1 and not exceeding 2 acres you will fall under R-1 setbacks.”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Residentially zoned property inside Montgomery Township; R-1 setbacks apply to lots from one through two acres as stated by the Township.

    • Cluster and apartment/townhouse zones have special setback requirements.
    • Existing structures that do not meet current setbacks have special considerations.

    lot area for stated R-1 setback guidance: 1 to 2 acres (Township FAQ wording is between 1 and not exceeding 2 acres)

    “There are special requirements for setbacks in cluster and apartment/townhouse zoning.”
  • Who permits septicLocal (with conditions)

    Individual subsurface sewage disposal systems inside Montgomery Township.

    • For systems receiving over 2,000 gallons per day, NJDEP has primary jurisdiction under N.J.A.C. 7:9A, in addition to required Board approval.
    “Permits shall be issued only after the appropriate approvals have been granted by the Board of Health.”
  • Septic permitRequired

    Locating, constructing, or altering an individual subsurface sewage disposal system inside Montgomery Township.

    • The Board of Health must grant appropriate approvals before issuing the permit.
    • For a new system, final design must be submitted for review and approval before permit issuance.
    • Site approvals remain valid for five years from approval.

    new-system permit and construction-inspection fee: 550 USD (as listed in § BH6-1.5(i))

    “No person shall locate, construct, or alter a subsurface sewage disposal system until a permit for the location, construction or alteration of such system shall have been issued by the Board of Health, or its duly authorized agent.”
  • Septic inspectionRequired

    A subsurface sewage disposal system permitted for location and construction inside Montgomery Township.

    • The cited fee includes construction inspections associated with permitting.
    • A reinspection fee applies when nonconforming location, construction, or alteration causes reinspection.

    permit and construction-inspection fee: 550 USD (subsurface sewage disposal systems)

    “For the issuance of a permit to locate and construct any subsurface sewage disposal system and for the construction inspections associated with the permitting of a subsurface sewage disposal system. | $550.00”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    On-site subsurface sewage disposal inside Montgomery Township.

    • A Board of Health permit and appropriate approvals are required before locating, constructing, or altering the system.
    “No person shall locate, construct, or alter a subsurface sewage disposal system until a permit for the location, construction or alteration of such system shall have been issued by the Board of Health, or its duly authorized agent.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision proposals inside Montgomery Township.

    • The Township states that one general document is used for variance, subdivision, and site-plan-review applications.
    “Apply for Variance, Subdivision / Site Plan Review. There is only one general document used for all of these applications.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Expansion of a driveway inside Montgomery Township.

    • This claim addresses driveway expansion; no general new-driveway access rule was verified.
    “A Zoning Permit is also required to expand your driveway.”
  • Short-term rentalsProhibited

    For-consideration use or occupancy of a dwelling unit for 30 days or less inside Montgomery Township.

    • The prohibition applies to owners, lessors, sub-lessors, persons or entities with possessory or use rights, and listed agents and representatives.
    • The provisions are enforced by Township Police, Zoning Officer, Building Code Official, Fire Official, Health Department, or other subcode or code official.

    rental period: <= 30 days (for actual or anticipated consideration)

    “It shall be unlawful [...] to receive or obtain actual or anticipated consideration for soliciting, advertising, offering, and/or permitting, allowing, or failing to discontinue the use or occupancy of any dwelling unit for a period of 30 days or less.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Construction permits inside Montgomery Township.

    • The construction-permit fee is the sum of subcode fees and applicable special fees.
    • The fee must be paid before the permit is issued.
    • Fees are rounded to the nearest dollar.

    building-subcode minimum fee: 95 USD (each item under the cited Building Subcode provision)

    “The fee shall be paid before a permit is issued. All fees shall be rounded off to the nearest dollar.”
  • Permit processPartial

    Zoning permits and certain development applications inside Montgomery Township.

    • A zoning permit is required for most activities requiring a building permit and some additional activities.
    • Subdivision, site-plan, and variance applications use one general document.
    “A zoning permit is a requirement for most activities requiring a building permit and some other additional activities.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Montgomery Township or Somerset County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residential construction inside Montgomery Township.
  • Inspections — Building construction inside Montgomery Township.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Montgomery Township.
  • Lot coverage — Lots inside Montgomery Township.
  • Building height — Buildings inside Montgomery Township.
8 more unanswered
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Building in a floodplain

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 Montgomery Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Somerset County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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