Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Stillwater Township, New Jersey

Stillwater Township’s own rules

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Stillwater township's limits: the township administers its own zoning ordinance (Chapter 240 Land Development, Article XI Zoning).

  • Zoning districts and bulk standards are set by the township code; county or state rules do not replace them inside the township.

  “the township of stillwater shall be divided into the following types of zoning districts:”

• Zoning districtsPublished

  Land inside Stillwater township: district list and map boundaries (R-7.5, R-5, R-30, NC, C, CR, RC).

  • District list: R-7.5 (one unit per 7.5 acres), R-5 (one unit per 5 acres), R-30 (one unit per 30,000 square feet), NC neighborhood commercial, C commercial, CR commercial recreational, RC recreation/conservation.
  • The zoning map is referenced as dated May 2001 'or most current' and is kept on file with the township clerk; the map itself was not opened.

  “the boundaries of the districts are hereby established as shown on the map entitled " zoning map of the township of stillwater," dated may 2001, or most current.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Residential lots in the R-5 residential district, Stillwater township (§ 240-107 d(1)).

  • Professional office lots in the R-5 district must be a minimum of five acres (§ 240-107 d(3)(a)).
  • Subject to 'except as otherwise provided in this chapter'.

  minimum lot area: >= 5 acres · minimum lot width at street line: >= 200 feet

  “every residential lot in the r-5 residential district shall have a minimum width of 200 feet measured at the street line and a minimum area of five acres, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Residential lots in the R-7.5 residential district, Stillwater township (§ 240-106 d(1)).

    “every residential lot in the r-7.5 residential districts shall have a minimum width of 200 feet measured at the street line and a minimum area of 7 1/2 acres, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Principal and side-yard buildings in the R-5 residential district, Stillwater township (§ 240-107 d(2) and (4)).

  • Corner lot side-yard setback is 60 feet from the street lines (§ 240-107 d(2)).
  • Corner lot front setback is 50 feet from the street lines (§ 240-107 d(4)).
  • Rear setback for principal buildings not verified in the text reviewed.

  side-yard building side setback: >= 30 feet (60 feet on a corner lot from the street lines) · principal building front setback: >= 50 feet (50 feet on a corner lot from the street lines) · principal building side-lot setback: >= 30 feet

  “principal buildings and structures shall have a required minimum setback of 50 feet from the street line and 30 feet from any side lot line, except that on a corner lot a minimum setback of 50 feet from the street lines shall be required.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Principal buildings in the R-7.5 residential district, Stillwater township (§ 240-106 d(2)-(4)).

    “principal buildings and structures shall have a required minimum setback of 75 feet from the street line, except that on a corner lot a minimum setback of 100 feet from the street lines shall be required.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Total lot coverage (principal plus accessory structures) in the R-5 residential district, Stillwater township (§ 240-107 d(9)).

  • Tiered by total lot area; swimming pools are not counted as accessory structures for lot coverage (§ 240-107 d(9)(b)).
  • Tiers: 2.00 acres or less 15%; 2.01 to 4.00 acres 10%; 4.01 to 6.00 acres 4%; 6.01 acres and larger 3%.

  total lot coverage, lot up to 2.00 acres: <= 15 percent of total lot area · total lot coverage, lot 2.01 to 4.00 acres: <= 10 percent of total lot area · total lot coverage, lot 4.01 to 6.00 acres: <= 4 percent of total lot area · total lot coverage, lot 6.01 acres and larger: <= 3 percent of total lot area

  “(9) total lot coverage. (a) total lot coverage for the principal and accessory structures shall conform to the following: [1] 2.00 acres or less: 15% of the total lot area. [2] 2.01 to 4.00 acres: 10% of the total lot area. [3] 4.01 to 6.00 acres: 4% of the total lot area. [4] 6.01 acres and larger: 3% of the total lot area. (b) swimming pools are not considered accessory structures for purposes of calculation of lot coverage.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Accessory apartments in the R-7.5 residential district, Stillwater township (conditional use).

  • Permitted only as a conditional use after review and approval by the planning board or zoning board of adjustment (§ 240-106 c(4)).
  • Subject to § 240-114e: no enlargement of the residence except entrance/exit changes; the apartment and residence must meet housing code; the lot must meet the zone's area and dimension requirements; the existing residence must provide required side yards; at least one connecting door on each inhabited floor; no built-in appliances other than the sink; a recorded agreement with the township naming the occupants and requiring removal of kitchen appliances when they leave.
  • Remains a single-family residence for all purposes including taxation; the apartment is a temporary accessory use (§ 240-114e(10)).

  maximum occupants of accessory apartment: <= 2 persons (plus a caretaker, if appropriate, to assist those persons)

  “(4) accessory apartments and accessory housing subject to the regulations set forth in § 240-114e and o.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Limited — Accessory apartments in the R-5 residential district, Stillwater township (conditional use).

    “(4) accessory apartments, subject to the regulations set forth in § 240-114e.”

Still unanswered

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

• Building permit — Building permits for new homes in Stillwater township.
• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption from licensing or permit rules in Stillwater township.
• Building code adopted — Construction codes adopted for Stillwater township.
• Inspections — Building inspections for new homes in Stillwater township.
• Certificate of occupancy — Certificate of occupancy for new homes in Stillwater township.

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.

Off-grid gear

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

• Water Crystal Quest Filter any source — well, rain, or creek — to drinking-clean.
• Power Bluetti Solar generators and home battery backup for living off the grid.
• Septic Soil percolation test kit Run your own perc test before paying an engineer — the first thing a septic office asks about.
• Water Well water test kit Bacteria, nitrates, hardness — know what the well on a parcel is really pumping.

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