Bolthole Index

Union County, New Jersey

Building permits, zoning and septic in the Borough of Fanwood, New Jersey

The Borough of Fanwood, New Jersey requires a construction permit from its own Construction Official before work starts1. The borough also writes and enforces its own zoning through its Land Use Ordinance2. Union County does not zone3. We could not confirm which office issues septic permits inside Fanwood; the Westfield Regional Board of Health is the borough's health authority4.

At a glance

Building permit
Required; issued by the borough's Construction Official1
Zoning
Yes, under the borough's own Land Use Ordinance (Chapter 184)2
Minimum lot size (R-150 district)
15,000 square feet5
RV living
Short stays only, by police permit, up to six weeks6
Septic
Board of health sign-off required statewide; the administering office inside Fanwood is unconfirmed7
Owner-builder
Owners may build their own home, but the construction permit is still required8
Property tax (Union County)
2% effective rate9

Who to call

Building permits

Fanwood Construction Office (Borough of Fanwood)

Construction permit applications, plan review and inspections inside Fanwood

(908) 322-5244

75 N. Martine Avenue, Fanwood, NJ 07023

Zoning

Fanwood Zoning Office (Borough of Fanwood)

Enforces the borough's Land Use Ordinance and answers land use interpretation questions

(908) 322-5244

zoning@fanwoodnj.org

75 N. Martine Avenue, Fanwood, NJ 07023

Septic permits

Fanwood Board of Health / Westfield Regional Board of Health

Local health authority for Fanwood; ask here who reviews septic and well questions

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

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

Yes. Inside the Borough of Fanwood, no work covered by the Uniform Construction Code may begin until the Construction Official grants a construction permit1. Each building or structure needs its own application, and fees are due before the permit is issued1.

The borough's Construction Office takes applications by mail, in person or in its dropbox at borough hall10. A complete application is reviewed within 20 business days; if the borough misses that deadline, the applicant may appeal to the County Construction Board of Appeals11. Ordinary maintenance and routine repair do not need a permit12.

A certificate of occupancy is required before the building is used, and a change in use needs a new one13.

Does Fanwood have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size, height and RVs?

Fanwood has its own zoning. The borough adopted its Land Use Ordinance as Chapter 184 of its code, and the Zoning Officer enforces it214. Union County does not zone, so the county has no say in whether a use is allowed on a Fanwood lot3.

Standards depend on the district. In the R-150 Single-Family Residence District, every lot needs at least 15,000 square feet5, and no principal building may exceed two habitable floors, with maximum height set by a table in the ordinance15.

For RVs, the borough lets the operator of a recreational vehicle apply to the Chief of Police for a permit to park it at an occupied dwelling, as the only RV there, for no longer than six weeks6. Living in an RV on a vacant lot is not what that rule covers.

We could not confirm Fanwood's rules on tiny homes, accessory dwellings or minimum dwelling size; ask the Zoning Office before buying14.

How do septic permits and wells work in Fanwood?

New Jersey law bars any municipality from issuing a building permit for a new home until the board of health having jurisdiction certifies that the water supply and sewerage facilities meet state and local standards7. A septic tank or tile field also cannot be covered until a board of health representative inspects it16.

Fanwood is a member of the Westfield Regional Board of Health4. We could not confirm from the borough's published materials which office administers septic permits or well permits inside Fanwood, or whether a given lot is on public sewer. Ask the board of health and the Construction Office before you rely on a septic system. Statewide, wells need a New Jersey DEP drilling permit, and municipal or county health officials issue the well construction permit17.

Building a home in Fanwood: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the lot's zoning district and dimensional limits with the Zoning Office14.
  2. If you are dividing land, get subdivision approval from the borough's Board before filing any plat or deed with the county18.
  3. Get board of health certification of water and sewerage before the building permit can issue7.
  4. File the construction permit application with the Construction Office, with plans and a location survey where land-use review is needed11.
  5. Call for inspections as work progresses; footing, rough plumbing and electrical, and framing inspections come before finishes cover the work19.
  6. Obtain the certificate of occupancy before moving in13.

Owners building their own home still need the permit, and must file an owner affidavit acknowledging that the work is not covered by the New Home Warranty8.

What stays with Union County, and what to check before you buy in Fanwood

Union County does not issue building permits or zoning approvals inside Fanwood; those stay with the borough320. The County Planning Board reviews site plans and subdivisions only as they affect county roads and drainage facilities21. The county page covers the wider area: Union County.

Before you buy, ask the borough about flood-hazard rules, since Fanwood has a flood damage prevention chapter we could not review in detail10. A driveway onto a state highway needs a state access permit22. Union County's effective property tax rate is about 2%, and the median bill is about $10,001 a year923.

Watch-outs

  • Fanwood's construction permit fees are set by borough ordinance, so ask the Construction Office for the current schedule rather than relying on a county or state figure24.
  • Septic, well and sewer-connection rules inside Fanwood are unconfirmed; ask the board of health and Construction Office before you assume a septic system is possible on a lot7.
  • The borough's RV permit covers short stays at an occupied dwelling, not living in an RV on vacant land6.
  • Short-term rentals are largely a matter of municipal ordinance in New Jersey, and we could not confirm Fanwood's rule25.

Sources

  1. Article VII Construction Permits, Zoning Approvals and Certificates of Occupancy (Borough of Fanwood), quoted and re-checked
  2. Chapter 184 Land Use (Borough of Fanwood), quoted and re-checked
  3. P.L. 2013, c.106 — Municipal Land Use Law amendments (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  4. Fanwood Board of Health / Westfield Regional Board of Health (fanwoodnj.org)
  5. Article XII Zone District Regulations (Borough of Fanwood), quoted and re-checked
  6. Chapter 232 Recreational Vehicles (Borough of Fanwood), quoted and re-checked
  7. New Jersey Statutes, R.S. 58:11-23 through 58:11-43 (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.15 Construction permits--application, quoted and re-checked
  9. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  10. Fanwood Construction Office (Borough of Fanwood) (fanwoodnj.org)
  11. Article VII Construction Permits, Zoning Approvals and Certificates of Occupancy (Borough of Fanwood), quoted and re-checked
  12. The New Jersey State Uniform Construction Code: General Information, quoted and re-checked
  13. Article VII Construction Permits, Zoning Approvals and Certificates of Occupancy (Borough of Fanwood), quoted and re-checked
  14. Fanwood Zoning Office (Borough of Fanwood) (fanwoodnj.org)
  15. Article XII Zone District Regulations (Borough of Fanwood), 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. Article IX Site Plan and Subdivision Review Procedures (Borough of Fanwood), quoted and re-checked
  19. Construction Code FAQs for New Home Buyers, quoted and re-checked
  20. P.L. 2018, c.157 — County Code Enforcement Pilot Program (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  21. Union County Planning Board, quoted and re-checked
  22. Major Access Permits (New Jersey statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  24. New Jersey Uniform Construction Code General Information, quoted and re-checked
  25. Local Finance Notice 2026-09: Short-Term Transient Accommodations (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.

Answers from the rulebook for Borough of Fanwood

Borough of Fanwood’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, alteration, renovation, rehabilitation, maintenance, occupancy, use of buildings and structures, and approval of premanufactured systems inside Fanwood borough when subject to the Uniform Construction Code Act.

    • No covered activity may commence until the Construction Official grants a construction permit.
    • Separate applications are required for each building or structure.
    • Fees must be paid before issuance.
    • Applications must comply with N.J.A.C. 5:23 et seq.
    • Certain improvements may be exempt under § 184-46 unless otherwise required by the Uniform Construction Code.
    “When required. No activity subject to the Uniform Construction Code Act shall commence until a construction permit has been granted by the Construction Official.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Facilities, changes in use, and modifications of utilization inside Fanwood borough when a certificate of occupancy or equivalent is required by the Uniform Construction Code.

    • The certificate must be applied for and granted before occupation or use as required by N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.23.
    • A change in use or modification of utilization requires a new certificate.
    • Fees must be paid before issuance.
    • Prior written approvals may be required from the Zoning Official, Borough Engineer, Soil Conservation District, and other jurisdictions.
    • Required subdivision, site-plan, or variance improvements must be completed before issuance unless the chapter provides otherwise.
    “When required. Certificates of occupancy, or other forms thereof (e.g., certificates of continued occupancy, certificates of approval, certificates of compliance, etc.) shall be applied for and granted by the Construction Official before the facility is occupied or used, as required by the Uniform Construction Code, N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.23. Any change in use or modification of utilization shall require a new certificate of occupancy.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Fanwood borough; the Borough adopts and administers Chapter 184 Land Use and zoning regulations.

    “The Land Use Ordinance of the Borough of Fanwood, adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Fanwood 12-28-2000 by Ord. No. 00-16R, and amendments thereto, as revised and codified by General Code Publishers Corp., and renumbered as Chapter 184, is hereby approved, adopted, ordained and enacted as the Land Use Legislation of the Borough of Fanwood.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Temporary occupancy of recreational vehicles inside Fanwood borough.

    • The recreational vehicle must be at an occupied dwelling and be the only recreational vehicle there.
    • A permit must be obtained within 48 hours after arrival.
    • The permit period cannot exceed six weeks.
    • A permit is limited to one per owner, operator, or occupant per twelve months and cannot involve a charge.

    maximum period: 6 weeks (from application)

    “The operator of a recreational vehicle may make application to the Chief of Police for a permit to park his/her recreational vehicle on the premises of any occupied dwelling, provided that such recreational vehicle is the only recreational vehicle on said premises, and provided that such application is made within 48 hours after arrival. Such permit, when granted, shall limit the time of parking to a period not longer than six weeks from the time of application therefor.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision of land inside Fanwood borough before filing a plat, deed, map, or other subdivision instrument with the county recording officer.

    • A final subdivision application must be submitted to and approved by Board resolution.
    • Applications require the chapter's drawings, documents, fees, and other data.
    • Minor and major subdivision procedures differ.
    • A subdivision plat will not be accepted for county filing until Borough Board approval is indicated or a certificate is issued.
    “Subdivision approval, when required. Prior to the filing of any plat, deed, map or other recorded instrument for the subdivision of land with the county recording officer, a final subdivision application shall be submitted to and approved by resolution of the Board in accordance with the requirements of this article.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Construction-permit applications inside Fanwood borough.

    • Separate applications are required for each building or structure.
    • Applications require permit forms, subcode forms, three copies of plans and supporting materials, cost forms for additions and alterations, location surveys where land-use compliance review is necessary, vendor utility information, and any other information required by the enforcing agency.
    • Plans and intended uses must be approved in writing by the Zoning Official and, where applicable, the Board and other agencies.
    • Complete applications are reviewed within 20 business days; an appeal may be made to the County Construction Board of Appeals if the Construction Official does not timely notify the applicant.

    complete-application review period: 20 business days (If no timely decision or notice, applicant may appeal to County Construction Board of Appeals)

    “Time period for issuance of permit. Construction permits shall be reviewed within 20 business days of the filing of a complete application. If the Construction Official fails to complete a review of the permit application and to notify the applicant of the approval or denial, as applicable, of the permit within said time period, the applicant may appeal to the County Construction Board of Appeals for a determination regarding the application.”

Rules another office applies inside Borough of Fanwood

Borough of Fanwood does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Lots in Fanwood borough's R-150 Single-Family Residence District.

    • The rule applies to all development within R-150.
    • The section cross-references TAH and LGAH provisions for those zones.

    minimum lot area: >= 15000 square feet (See §§ 184-117 and 184-118 for TAH and LGAH zones)

    “Minimum lot size. Every lot shall contain a minimum lot area of 15,000 square feet. See §§ 184-117 and 184-118 as they relate to the TAH and LGAH Zones.”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Principal buildings in Fanwood borough's R-150 Single-Family Residence District.

    • No principal building may exceed two habitable floors, excluding basement.
    • The maximum height is controlled by lot-width tables.
    • An addition may match an existing nonconforming height.
    • Topographic information may be required for a new house or taller-roofline addition.

    maximum habitable floors: <= 2 floors (Basement excluded)

    “Maximum building height. No principal building shall exceed the maximum of two habitable floors, exclusive of basement. Maximum height is regulated by Table 2. The height of a proposed addition may match the existing nonconforming height of the principal dwelling. Topographic information must be provided, to the satisfaction of the Borough Engineer, to determine the height of the structure for a new house or for an addition that is proposed with a taller roofline than the existing dwelling.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work inside Fanwood borough.
  • Inspections — Building inspections inside Fanwood borough.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size in Fanwood borough residential districts, including R-150 and R-75.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage in Fanwood borough zoning districts.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Fanwood borough.
11 more unanswered
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Building in a floodplain
  • 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 Fanwood publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Union County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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