Bolthole Index

Union County, New Jersey

Building permits, zoning and septic in Hillside Township, New Jersey

Hillside Township, New Jersey requires a written building permit before you erect, construct or alter a building1, and the Township's own Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment administer zoning under Chapter 1882. Union County does not zone or issue building permits for Hillside3. Septic oversight sits with local health departments under state standards4.

At a glance

Building permit
Required; issued by the Township's Building and Housing Department1
Zoning
Township zoning under Chapter 188, Land Use2
Zoning permit
Required for new construction, additions, decks, pools, garages and sheds5
Zoning decision time
Permit or written denial within 20 days of a complete application6
Septic
Local health department under state standards; confirm with Hillside4
Owner-builder
State rules let an owner file an affidavit and build; Hillside's own rule not confirmed7

Who to call

Building permits

Hillside Township Building and Housing Department

Construction permits, inspections, certificates of occupancy and property maintenance inside Hillside Township

(973) 926-5100

1409 Liberty Ave Hillside, NJ 07205

Zoning

Hillside Township Planning and Zoning (Zoning Officer, Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment)

Zoning permits, subdivision and site-plan hearings, and variances inside Hillside Township

(973) 926-3002

1409 Liberty Ave Hillside, NJ 07205

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 Hillside 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 Hillside Township, NJ?

Yes. Hillside Township requires a written permit before anyone erects, constructs or alters a building or structure designed for human occupancy15. The Township adopted the 2006 editions of the International Residential Code and related subcodes in its Uniform Construction Code ordinance8, and the state's Uniform Construction Code applies to all construction in New Jersey9. Work without a permit is punishable by fines starting at $20005.

Ordinary maintenance and routine repair are excepted from the construction-permit requirement10. Before anyone may occupy a new or altered building, the Construction Official must issue a certificate of occupancy11.

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

The Hillside Building and Housing Department, supervised by a licensed construction official, administers applications for construction, alterations and renovations of buildings within the Township5. The department's main number is (973) 926-5100, and its office is at 1409 Liberty Ave, Hillside, NJ 072055. Union County itself has no building-permit authority; construction permits are submitted to the local enforcing agency12.

A complete construction-permit application must be released or denied within 20 business days under the state code12. The Township sets its own fee schedule; the plan-review fee is 25% of the construction-permit fee and is nonrefundable13.

Does Hillside Township have zoning, and what does it cover?

Yes. Hillside Township publishes and administers its own zoning in Chapter 188, Land Use2. The Township's Planning and Zoning page links to the Chapter 188 Land Use Ordinance, the Zoning Map and the Zoning Bulk Regulations Schedule, which hold the dimensional rules for each district14. Union County does not set zoning; zoning rules are municipal and vary by municipality15.

A zoning permit is required for new construction, additions, decks, swim pools, garages, sheds and changes of use5. The Zoning Official must issue a permit or a written denial within 20 days of a complete application6. A new dwelling in a subdivision needs Planning Board approval before a building permit can issue16. The zoning permit fee is $3513.

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

We could not confirm any Hillside rule on living in an RV, camping on private land, tiny-home occupancy or accessory dwellings, so do not assume any of them is allowed. Ask the Hillside Zoning Officer at (973) 926-3002 before you buy or place anything17.

The state building code does adopt a tiny-house appendix, which governs how a tiny house is built, not whether Hillside's zoning allows one on a given lot18. Townhouse and condominium developments in the OC, RC, HC and LI zones carry their own standards, including a 450 square foot minimum unit floor area, 30 feet of setback from the street and 15 feet from property lines1920.

How do septic permits work in Hillside Township?

Septic permits are not issued by the building department or the county planning office. In New Jersey, local public health departments oversee the location, design, construction and repair of individual septic systems under statewide standards in N.J.A.C. 7:9A4. Systems above 2,000 gallons per day go to the state environmental department instead4.

Hillside is densely built and most of Union County is served by public sewer21. We could not confirm a Hillside septic or well permit procedure, so ask the Hillside Health Department before you assume a septic system is possible on any lot.

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

Union County's own Planning Board reviews subdivisions and site plans only as they affect county roads and drainage facilities22. Municipal Planning Board approval comes first22. Land in Hillside is also covered by the Township's flood-damage-prevention chapter, which we could not confirm the terms of; ask the Zoning Officer17.

For the county's answer outside Hillside, see the Union County page. Before buying, confirm the zoning district on the Zoning Map, ask whether the lot needs a variance, and budget for the property tax: Union County's effective rate is 2% and the median bill is $10,001 a year2324.

Watch-outs

  • A certificate of continued occupancy is required for the resale of residential and non-residential properties in Hillside, so ask the Building and Housing Department about it before closing5.
  • We could not confirm whether Hillside lets an owner build their own home without a licensed contractor; the state code accepts an owner's affidavit, so ask the Construction Official7.
  • Hillside's adopted construction code text lists 2006 editions, while the State lists the 2024 International Building Code as the current building subcode; ask the Construction Official which editions apply to your project825.

Sources

  1. Building and Housing Department (Hillside Township), quoted and re-checked
  2. Township of Hillside, NJ Code (Hillside Township), quoted and re-checked
  3. NJ Dept of Community Affairs — Uniform Construction Code (2026 county census)
  4. NJDEP Septic Systems, quoted and re-checked
  5. Hillside Township Building and Housing Department (hillsidenj.us)
  6. Article II: Zoning (Hillside Township), quoted and re-checked
  7. N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.15 Construction permits--application, quoted and re-checked
  8. Hillside Code, Uniform Construction Code (Hillside Township), quoted and re-checked
  9. Construction Code FAQs for New Home Buyers, quoted and re-checked
  10. The New Jersey State Uniform Construction Code: General Information, quoted and re-checked
  11. Article II: Zoning — Certificates of occupancy (Hillside Township), quoted and re-checked
  12. The New Jersey State Uniform Construction Code: General Information, quoted and re-checked
  13. Hillside Code, Uniform Construction Code fees (Hillside Township), quoted and re-checked
  14. Planning and Zoning (Hillside Township), quoted and re-checked
  15. Union County Planning Board, quoted and re-checked
  16. Planning and Zoning (Hillside Township), quoted and re-checked
  17. Hillside Township Planning and Zoning (Zoning Officer, Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment) (hillsidenj.us)
  18. N.J.A.C. 5:23 Uniform Construction Code, quoted and re-checked
  19. Article II: Zoning — Townhouses and condominium flats (Hillside Township), quoted and re-checked
  20. Article II: Zoning — Townhouses and condominium flats (Hillside Township), quoted and re-checked
  21. NJDEP — Septic Systems Permitting Information (2026 county census)
  22. Union County Planning Board, quoted and re-checked
  23. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  24. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  25. Current Construction Codes (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 Hillside Township

Hillside Township’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Erecting, constructing, or altering buildings or structures designed for human occupancy inside Hillside Township.

    • A written permit must be obtained before construction begins.
    • The Township page warns that Uniform Construction Code violations carry fines starting at $2,000.
    “Requirement to apply for and to obtain a written permit to erect, construct or alter any building or structure or parts thereof designed for human occupancy.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted

    Construction inside Hillside Township under the Township's construction-enforcement system.

    • The cited code text identifies the adopted editions as 2006 editions.
    • Copies are to be kept in the Construction Official's and Township Clerk's offices.
    “The Township of Hillside adopts the 2006 International Mechanical Code, the 2006 International Residential Code, the 2006 International Building Code, the 2006 International Fire Code, the 2006 National Standard Plumbing Code, the 2006 International Fuel Gas Code, and the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code, as the Township's Mechanical Subcode, One- and Two-Family Dwelling (Residential) Subcode, Building Subcode, Fire Subcode, Plumbing Subcode, Fuel Gas Subcode, and Energy Subcode, respectively.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    Buildings or parts of buildings erected, altered, converted, enlarged, or transferred inside Hillside Township.

    • The certificate must show conformity with the zoning article and other applicable ordinances.
    • The Construction Official must grant or deny the occupancy permit in writing within five days of a written request.
    • For certain manufacturing, solid-waste, chemical, or potentially health-impacting buildings, the application must include local health administrator and appropriate fire official approval.

    decision period: 5 days (from filing of written request)

    “It shall be unlawful for any owner to use or permit the use of any building or part thereof hereafter erected, altered, converted or enlarged wholly or in part or transferred until a certificate of occupancy shall have been issued by the Construction Official.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Hillside Township; the Township publishes and administers Chapter 188, Land Use, including zoning and land-use review.

    • The Township's Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment administer the land-use and zoning functions.
    “This article shall be known and may be cited as the "Zoning Ordinance of the Township of Hillside."”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts and bulk regulations inside Hillside Township.

    • The Township's official Planning and Zoning page links to the Chapter 188 Land Use Ordinance, Zoning Map, and Zoning Bulk Regulations Schedule.
    “Chapter 188 - Land Use Ordinance Zoning Map Zoning Bulk Regulations Schedule”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Dwelling units in townhouse and condominium-flat developments permitted in Zones OC, RC, HC, and LI.

    • Each dwelling unit must contain a separate living room, bedroom, bath, and kitchen.
    • The rule applies to the townhouse and condominium-flat use regulated by § 188-65, not necessarily every single-family district.

    minimum floor area: 450 square feet (plus 150 square feet for each habitable room other than a living room, dining room, or kitchen)

    “Minimum floor area. Each dwelling unit shall have a minimum floor area of 450 square feet, plus 150 square feet for each habitable room other than a living room, dining room or kitchen.”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Townhouse and condominium-flat developments permitted in Zones OC, RC, HC, and LI.

    • The cited minimum is for the development, not necessarily an individual detached single-family lot.

    minimum development area: 30000 square feet

    “Minimum area. Each development shall have a minimum area of 30,000 square feet.”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Principal buildings in townhouse and condominium-flat developments regulated by § 188-65.

    • The rule applies to the townhouse and condominium-flat development standards.

    street right-of-way setback: >= 30 feet · property-line setback: >= 15 feet

    “No principal building shall be located within 30 feet of a street right-of-way nor within 15 feet of any property line.”
  • Lot coverageSpecified

    Townhouse and condominium-flat developments regulated by § 188-65.

    • The code states both a ground-floor building-area limit and an impervious-surface limit.

    impervious surface coverage: <= 65 percent of lot area

    “The total area of all impervious surfaces, including buildings, shall not exceed 65% of the lot area of the apartment development.”
  • Building heightSpecified

    Townhouse and condominium-flat buildings regulated by § 188-65.

    • The cited height limit applies to the townhouse and condominium-flat development standards.

    maximum building height: <= 40 feet (Main roofs must have a minimum grade of five inches per foot)

    “Height. No building shall exceed a height of 40 feet. Main roofs shall have a minimum grade of five inches per foot.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    New dwellings and subdivision applications inside Hillside Township.

    • The Planning Board hears minor and major subdivision applications.
    • A new dwelling in a subdivision requires Planning Board approval before a building permit may issue.
    “No building permit shall be issued for any new dwelling located in a subdivision unless that subdivision is duly approved by the Planning Board in accordance with the provisions of Article I, Subdivision of Land, of this chapter.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Construction-code and zoning-related permitting inside Hillside Township.

    • The construction plan-review fee is calculated as 25% of the construction-permit fee and is nonrefundable.
    • The zoning permit fee is $35 according to § 188-44(D).

    plan review fee: 25 percent of construction permit fee (paid before plan review; credited toward construction permit fee; nonrefundable) · zoning permit fee: 35 USD (payable to Township of Hillside)

    “The fee for plan review shall be 25% of the amount to be charged for the construction permit and shall be paid before the plans are reviewed. The amount paid for this fee shall be credited toward the amount of the fee to be charged for the construction permit. The plan review fee shall be nonrefundable.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning and construction-permit applications inside Hillside Township.

    • Zoning reviews require a sealed survey, plans, a complete description for a change of use, and two application sets.
    • The Zoning Official must issue a permit or written denial within 20 days after a complete application and required submissions.

    zoning review decision period: 20 days (after completed application and all appropriate submissions)

    “All zoning reviews are to be conducted by the Zoning Official, and either a permit shall be issued or a written statement of denial shall be provided to the applicant, within 20 days of the completed application and all appropriate submissions having been provided to the Zoning Official.”

Still unanswered

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

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemptions from Hillside construction-permit requirements.
  • Living in an RV — Residential or long-term occupancy of recreational vehicles on land inside Hillside Township.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Hillside Township.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Hillside Township.
  • Manufactured homes — Manufactured-home occupancy inside Hillside Township.
7 more unanswered
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access
  • 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 Hillside Township publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Union County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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