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Land Use

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1. Application Requirements

Please follow the link below for information.

Link to information

2. Does a fence replacement require a permit and what standards apply to fencing?

Yes, an application to the Land Use Office is required along with a survey reflecting the location of the fencing. Fencing within a front yard is permitted with a maximum height of 4’ and it must be 50% open (i.e. picket fencing).  Fencing in your side or rear yard is permitted to a maximum height of 6’ and can be solid/stockade.  For properties on corner lots please see Question #10.

For properties with swimming pools, a building permit is also needed.  Please contact the Building Department for additional requirements on fencing which is acting as a pool barrier.

3. Is a permit required for paver patio, concrete patio, sheds or retaining walls?

Yes, an application to the Land Use Office is required along with the survey reflecting the location of the improvement, depending on the extent of the improvement, the approval of both the Engineering and the Building Division may be required.

4. What is the required setback for a pool and how do I determine it?

There is a minimum 10 foot setback required from the side and rear property lines of all pools, above ground and in ground alike. For an in ground pool the 10 foot is measured from any concrete around the pool to the property line. An above ground pool the 10 foot is measured from the coping around the pool to the property line. Also any pool accessories including decks, filters, or heaters must also be kept out of the 10 foot setback.

5. What activities on residential properties require a permit?

Any development, construction, installation on a property that involves a permanent (and some non-permanent) feature on a site.  This includes fences, sheds, retaining walls, swimming pools, patios and decks.

Any improvement to an existing structure that increases or changes the footprint, height or location. 

Any change of use of property or any portion of a property. 

6. What is the setback for decks and patios?

For a deck: On a lot less than 15,000 SF the rear yard setback is 10’.  On a lot greater than 15,000 SF the rear yard setback is 15’.  The side yard setbacks are equal to the setback for the home.

For a patio:  All types of patios including paver, concrete, stamped concrete, etc. have setbacks of 10’ to rear and side property lines.  A few exceptions exist in some active adult/55+ communities.  Please contact the Land Use Department if you have questions regarding this. 

Walkways must have a 5’ setback to the side property line.  If your property has less than 10’ of side yard between your house and the property line, please contact the Land Use Department to discuss alternative options to the 5’ setback.

7. What activities on commercial properties require a permit?

Any improvement on a commercial property requires site plan approval through the Planning or Zoning Board.  If the improvement is minor in nature and meets the requirements of a Conditionally Exempt Site Plan, a streamlined approval process may be possible.  Please refer to Chapter 188-110 of the Ordinance for the Conditionally Exempt Site Plan criteria.

8. What zone is my property in?

The Township Zoning Map can be found here: Zoning Map
Other Township Maps can be found at: Township Maps

9. What uses are permitted in my zone?

Residential and Non-residential Use Schedule: Permitted Use Tables 

10. What are the setbacks of my zone?

Residential and Non-residential Bulk Standards: Bulk Standards Table II

Agricultural Zones Bulk Standards:  Bulk Standards Table III

11. If my house is on a corner lot can I place my fence or shed in the side yard near the street?

Both property lines along the street have a front yard setback.  Please contact the Land Use Department or refer to Question Number 8 for what the front yard setback is for your zone. Accessory structures including sheds, pole barns, pools, hot tubs, pergolas, etc. are not permitted within the front yard setback. 

Fencing is permitted in the front yard setback.  A fence that is 4’ tall and 50% open (such as picket fencing) is permitted along the property line whether it is in the side of your house or the front. 

Fencing that is up to 6’ tall which can be solid is permitted in the side yard with a 50% discount on the front yard setback (see Question 8).  Under no circumstances is 6’ tall fencing permitted in front of the house.

Please contact the Land Use Department for further assistance.

12. What is the setback for an accessory structure (shed, pole barn)?

• Permitted for use as personal storage only (no commercial use permitted)
• “Small sheds” (120 SF in size or less and 8’ in height or less): 0’ setback.  Permitted to have two sheds of this kind. 
• Sheds greater than 120 SF or greater than 8’ in height
•                     On lots 10,000 SF or less = 5’ setback
•                     On lots greater than 10,000 SF = height of the shed determines the setback (12’ tall = 12’ setback, 15’ tall = 15’ setback, etc.)
• ALL Pole barns, garages and sheds greater than 10’ in height = height of the structure determines the setback (12’ tall = 12’ setback, 15’ tall = 15’ setback, etc.)#11 What is the setback for decks, patios and walkways?

13. What is the setback for a retaining wall?

5 feet and there cannot be any grading within 5 feet of the property line.

14. Can I run my business from my home?

Residential properties in residential zones do not permit a business to be run on the property.  Chapter 188-64 of the Ordinance lists permitted home office uses.  All other offices are not permitted.  Storing equipment or materials for a business is also not permitted (i.e. using your shed to store materials for your HVAC company).

15. How do I calculate impervious and building coverage?

Impervious cover includes all improvements covering the soil on a property.  This includes anything under a roof (sheds), foundations (houses), patios, decks, driveways and sidewalks.  Gravel, stone, paver patios and permeable paver patios all count at 100% impervious coverage. 

Building coverage is the area of a lot covered by a structure with a roof. 

16. Do I need a permit for tree removal?

Residential lots less than 1 acre do not need a permit although it is recommended to ensure the tree is not located in an easement or wetland.  Residential lots greater than 1 acre need a permit.

17. Where can I find information about permitted signs on a commercial property?

Chapter 256 of the Ordinance contains all of the requirements for signage.

18. Can I have a trailer on my property?

On a residential property trailers are not permitted.  Portable storage containers (PODs) are permitted for 60 days on commercial and residential properties.  A Portable storage container is defined as 10’W x 20’L and 10’H.  Only two PODs can be on a property at one time.  A POD must be permitted by this office prior to being placed on a property.

Trailers are permitted on commercial properties only in special cases per Chapter 307.  

19. What is the cost of a permit?

• Please refer to Chapter 139 for a total list of all fees.
• Fences = $50
• Signs = $2 per square foot
• Portable storage containers = $85
• All other Land Use Permits (patios, decks, swimming pools) = $85
• Other fees apply for engineering and building department (if necessary)

20. How do I get a copy of my survey or permit documents?

The Township does NOT perform surveys nor do we have a survey of every property in town.  We keep copies of surveys that are given to us as part of a permit application, but this means we do not have a survey of every property in town.  Additionally, the surveys we do have copies of may be very outdated.

If you wish to receive a copy of a survey or any other permit document from our Department you must fill out an OPRA (Open Public Records Act) request through the Township Clerk’s office.  This can be done in person at the Municipal Building or online at:
Online OPRA Submittal
Fill Out and Print OPRA Form

21. How is height measured for sheds and other structures:

For traditional roofs height is measured as an average between the peak of the roof and the height of the eaves.  To measure this, measure the height from the ground to the peak of the roof and measure the height from the ground to the eaves (bottom of the roof).  The average of these two numbers is the height. 

For flat roofs the height is measured from grade to the peak.

For mansard roofs the height is measured to the deckline.