New Milford Borough, New Jersey Building Permit Guide

In the Borough of New Milford, the Building Department at Borough Hall, 930 River Road (201-967-5044 ext. 5415), issues construction permits and schedules inspections; Alan Silverman is the Construction Official. Fences and small sheds need only a zoning permit from the Zoning Officer at the Department of Public Works ($75 for a fence, $65 for a shed of 100 square feet or less), and every rental of a one- or two-family home needs a $35 smoke and carbon monoxide inspection by the Fire Prevention Bureau first.

What requires a building permit in New Milford?

The Building Department quotes the state rule in full: it is unlawful to construct, enlarge, repair, renovate, alter, reconstruct or demolish a structure, change its use, or install or alter regulated equipment without first applying to the construction official, or to the subcode official when only one trade is involved, and getting the permit. If in doubt, the department asks owners to call ext. 5415 or ext. 5560 before starting.

A shed of 200 square feet or more needs both a zoning permit and a construction permit, priced on the value of construction and labor, with plans showing the foundation, the size and height, the building materials and any electrical work. The zoning forms also include a front yard impervious work sheet.

The same ordinance set building coverage at 20% and total impervious coverage at 40% in the Residential A and B zones, a 30-foot front setback in the Residential A zones where a block has no existing building, and paved-only parking for one- and two-family homes.

What New Milford decides and what the state holds

The construction code is the state’s. New Milford’s layer is its zoning, run from the Department of Public Works, its stormwater and zoning amendments (Ordinance 2018:15), the resale and rental certificates, tree removal and trimming permits, and its flood information program. Elevators belong to the state: the DCA roster lists the Department of Community Affairs as New Milford’s elevator subcode official.

New Milford building department: who handles permitting

The Building Department issues construction permits and runs the building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical, and fire inspections. Zoning is handled separately by the Zoning Officer, who works out of the Department of Public Works and also serves as the borough’s flood insurance Community Rating System coordinator. Variances go to the Zoning Board of Adjustment and redevelopment and master-plan matters to the Planning Board.

New Milford permit types

The borough’s forms page carries a construction permit checklist and jacket, the building (F110), electrical (F120), plumbing (F130), fire (F140) and mechanical (F145) technical sections, a chimney verification for fuel-fired equipment, an asbestos acknowledgement and a fire safety permit form.

Residential permits

• Basements. A residential basement guide and a basement renovation requirements sheet set out the department’s requirements for finishing a basement.
• Decks. The residential deck guide and deck requirements sheet go with the building section.
• Pools. The residential pool guide, supplemental pool information, swimming pool codes and the zoning requirements for pools apply; removing a pool has its own pool demolition form.
• Homeowners. An owner doing their own work files the borough’s “Homeowner Doing Work” form with the application.
• As-built surveys. The borough lists its as-built survey requirements among the building forms.
• Trees. Tree removal and tree trimming each have a borough application.

Building or remodeling a home here? Alliance handles home building permits, so the crew isn't waiting on the counter.

Commercial permits

A new business files the New Business Zoning Application so the Zoning Officer can confirm the use, and commercial space changing hands takes the CCO business application. Fit-out work uses the same UCC jacket and technical sections as residential work, and fire protection work is filed on the fire safety permit.

For tenant improvements and new commercial builds, Alliance handles commercial permit filing through issuance. More on this: commercial building permits explained.

What comes before the construction permit

• Zoning. Take the zoning work sheet and the zoning or fence application to the Zoning Officer at the Department of Public Works; driveway, sidewalk and apron work has its own application.
• Zoning Board of Adjustment. Seven members and two alternates, appointed by the Mayor with the Council’s consent, hear appeals of administrative decisions, interpret the zoning map and ordinance and grant variances. The board’s application and fee sheet are on the forms page.
• Planning Board and redevelopment. The Planning Board’s page posts its redevelopment documents, such as the area-in-need-of-redevelopment investigation of Block 501, Lots 9 and 10. The borough’s Housing Element and Fair Share Plan was adopted on May 20, 2025.
• Soil. Soil moving needs a borough permit, and disturbance over 5,000 square feet needs Bergen County Soil Conservation District certification.
• Streets. Street openings use the Clerk’s 2026 street opening permit, and dumpsters a dumpster permit.

New Milford permit costs and fees

New Milford’s UCC construction fees are set by borough ordinance, but the Building Department page does not print the fee table; the department says permits such as a large shed are priced on the value of construction and labor. Call the department at ext. 5415 for the fee on a specific job. Fees the borough states on its pages:

Because the fee is tied to value, keep the contract price or an itemized estimate ready when you apply.

Trade permits and who may pull them

Electrical, plumbing and mechanical, and fire work are separate technical sections inspected on separate days. Electrical contractors and master plumbers hold state licenses; home improvement contractors register with the Division of Consumer Affairs, and the Building Department posts the state’s home improvement contractor information and complaint guide. An owner doing their own work uses the borough’s homeowner form.

• Electrical: inspected Monday from 8 to 11 a.m. and Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; generators follow the borough’s generator electrical requirements, and the signage form must be signed.
• Plumbing and mechanical: one inspector, Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; fuel-fired equipment needs the chimney verification.
• Fire: Monday and Thursday from 1 to 4 p.m., including fire protection work filed on the fire safety permit.
• Elevators: permitted and inspected by DCA.

How to apply for a New Milford building permit

Review, corrections and what causes delay

The most common gap is the survey: fence and shed permits are not processed without one showing where the work will go, and a large shed also needs foundation, size, height, material and electrical details. Each subcode official reviews their own section, so a missing technical section holds up the whole permit. The state’s 20-business-day review period applies once the application is complete and zoning approval is in hand.

Inspections and certificates in New Milford

Call 201-967-5044 ext. 5415 at least 24 hours before the inspection you need and have the permit number ready.

Resale, rentals and fire certificates

New Milford posts a 2026 resale certificate application and a residential resale CCO form, with a resale and rental certificate checklist and diagram showing what inspectors look at. Rentals have an extra step. The Building Department page says every rental of a one- or two-family home or attached single-family home must be inspected by the Fire Prevention Bureau, and that all rentals require “a certification of smoke alarm, carbon monoxide alarm and portable fire extinguisher compliance” before the tenant moves in. The owner calls the bureau at 201-967-7067 for an appointment and pays $35. Since January 1, 2019, battery-only smoke alarms used for the certificate must be ten-year sealed units; hardwired alarms are not affected. The borough page also notes that P.L. 2021, c.182, in effect since July 22, 2022, requires all rental dwellings to be inspected for lead hazards, and landlords file the Clerk’s landlord registration statement.

New Jersey building code in New Milford

New Milford enforces the statewide UCC through its own Building Department, with DCA holding the elevator subcode. The borough’s flood resources page tracks the Hackensack River and the Oradell Reservoir and links to FEMA’s base flood elevation look-up and NJDEP’s Blue Acres buyout program. FEMA’s Community Status Book lists New Milford (community 340054) as participating in the National Flood Insurance Program, with flood maps dated August 28, 2019. Public health services come from the borough Health Department, a member of the Mid-Bergen Regional Health Commission, open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

New Jersey has one Uniform Construction Code for every municipality; the town supplies the enforcing agency, the fee ordinance and the zoning approvals. New Jersey rules

New Milford permit search and official resources

Past permits, certificates and plans are requested with the borough’s fillable OPRA request form on the forms page, filed with the Borough Clerk.

• New Milford Building Department and inspection schedule
• Building, zoning and clerk forms
• Guide for residential decks
• Guide for residential pools
• Guide for residential basements
• Stormwater and zoning ordinance 2018:15
• Zoning Board of Adjustment
• Planning Board and redevelopment notices
• Flood information and resources
• Health Department
• DCA Local Construction Contacts roster
• DCA construction permit forms
• FEMA Community Status Book, New Jersey

New Milford building permit FAQs

Do I need a permit for a fence in New Milford?

Yes, a zoning permit for a new or replacement fence, $75, with a survey showing where it will go.

Does a shed need a permit?

A shed up to 100 square feet needs a $65 zoning permit; one over 100 and under 200 square feet needs a zoning permit only; 200 square feet and over needs zoning and a construction permit.

Where do I file a zoning permit?

With the Zoning Officer at the Department of Public Works, 201-967-8172.

How do I schedule an inspection?

Call 201-967-5044 ext. 5415 at least 24 hours ahead with your permit number.

What do I need before renting out a house?

A Fire Prevention Bureau inspection ($35, 201-967-7067) for the certificate of smoke alarm, carbon monoxide alarm and portable fire extinguisher compliance that the borough’s page requires for all rentals; the borough also notes the state lead-hazard inspection rule for rentals.

Does an addition need a drainage plan?

Yes, if it adds 300 square feet or more of impervious area: the permit needs a zero-increase stormwater plan approved by the Borough Engineer and a $1,000 escrow.

Who handles elevators?

The NJ Department of Community Affairs is New Milford’s elevator subcode official.

Simplify New Milford Borough permitting with Alliance Permitting

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in New Jersey. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about New Milford Borough permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.