Newark, NJ Accessory Structures: ADU Permits (2026)

Accessory dwelling units in Newark are regulated as a conditional use under Title XLI (Zoning and Land Use Regulations), Chapter 41:6 (Conditional Use Standards), adopted as part of the 2015 zoning rewrite. Because the ADU is a conditional use, the homeowner must apply to the Newark Central Planning Board (or, for protected properties, the Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission) and appear at a noticed public hearing before any construction permit is issued. The lot must contain a minimum of 5,000 square feet, only one ADU per property is permitted, and the unit must be detached or attached to the principal dwelling. ADUs are expressly prohibited in basements, cellars, attics, and converted garages. The unit must not exceed 20 feet in height and must generally match the architectural style of the principal building. After zoning approval, separate New Jersey Uniform Construction Code (N.J.A.C. 5:23) subcode permits are required from the Newark Department of Engineering Construction Code Official: a building permit, an electrical permit, a plumbing permit (which covers gas piping and must be pulled by a licensed NJ Master Plumber per N.J.S.A. 45:14C unless the homeowner self-performs in their own residence), and a fire-protection permit where applicable. New Jersey has no statewide ADU mandate, so all standards are local.