Monmouth County, NJ Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)

Under the New Jersey Municipal Land Use Law (N.J.S.A. 40:55D), zoning belongs to each municipality, and Monmouth County's 53 municipalities each set their own ADU rules. The Monmouth County Planning Board's role is limited to county master planning and review of subdivision/site plan applications affecting county roads or facilities under N.J.S.A. 40:27-1 et seq. Asbury Park is the regional leader: Ordinance 2024-7 (adopted 3/27/2024, effective 4/16/2024) allows one ADU per legal 1- or 2-family property either in a separate structure or within the main structure, requires owner-occupancy of one unit, prohibits short-term rentals of the ADU, requires one parking space per ADU (driveway-mounted parking acceptable), and offers a $25,000-$35,000 construction grant for deed-restricted affordable ADUs (10-year minimum deed restriction). Red Bank, Long Branch, Freehold, and most shore-area municipalities (Belmar, Manasquan, Spring Lake, Bradley Beach) have not adopted dedicated ADU ordinances and typically would require a use variance under N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70(d). Coastal properties may also be subject to CAFRA (Coastal Area Facility Review Act) review and FEMA V/AE flood zone requirements layered on top of municipal zoning. S1786 (2026-2027) is pending in committee but not enacted.