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

Under the New Jersey Municipal Land Use Law (N.J.S.A. 40:55D), zoning power belongs to each municipality, not the county. Hudson County's Planning Board reviews subdivision and site plan applications affecting county roads, drainage, or facilities under N.J.S.A. 40:27-1 et seq., but does not approve individual ADU applications. ADU rules vary significantly across Hudson County's 12 municipalities: Jersey City permits detached ADUs (with no square-footage cap) under §345-41 of its Land Development Ordinance and allows garage-to-ADU conversions in the R-1 zone with conditional use approval from the Planning Board; Hoboken's dense urban form and small lots make ADUs impractical and the zoning code does not specifically authorize them; Union City, North Bergen, and West New York's zoning codes treat accessory apartments restrictively due to density limits. As of May 2026, S1786 (2026-2027 session) — which would require municipalities to allow ADUs by ministerial approval — is pending in the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee but has not passed. The New Jersey League of Municipalities has formally opposed statewide ADU preemption. Property owners should consult the specific municipal zoning ordinance and seek a Zoning Officer determination before designing a project.