Tiny home rules in Paramus, NJ — covering tiny houses on wheels (THOWs), park model RVs, and tiny home on foundation builds — determine where they are legal and how they get permitted.
Tiny homes in Bergen County must comply with the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code and local minimum dwelling size requirements. Most Bergen municipalities effectively prohibit traditional tiny homes through minimum square footage standards.
New Jersey enforces the Uniform Construction Code (N.J.A.C. 5:23), which adopts the IRC including Appendix Q for tiny houses 400 square feet or smaller. However, municipal zoning typically requires a minimum dwelling size of 600 to 1,200 square feet in Bergen County, making most ground-mounted tiny homes non-conforming. Tiny homes on wheels are classified as recreational vehicles or trailers under N.J.S.A. 39:3-4 and cannot be used as permanent dwellings. Bergen County does not have a county-level tiny home ordinance. Property owners exploring tiny homes should request a zoning interpretation from their municipality before purchasing land or a unit.
Living in a non-conforming tiny home or RV as a residence triggers municipal zoning violations, eviction orders, and fines that can exceed $1,000 per day.
Paramus, NJ
Paramus requires in-ground pool barriers at least 4 feet high with self-closing, self-latching gates that swing outward away from the pool and prevent access...
Paramus, NJ
Paramus regulates retaining walls by exposed height: walls under 4 feet need a zoning permit, while 4-foot and taller walls require a construction permit wit...
Paramus, NJ
Paramus requires a zoning permit before installing or replacing a fence. Applications go through the Building Department at 1 Jockish Square and must show fe...
Paramus, NJ
Paramus limits residential fences to 6 feet in rear and side yards, while front yard fences within the 35-foot setback may not exceed 3 feet whether solid or...
Paramus, NJ
Fireworks in Paramus are governed primarily by New Jersey state law: N.J.S.A. 21:3-1 et seq. (Explosives and Fireworks Act) and N.J.S.A. 21:2-1 et seq., as a...
Paramus, NJ
Paramus has no STR-specific parking rule because short-term rentals are prohibited entirely under Chapter 322 Article II of the Borough Code. Any guest vehic...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Bergen County.
See how other cities in Bergen County handle tiny homes.
See how Paramus's tiny homes rules stack up against other locations.
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