Accessory Structures in Galloway Township, NJ: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Galloway Township or are thinking about moving there, accessory structures are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Galloway Township has 2 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of accessory structures, and some of them might surprise you.

Shed & Carport Rules

Galloway allows storage sheds as accessory structures. A shed under 100 square feet may sit as close as three feet from an interior side/rear property line in the R and R-1 districts (five feet in other districts), and 12 feet from a street-facing property line on a corner lot.

Key details: Governing section: § 233-8 accessory structures. Small shed (R/R-1) interior setback: 3 feet under 100 sq ft. Small shed other districts: 5 feet under 100 sq ft. Corner-lot street setback: 12 ft (R/R-1). Front yard sheds: Not permitted.

A shed placed in the front yard, over the setback line, or without a required permit is a zoning violation under Chapter 233, Article IX; the Zoning Officer can order removal or relocation and impose fines.

Tiny Homes

Galloway has no ordinance authorizing tiny houses as separate dwellings. A permanent home must meet the township's minimum floor-area standards and the NJ Uniform Construction Code, and second small dwellings are limited to the conditional-use accessory-unit path, so movable tiny homes are effectively not allowed on their own lot.

Key details: Tiny-home ordinance: None in Galloway. Min. floor area (initial occupant): 150 sq ft. Min. sleeping room: 70 sq ft. Base residential lot minimum: 35,000 sq ft. Tiny house on wheels: Treated as RV.

Occupying a tiny house or RV as a permanent dwelling, or placing a second dwelling without approval, violates Chapter 233 zoning and the Uniform Construction Code; the township can order removal and impose daily fines.

The Bottom Line

Galloway Township's accessory structures rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Galloway Township is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Galloway Township can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.