Edison, NJ Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Deck coverage, R-AA
- 2% of lot
- Deck coverage, R-A / R-A(PRD) / R-BB
- 3% of lot
- Deck coverage, R-B
- 4% of lot
- Accessory buildings, residential zone
- 10% of lot or 35% of rear yard
- Accessory buildings, nonresidential zone
- up to 50% of rear yard
- Principal building coverage
- set in off-file Schedule A
- Governing sections
- § 37-4.16, § 37-4.5
Summary
Edison Township caps deck lot coverage by zone under Code § 37-4.16(a): 2% in R-AA, 3% in R-A, R-A(PRD) and R-BB, and 4% in R-B, calculated separately from the principal building's own coverage. Accessory buildings are capped at 10% of the lot or 35% of the rear yard in residential zones, whichever is less, under § 37-4.5(a).
§ 37-4.16(a): All decks or patios as described in this chapter shall comply with accessory building yard requirements for accessory buildings and with lot coverage regulations as set forth in the schedule in Section 37-63, except that for the purposes of this chapter, decks in the R-AA, R-A, R-A(PRD), R-BB and R-B zone districts shall have their own lot coverage requirements, separate and apart from the requirements for lot coverage as set forth in Section 37-63 and the schedule attached thereto. The following maximum lot coverage requirements in the R-AA, R-A, R-A (PRD), R-BB and R-B zone districts shall apply to decks: R-AA: 2%; R-A: 3%; R-A [PRD]: 3%; R-BB: 3%; R-B: 4%. § 37-4.5(a): Within any residential zone, the aggregate ground area covered by accessory buildings, including the ground area covered by any projections hereinabove permitted, shall not exceed ten (10%) percent of the total lot area or thirty-five (35%) percent of the rear yard area, whichever is the lesser. Within any other zone, the aggregate area covered by any accessory building(s) shall not exceed fifty (50%) percent of the rear yard area.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4904708; v19 updated 2026-03-25; through 03-25-2026).
Full Breakdown
Edison Township regulates building and lot coverage in layers rather than in one master percentage. 1, which the code text itself calls out as a separate attachment rather than a printed table within the chapter body. Two coverage limits are written directly into the code text, however. 16(a), calculated separately from the principal building's coverage and from the general schedule: 2% of the lot in the R-AA district, 3% in R-A, R-A(PRD) and R-BB, and 4% in R-B. 5. 5(a) to 10% of the total lot area or 35% of the rear yard area in any residential zone, whichever produces the smaller footprint, and to 50% of the rear yard area in nonresidential zones.
5(c). 4(d). Because the principal-building coverage percentages live only in the off-file Schedule A attachment, homeowners must confirm their district's overall building coverage cap with the Zoning Office or the published Schedule A rather than relying on the chapter text alone.
Violations & Fines
Coverage violations are enforced under the Zoning Chapter's general penalty section, § 37-67.5. An owner, builder or contractor who exceeds the deck, accessory-building or principal-building coverage limits is guilty of a violation, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense. Under N.J.S.A. 40:49-5, the Municipal Court may impose up to 90 days in the county jail, up to 90 days of community service, or a fine, after the Zoning Officer's written order to remedy the condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum lot coverage for a deck in Edison Township?
How much of my lot can a shed or detached garage cover?
Where is the overall building lot coverage limit for my zone?
Do I need a permit to build a deck or shed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Edison
Compare Edison to another location·View the New Jersey building setbacks & zoning overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.