Morris County, NJ Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- County coverage cap
- None
- Set by
- Municipal zoning ordinance
- Statute
- N.J.S.A. 40:55D-65
- County site-plan exemption
- <1 acre impervious, off county road
- Relief
- Municipal zoning-board variance
Summary
Morris County sets no lot-coverage limit. The maximum percentage of a lot that structures or impervious surface may cover is fixed by your municipality's zoning ordinance under the Municipal Land Use Law.
A zoning ordinance may... [r]egulate the bulk, height, number of stories, orientation, and size of buildings and the other structures; the percentage of lot or development area that may be occupied by structures; lot sizes and dimensions.
Full Breakdown
N.J.S.A. 40:55D-65 authorizes each municipality to regulate the percentage of the lot or development area that may be occupied by structures, so building-coverage and impervious-coverage caps in Morris County come from local zoning bulk tables, not the county. New Jersey counties do not zone. The county's related role is limited: under N.J.S.A. 40:27-6.6, site plans not along a county road that include less than one acre of impervious surface are exempt from county site-plan review, and larger county-road projects may face county drainage requirements. For your maximum lot coverage, read the bulk table for your zoning district or ask the municipal zoning office.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding local coverage limits requires a municipal variance; overbuilding brings zoning enforcement and local penalties. County drainage conditions apply only to qualifying county-road development.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of my lot can I build on?
Does Morris County regulate impervious coverage?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Morris County
Compare Morris County to another location·View the New Jersey building setbacks & zoning overview
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