Stafford Township, NJ Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Maximum building height, RA Zone
- 35 feet (§ 211-16F(10))
- Height measured from
- Average finished lot grade at the front of the building
- Height measured to
- The highest point of the building
- Pinelands Area structure cap
- 35 feet, with listed exceptions (§ 211-9C(4))
- Permit
- Zoning permit from the Zoning Officer (§ 213-1A)
Summary
The maximum building height in the Rural Residential Zone (RA) in Stafford Township is 35 feet under § 211-16F(10). Chapter 130 measures building height from the average elevation of the finished lot grade at the front of the building to the highest point of the building.
(9) The minimum accessory building side and rear yard setback shall be 15 feet, except as otherwise specified in this chapter. (10) The maximum building height shall be 35 feet.
Official source re-checked November 3, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4531624; v13 updated 2025-08-12; through 08-12-2025).
Full Breakdown
Section 211-16F(10) caps buildings in the Rural Residential Zone (RA) in Stafford Township at 35 feet. Chapter 130 defines BUILDING HEIGHT as the vertical dimensions measured from the average elevation of the finished lot grade at the front of the building to the highest point of the building. The same section sets the minimum accessory building side and rear yard setback at 15 feet, except as otherwise specified in Chapter 211.
The same 35-foot figure is printed for the Low-Density Rural Residential Zone (RA-4) in § 211-17E, the Environmentally Sensitive Rural Residential Zone (RA-5) in § 211-17.1, and the R-2 and R-3 residential zones in §§ 211-18 and 211-19. Each zone in Chapter 211 prints its own height line.
Within the Pinelands Area, § 211-9C(4)(a) separately provides that no structure, including radio and television transmission and other communication facilities which are not accessory to an otherwise permitted use, shall exceed a height of 35 feet. Subsection C(4)(b) lifts that limit for antennas that do not exceed 200 feet and are accessory to an otherwise permitted use, for silos, barns and other agricultural structures, church spires, cupolas, domes, monuments, water towers, fire observation towers, flag poles and masts, and for chimneys and similar structures, provided the structure is compatible with uses in the immediate vicinity.
A zoning permit from the Zoning Officer is required under § 213-1A before any building or structure is constructed, erected or altered. For new residential construction, the Zoning Officer reviews an as-built survey before the Construction Official issues the certificate of occupancy (§ 213-1E(1)), and for a new single-family dwelling the Township Engineer must approve a grading plan before the zoning permit is issued.
Violations & Fines
Under § 211-36A, a person who violates Chapter 211 faces, on conviction, a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,250, imprisonment for up to 90 days, community service of up to 90 days, or any combination set by the Municipal Court Judge. Each successive day is a separate offense. Section 211-36B allows summary abatement by restraining order or injunction. Building without a zoning permit carries a fine up to $1,000 or up to 90 days in jail, or both, under § 213-5.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a house be in Stafford Township's RA zone?
Where is building height measured from in Stafford Township?
Does the 35-foot limit apply to barns and silos in the Pinelands Area?
Who approves a building before it goes up?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Stafford Township
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Structure Height Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle structure height limits.