Burlington County, NJ Ordinances (2026)

Burlington County does not regulate outdoor music; municipalities do. Outdoor concerts, patio speakers, and events must meet the local noise ordinance and the state's 65 dBA day / 50 dBA night facility limits at residential property lines.

Vehicle noise is governed statewide, not by Burlington County. New Jersey law (N.J.S.A. 39:3-70) requires every motor vehicle to have a working muffler and bans muffler cut-outs, bypasses, and noise-amplifying exhaust modifications.

Burlington County does not regulate barking dogs; municipalities do, usually through their noise or animal-nuisance ordinances. Persistent barking that disturbs neighbors is typically an enforceable municipal violation, not a county matter.

Industrial noise in Burlington County is governed by New Jersey's Noise Control Act (N.J.A.C. 7:29), not a county ordinance. Facilities may not exceed 65 dBA daytime or 50 dBA nighttime at any residential property line.

Burlington County sets no countywide quiet-hours rule; your municipality (Mount Laurel, Evesham, Willingboro, etc.) does. New Jersey's Noise Control Act caps facility noise at a residential property line at 50 dBA nighttime (10 p.m.–7 a.m.).

Aircraft noise is regulated by the federal government (FAA), not by Burlington County or New Jersey. The state Noise Control Act (N.J.A.C. 7:29) explicitly does not apply to aircraft in flight; complaints go to the FAA or the airport operator.

Burlington County sets no leaf-blower rule. Any restrictions on gas leaf blowers, permitted hours, or seasonal limits are adopted by individual municipalities in their local noise ordinances.

Burlington County does not set construction hours; each municipality does. Burlington County townships such as Evesham and Mount Laurel restrict building, demolition, and repair work to daytime hours defined in their local land-use and noise chapters.

New Jersey's statewide decibel limits apply in Burlington County: at a residential property line, facility sound may not exceed 65 dBA daytime (7 a.m.–10 p.m.) or 50 dBA nighttime (10 p.m.–7 a.m.) under N.J.A.C. 7:29-1.2.

Burlington County does not regulate amplified music; municipalities do. Loud stereos, PA systems, and outdoor speakers are enforced under each township's noise ordinance, guided by the state Noise Control Act's property-line limits.

Burlington County, New Jersey does not issue short-term rental permits. Under New Jersey home rule, STR licensing is set by each municipality (Mount Holly, Evesham, Mount Laurel, Willingboro, etc.), not the county. N.J.S.A. 40:52-1(n) authorizes towns to license rentals for terms under 175 days.

Burlington County keeps no short-term rental registry. Any required registration is set by your municipality under home rule. Separately, if your rental is taxable, New Jersey requires you to register with the Division of Taxation to collect Sales Tax and the State Occupancy Fee.

New Jersey taxes taxable short-term rentals at 6.625% Sales Tax plus a 5% State Occupancy Fee. A Burlington County municipality may add a local occupancy tax up to 3%. There is no separate Burlington County short-term rental tax.

Burlington County has no short-term rental noise ordinance. Noise is governed by New Jersey's Noise Control Code (N.J.A.C. 7:29) — 65 dBA daytime and 50 dBA at night at a residential property line — which municipalities adopt and enforce, and by local STR quiet-hours rules.

Burlington County sets no maximum-occupancy rule for short-term rentals. Guest caps come from your municipality's STR ordinance and zoning, adopted under New Jersey's Municipal Land Use Law. Many towns tie occupancy to bedrooms (commonly two guests per bedroom).

Burlington County does not set parking rules for short-term rentals. Off-street parking requirements and on-street restrictions are municipal, adopted under zoning and the Municipal Land Use Law. The county's parking authority is limited to county roads.

Burlington County does not require short-term rentals to be a primary residence. Any owner-occupancy or primary-residence requirement is a municipal choice under home rule. State tax law only distinguishes rentals by whether the owner offers three or more units.

Burlington County has no rule requiring a host or local contact to be present or on call during a short-term rental. If such a requirement exists, it is set by your municipality's STR ordinance. Many New Jersey towns require a 24-hour responsible-agent contact.

Burlington County imposes no cap on the number of nights a property can be rented short-term. Any annual night cap is a municipal choice. State law defines a short-term rental as a stay under 175 consecutive days for licensing purposes.

Burlington County does not require short-term rental insurance. Any liability-insurance requirement is a municipal ordinance choice. Hosts should still confirm their homeowner or landlord policy covers short-term rental use, since standard policies often exclude it.

New Jersey prohibits open burning of rubbish, garbage, leaves and plant waste statewide under N.J.A.C. 7:27-2. Burlington County adds no separate rule. Agricultural or land-clearing burns need a NJ Forest Fire Service permit; recreational campfires are treated separately.

New Jersey's Uniform Fire Code, not Burlington County, sets smoke-alarm rules. Before any one- or two-family home is sold or re-occupied, the owner must obtain a certificate of smoke alarm, carbon monoxide alarm and fire extinguisher compliance from the local fire official.

New Jersey bans aerial and explosive fireworks statewide. Only hand-held or ground-based sparklers, snakes, glow worms, smoke devices and trick noisemakers are legal, and only for people 16 or older. Firecrackers, skyrockets and Roman candles remain illegal countywide.

Burlington County sets no propane-storage ordinance. Storage of LP-gas cylinders is governed by the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code (N.J.A.C. 5:70), which restricts where and how tanks may be kept, especially at apartments and near combustible construction.

Burlington County itself sets no fire-pit ordinance. Recreational fires are governed by the state Uniform Fire Code and your municipality's fire prevention bureau, which typically limits pit size and requires clearance from structures. The NJ Forest Fire Service also regulates fires near wooded land.

Burlington County sets no mandatory brush-clearance ordinance. Because much of the county lies in the fire-prone Pinelands, the NJ Forest Fire Service urges 30 to 100 feet of defensible space around homes. Individual towns handle overgrowth and weed enforcement.

Burlington County has no wildfire-zone ordinance, but much of it lies in the Pinelands, one of New Jersey's highest wildfire-risk areas. The NJ Forest Fire Service and Pinelands Commission manage fire risk; homeowners should follow defensible-space and Firewise guidance.

Recreational campfires are legal but regulated by the NJ Forest Fire Service, not Burlington County. Fires near wooded land generally require a free recreational fire permit, and municipal fire officials set pit-size and clearance limits under the Uniform Fire Code.

Burlington County sets no grill ordinance. The NJ Uniform Fire Code governs where propane and charcoal grills may be used: they are barred from balconies, decks and porches of multifamily buildings and must stay clear of combustible construction. Detached one- and two-family homes are exempt.

Burlington County sets no rule specific to backyard smokers. As open-flame cooking devices, wood and charcoal smokers fall under the NJ Uniform Fire Code, which keeps them off combustible balconies and decks and clear of combustible construction. Detached one- and two-family homes are exempt.

Burlington County does not regulate fence height. New Jersey delegates all fence and zoning rules to municipalities under the Municipal Land Use Law. Check your township or borough zoning code (commonly 4 ft front, 6 ft rear).

Burlington County sets no fence requirements. Design, height, setback, corner-lot sight lines, and pool-fence rules come from your township's zoning ordinance and the state pool-barrier code, not the county.

Burlington County has no fence-line or shared-fence ordinance. Boundary fence placement, the 'good side out' rule, and cost-sharing are governed by your municipal code and New Jersey civil law, not the county.

Burlington County issues no fence permits. Whether a fence needs a permit is decided by your township or borough. Many NJ towns require a zoning permit for any new fence; check your local code before building.

Burlington County does not permit residential retaining walls. In New Jersey, walls above a set height (commonly 4 feet, or when surcharged) need a municipal construction permit under the state Uniform Construction Code; check your township.

Burlington County does not restrict fence materials. Whether barbed wire, chain link, electric, or certain heights are allowed is decided by your township or borough zoning ordinance, which varies across the county.

Burlington County has no list of approved fence materials. Wood, vinyl, aluminum, and chain link are governed by your municipality's zoning ordinance, which may restrict certain materials by yard or zone.

Burlington County does not regulate residential RV or boat parking. Where and how long you may store a recreational vehicle, boat, or trailer on your street or property is set by your municipality under New Jersey home-rule zoning, not the county.

Burlington County sets no general on-street parking rules for residential neighborhoods. Time limits, permit zones, and snow bans are enacted by each municipality; the county controls only its own county roads and county park lots.

Loading zones on public streets are established and enforced by each Burlington County municipality, not the county. The county controls loading and access only on its own roads and within county facilities and parks.

There is no county-wide overnight parking ban in Burlington County. Overnight on-street restrictions are set by each municipality. County parks close daily and prohibit overnight parking and camping in their lots.

Residential driveway design and parking are municipal in Burlington County. But any new driveway or altered access onto a county-owned road requires a Road Opening and Driveway Access permit from the county Department of Public Works.

Burlington County has no residential oversized-vehicle parking ordinance. Weight, length, and height limits for parking large trucks, trailers, or buses in neighborhoods are enacted by each municipality, not the county.

Burlington County sets no rule on parking commercial vehicles at homes. Whether a box truck, trailer, or work van may be parked in a residential driveway or street is decided by your municipality's zoning and parking ordinances.

New Jersey state law now fines anyone who blocks a designated EV charging space, including gas cars and EVs not actively charging. EV charging-station zoning follows the state's model municipal ordinance adopted through each town.

New Jersey state law governs abandoned vehicles countywide. A car left on a highway, public property, or private property without consent for more than 48 hours, or any time without current plates, is presumed abandoned under N.J.S.A. 39:4-56.5.

Burlington County does not set curb-marking rules for residential streets. Painted curbs, no-parking zones, and fire-lane markings are established by each municipality; only authorized officials may mark public curbs.

Burlington County does not set a countywide leash law. In New Jersey, leash and running-at-large rules are municipal ordinances adopted under home-rule authority. Every town in the county has its own leash rule, and county parks post their own leash requirements for park visitors.

Burlington County sets no chicken or livestock rules. In New Jersey, keeping hens, roosters, or farm animals is a municipal zoning question decided under the Municipal Land Use Law, so limits, coop setbacks, and rooster bans vary town to town. Right-to-Farm protections apply on qualifying farms.

Burlington County does not regulate backyard beekeeping. In New Jersey, hive placement and setbacks are set by municipal zoning ordinances, while colony registration and disease inspection are handled statewide by the NJ Department of Agriculture, not the county.

No. New Jersey law bars breed-specific dog bans. The state Vicious and Potentially Dangerous Dog Act supersedes any municipal, county, or board-of-health rule that targets a specific breed. Burlington County towns regulate individual dogs by behavior after a bite or attack, never by breed.

Exotic pets in Burlington County are governed by New Jersey state law, not the county. NJDEP Fish & Wildlife requires a permit to possess most exotic species, and "potentially dangerous species" such as primates, wild canids, and venomous snakes may not be kept as pets at all.

Burlington County does not regulate cats directly. New Jersey does not require statewide cat licensing, though some towns mandate it by ordinance. The county's key cat rule is public health: the Burlington County Animal Shelter offers free rabies vaccination clinics for resident cats and dogs.

Burlington County does not regulate livestock keeping. In New Jersey, whether you may keep horses, goats, cattle, or other farm animals - and required setbacks and acreage - is decided by municipal zoning. Qualifying commercial farms are protected under the state Right to Farm Act.

Burlington County does not cap how many dogs or cats you can own. In New Jersey, pet-number limits and "kennel" thresholds are set by municipal ordinance. State law only requires that every dog of licensing age be licensed and rabies-vaccinated through your municipal clerk.

New Jersey law bans the intentional feeding of black bears statewide, with civil penalties up to $1,000 per offense. Feeding of other wildlife and nuisance-feeding limits are set by municipal ordinance; the county does not impose a general wildlife-feeding ban.

Animal hoarding in Burlington County is addressed through New Jersey's statewide animal-cruelty laws (Title 4, Chapter 22) and municipal health and animal-control ordinances, not a separate county hoarding rule. Neglect that deprives animals of proper care is a criminal offense.

Burlington County does not cap building height. Under N.J.S.A. 40:55D-65, your municipality's zoning ordinance sets maximum height and stories by district. Typical NJ residential limits are around 35 feet, but check your local code.

Burlington County does not set maximum lot coverage. Under N.J.S.A. 40:55D-65, your municipality caps the percentage of the lot that buildings and, often, impervious surfaces may occupy. Check your zoning district.

Burlington County does not set building setbacks. New Jersey's Municipal Land Use Law lets each town regulate front, side, and rear yard distances. The county reviews only development along county roads or affecting county drainage.

Burlington County, NJ has no countywide grass-height limit. Overgrown-lawn and weed rules are set and enforced by each municipality (Willingboro, Evesham, Mount Laurel, etc.) under state home-rule authority, not by the county.

Burlington County itself does not regulate tree removal, but every NJ municipality must now enforce a tree-removal/replacement ordinance under NJDEP's MS4 stormwater permit. In Medford, removing a non-street tree 6 inches DBH or larger requires a permit.

Burlington County, NJ sets no rule for trimming trees on private property; that is a municipal matter. The county only manages trees and brush within county-road rights-of-way, where a permit may be required before cutting.

Burlington County does not mandate or restrict native plantings on private property. New Jersey and NJDEP encourage native and pollinator-friendly landscaping, but planting choices are a municipal and personal matter, subject only to local property-maintenance and weed rules.

Burlington County sits in NJ's Southwest and Coastal South drought regions. During a NJDEP Drought Warning, watering limits are statewide, not county-set: water no more than two days a week, before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m.; drip and hand watering stay unrestricted.

Backyard composting is allowed and encouraged in Burlington County. Statewide, the NJ Mandatory Source Separation and Recycling Act (N.J.S.A. 13:1E-99.11) bans landfilling leaves and requires source separation of leaves and grass; municipalities run the collection.

There is no Burlington County weed ordinance for private yards. New Jersey towns regulate weeds, brush and overgrowth under their own property-maintenance codes; the county acts only on county roads, drainage and health-nuisance issues.

Rainwater harvesting with rain barrels or cisterns for lawn and garden use is legal and encouraged in New Jersey. Burlington County requires no permit. A well permit (N.J.A.C. 7:9D) is a separate matter that applies to drilled wells, not rooftop rain collection.

Burlington County has no artificial-turf ban, but synthetic turf counts as impervious surface under NJ's Stormwater Management rules (N.J.A.C. 7:8). Small residential lawns are usually fine; larger installs may trigger municipal stormwater review as a major development.

Burlington County does not zone. Under New Jersey's Municipal Land Use Law (N.J.S.A. 40:55D), each municipality - Mount Holly, Evesham, Willingboro, Moorestown, Pemberton and the rest - controls whether and how you may run a home occupation. Check your town's zoning ordinance, not a county rule.

Whether a home occupation permit is required is a municipal decision in New Jersey, not a Burlington County one. Under the Municipal Land Use Law, some towns permit home occupations by right, others require a zoning permit, home-occupation permit, or use variance. Apply through your municipal zoning office.

There is no Burlington County home-business sign rule. Signs for a home occupation are governed by your municipality's zoning and sign ordinance under the Municipal Land Use Law. Most New Jersey towns either prohibit home-occupation signs outright or allow one small, non-illuminated nameplate.

In New Jersey a family child care home caring for five or fewer children may be voluntarily registered through your county's Child Care Resource and Referral agency under state rules (N.J.A.C. 3A:54). Caring for six or more children requires a state child care center license from the NJ Department of

New Jersey requires a state Cottage Food Operator Permit from the NJ Department of Health to sell homemade non-hazardous foods from your Burlington County home kitchen. The permit costs $100 for two years, caps gross sales at $50,000 a year, and requires a food-protection manager certificate.

New Jersey requires every residential outdoor pool, spa, or hot tub to be enclosed by a barrier at least 48 inches high, under the NJ Swimming Pool and Spa Code (2018 ISPSC) enforced through the state UCC. The rule is statewide, applied by your Burlington County municipality's construction official.

A residential swimming pool, spa, or hot tub in Burlington County is permitted by your municipality's construction official under the NJ Uniform Construction Code (N.J.A.C. 5:23) - not the county. Any pool holding 24 inches or more of water needs a construction permit. Public/commercial pools are separately regulated by the

Residential pool safety in Burlington County runs on the statewide 48-inch barrier under the NJ Pool and Spa Code. Public and semi-public pools - clubs, hotels, campgrounds, HOA pools - are licensed and inspected each season by the Burlington County Health Department under the Public Recreational Bathing code, N.J.A.C. 8:26.

Above-ground pools in Burlington County follow the same statewide NJ Swimming Pool and Spa Code. An above-ground pool wall (or a barrier mounted on top of it) can serve as the required barrier, as long as it meets the 48-inch height standard. You still need a construction permit from your

Hot tubs and spas are treated like pools under the NJ Swimming Pool and Spa Code and need a 48-inch barrier - unless the spa or hot tub is fitted with a lockable safety cover meeting ASTM F1346, in which case the barrier requirement does not apply. Permits still come

Burlington County issues no tree-removal permits, but NJDEP now requires every NJ municipality to adopt and enforce a tree-removal/replacement permit ordinance under its MS4 stormwater permit. Apply through your town, not the county.

Recycling is legally required. New Jersey's Statewide Mandatory Source Separation and Recycling Act (N.J.S.A. 13:1E-99.11 et seq.) makes recycling mandatory for all residents, businesses, and institutions. Each Burlington County municipality adopts an ordinance requiring residents to source-separate designated recyclables.

Burlington County does not set curbside bin-placement rules; it runs no residential collection. Where and when to place trash and recycling containers at the curb is governed by your municipality. The county's recycling notices simply say to have containers curbside by 6 a.m. on your collection day.

Dumping trash, tires, appliances, or debris on public land is illegal in Burlington County. The county's Illegal Dumping program warns that public lands "are being used as dumping grounds" and directs residents to report sites through the NJDEP stopdumping.nj.gov app. State littering law imposes fines starting at $100.

Burlington County accepts bulky waste at its Resource Recovery Complex in Florence. The Complex includes a Class B recycling facility for bulky materials plus a bulky-materials center that handles tires, wood waste, construction debris, and white goods such as refrigerators and washers.

Burlington County does not collect residential trash. The county states plainly it "does not provide trash collection services." Curbside pickup is arranged by your municipality or private hauler; the county operates only the Resource Recovery Complex where waste is disposed.

Burlington County does not regulate accessory dwelling units. Under New Jersey's Municipal Land Use Law, each municipality's zoning ordinance decides whether an ADU is permitted, its size, and setbacks. As of 2025 no statewide ADU mandate is enacted.

Burlington County sets no tiny-home rule. Whether a tiny home is a permitted dwelling is decided by your municipality's zoning ordinance under the Municipal Land Use Law, and it must meet the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code.

Burlington County sets no shed rules. Under the Municipal Land Use Law, your municipality's zoning ordinance sets shed size, height, setback, and permit thresholds. Construction permits follow the state Uniform Construction Code administered locally.

Burlington County has no rule on converting a garage into living space. Your municipality's zoning ordinance under the Municipal Land Use Law controls the change of use, and the state Uniform Construction Code governs the building permit.

Burlington County does not regulate carports. Whether a carport is allowed, its setbacks, and its size are decided by your municipality's zoning ordinance under New Jersey's Municipal Land Use Law.

There is no countywide grass or weed height limit in Burlington County. Each municipality sets its own maximum. Evesham Township, for example, treats grass or weeds six inches or taller as a violation. State law (N.J.S.A. 40:65-12) lets towns cut and bill the owner.

Burlington County does not regulate garage or yard sales. Whether you need a permit, how many sales you may hold per year, and signage limits are set by your municipality under home-rule authority (N.J.S.A. 40:48-2).

Burlington County sets no countywide vacant-lot standard. Overgrowth, debris, and abandoned-property registration on empty lots are regulated by each municipality under N.J.S.A. 40:48-2, often with a local vacant-property registration ordinance and weed/brush cutting rules.

Burlington County, NJ has no countywide blight or property-maintenance code. Under New Jersey home rule (N.J.S.A. 40:48-2), each of the county's 40 municipalities adopts and enforces its own property-maintenance ordinance covering blight, dilapidation, and exterior upkeep.

Burlington County does not regulate how residents store trash and recycling containers. The county provides no trash collection; storage, screening, and set-out timing for cans are governed by your municipality's property-maintenance and solid-waste ordinances.

Burlington County does not regulate political signs on private property; that is municipal zoning under the Municipal Land Use Law. In county parks, however, no signs or notices may be posted without written permission of the Board.

Burlington County does not regulate garage-sale signs on streets or private lots; that is municipal. On county park property, posting any sign or notice or distributing advertisements is prohibited without written permission of the Board.

Burlington County has no countywide dark-sky ordinance. Outdoor-lighting standards, such as shielding and glare limits, are adopted by your municipality's zoning ordinance under the Municipal Land Use Law.

Burlington County does not enforce light-trespass rules against neighbors. Limits on light spilling onto adjoining property come from your municipality's zoning ordinance under the Municipal Land Use Law, or from common-law nuisance.

Burlington County Parks System properties open around 7:00 AM and close about one-half hour after sunset (Mount Holly, per the National Weather Service), unless the Board of County Commissioners permits otherwise. Being in a park after closing is prohibited.