Grading and drainage in Somerset County is shaped by state law. Under the Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act, N.J.S.A. 13:9B-1 et seq., a transition area up to 150 feet around a wetland acts as a sediment and stormwater control zone where earth-moving needs an NJDEP permit.
New Jersey has no county with unincorporated land, so grading is regulated by each Somerset municipality's ordinance plus overlapping state law. Moving earth or altering drainage within a freshwater wetland transition area, up to 150 feet wide, requires an NJDEP freshwater wetlands permit, because the buffer is defined as a sediment and stormwater control zone. In the Highlands preservation area covering Bedminster, Bernards, Far Hills, and Peapack-Gladstone, major land disturbance also needs a Highlands Preservation Area Approval. Regraded lots may not divert concentrated runoff onto a neighbor, a longstanding rule of New Jersey drainage law.
Grading a wetland transition area without an NJDEP permit, or diverting concentrated stormwater onto an adjoining lot, brings state enforcement, restoration orders, and civil liability for the resulting drainage damage.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Somerville, NJ
The Borough of Somerville restricts the keeping of swine, goats, cattle, rabbits, guinea pigs, pigeons, chickens, ducks, geese and other fowl under Chapter 1...
Somerset County, NJ
No New Jersey or county law limits holiday lights, inflatables, or yard displays. Somerset municipalities rarely regulate seasonal decorations, and any ordin...
Somerset County, NJ
No New Jersey statute governs garage-sale signs; Somerset municipalities handle them through local sign ordinances. On your own lawn a sale sign is generally...
Somerset County, NJ
No New Jersey statute limits residential political signs, and Somerset municipalities reach signs only through zoning ordinances. Those ordinances must stay ...
Somerset County, NJ
Every New Jersey landlord must register the rental. Under the Landlord Identity Law, N.J.S.A. 46:8-27 et seq., the owner files a certificate of registration ...
Somerset County, NJ
New Jersey bars eviction without good cause statewide. Under the Anti-Eviction Act, N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1, a landlord may remove a residential tenant only on a...
See how Somerville's grading & drainage rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.