New Jersey has no state or Morris County law restricting residential rainwater harvesting. Rain barrels and cisterns for non-potable outdoor use are legal, and the state actively promotes them as a stormwater best-management practice.
Unlike some western states, New Jersey does not regulate or prohibit collecting rooftop rainwater, and Morris County imposes no ordinance on it. Rain barrels are promoted through NJDEP's Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual and by county agencies and Rutgers Cooperative Extension as a way to reduce runoff and conserve water. Harvested rainwater is for non-potable uses such as watering gardens and lawns; it should not be used for drinking. If a system is plumbed into a building or connects to potable lines, the state Uniform Construction Code and plumbing subcode (N.J.A.C. 5:23) apply and a permit may be required. Simple downspout-fed barrels need no permit.
No county or state penalty for basic rain-barrel use. Improper cross-connection to a potable supply violates the Uniform Construction Code plumbing subcode and can require correction.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Morris County's rainwater harvesting rules stack up against other locations.
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