Showing ordinances that apply to Ramapo College of New Jersey, NJ
Ramapo College of New Jersey is an unincorporated community (population 2,200) in Bergen County, New Jersey. Because Ramapo College of New Jersey is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal code. Instead, Bergen County ordinances apply directly to properties here. The rainwater harvesting rules below are the ones that govern your area.
Bergen County residents may harvest rainwater without restriction under New Jersey law, which has no statewide limits on residential rain collection. Rain barrels and cisterns are encouraged by the Bergen County Soil Conservation District and NJDEP. Large cisterns over 5,000 gallons may trigger building permit review under N.J.A.C. 5:23 (NJ Uniform Construction Code) in municipalities like Paramus, Hackensack, and Teaneck.
New Jersey imposes no state-level restrictions on residential rainwater collection, making Bergen County one of the most permissive areas in the Northeast for rain harvesting. The Bergen County Soil Conservation District (BCSCD) actively promotes rain barrel installation as part of stormwater management under N.J.A.C. 7:8 (NJDEP Stormwater Rules). Most Bergen municipalities permit rain barrels up to 100 gallons without any permit. Larger systems, especially in-ground cisterns, trigger building permit review under the NJ Uniform Construction Code (N.J.A.C. 5:23). Hackensack Code Chapter 190 (Stormwater) and Paramus Code Chapter 465 (Stormwater Management) encourage rain capture to reduce runoff to the Hackensack River watershed. Fort Lee, sitting above the Hudson River with steep topography, specifically encourages rainwater harvesting as part of its MS4 stormwater permit obligations. Rutgers Cooperative Extension (based in Hackensack) runs periodic rain barrel workshops and rebate programs. Potable use requires NSF-certified treatment meeting N.J.A.C. 7:10 (Safe Drinking Water Act). HOA-governed communities (common in Mahwah, Franklin Lakes, Alpine) may restrict visible barrel placement but cannot prohibit collection entirely.
No penalties for standard residential rain barrel use. Large cistern installation without UCC building permit: $500 to $2,000 violation under N.J.A.C. 5:23. Unpermitted plumbing modifications tying rainwater to potable supply: immediate correction required, fines up to $2,000.
See how Ramapo College of New Jersey's rainwater harvesting rules stack up against other locations.
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