Exciting enhancements are coming soon to eCode360! Learn more 🡪
Township of White, NJ
Warren County
By using eCode360 you agree to be legally bound by the Terms of Use. If you do not agree to the Terms of Use, please do not use eCode360.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Zoning affects all structures, buildings and land and the uses thereof. No land or premises may be used and no building or structure may be erected, razed, moved, extended, enlarged, altered or used for any purpose other than a purpose permitted by this chapter for the zone district in which the land, premises, building or structure is located, and all uses and construction shall be in conformity with the regulations provided for the zone district in which such land, premises, building or structure is located.
Construction permits and plans; zoning permits and certificates of occupancy. No construction permit and no certificate of occupancy shall be issued by the Construction Official except upon application therefor in conformity with all the provisions of § 160-87 of this chapter. No sign erection permit shall be issued by the Construction Official except upon application therefor in conformity with the terms of § 160-86 of this chapter. No zoning permit shall be issued by the Zoning Officer except upon application therefor in conformity with § 160-87 of this chapter.
Whenever a new lot or lots is or are formed from a part of any other lot or lots, the assembly or separation shall be effected in such a manner as not to impair any of the requirements of this chapter.
A. 
There shall be provided, for every lot, front, rear and side yards as required in the zone district in which said lot is located unless otherwise regulated by § 160-95, except that, in the case of flag lots as regulated by § 160-131, all front yards must face upon a dedicated public street and shall be of the size required for the particular zone district in which the lot is located; provided, however, that on streets less than 50 feet in width, the required front yard shall be increased by 1/2 the difference between the width of the street and 50 feet, and provided further that any lot which abuts a street with a proposed right-of-way greater than 50 feet in width, as shown on the Master Plan of the Township of White, adopted pursuant to P.L. 1975, c. 291 (N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq.), shall have a front yard setback measured from the nearest line of the proposed building or structure to the proposed right-of-way line shown on said Master Plan.
[Amended 9-5-1986]
B. 
No open space which has been counted or included as part of a side yard, rear yard, front yard, court or other open space as required by this chapter for one building or lot may, by reason of change of ownership or for any other reason, be counted or included in order to comply with the yard, court or other open space requirement of any other building or lot.
[Amended 11-14-1986; 6-12-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-2; 7-8-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-04]
A. 
No accessory building or structure shall be built on any lot on which there is not a principal building or structure. No trailer or mobile home shall be used in any zone district as an accessory building or structure except as permitted as a conditional use under § 160-121.
B. 
Customary and permitted accessory uses as defined in § 160-5 of the Code shall be located where permitted in other sections of this Code.
C. 
Each lot that contains a single-family dwelling as defined in § 160-5, regardless of zoning district, shall be permitted to have at least one accessory building or structure as well as customary and permitted accessory uses as long as the setback requirements in § 160-92 and other applicable sections of the Code are complied with.
D. 
The following requirements shall be met in all residential zones:
(1) 
No accessory building or structure shall have a ground floor area greater than the ground floor area of the principal building or structure on the same lot.
(2) 
No accessory building or structure shall exceed 20 feet in height.
(3) 
No accessory building or structure shall be permitted in any front yard.
(4) 
All accessory buildings shall be located at least 12 feet from any principal building situated on the same lot.
(5) 
Accessory buildings may be built within any side yard if the distance from any accessory building to the side line of the lot is equal to or greater than the required side yard setback for the principal building on said lot.
(6) 
Accessory buildings built in any rear yard shall not be closer than 10 feet to any side or rear property line of the lot containing said accessory building.
(7) 
Accessory buildings on corner lots shall not be erected nearer to any street side line than the front yard setback required on the lot adjacent to the side lot line of the lot upon which the accessory building is located.
E. 
The following requirements shall be met in all nonresidential zones:
(1) 
No accessory building shall have a ground area greater than the ground area of the principal building on the same lot.
(2) 
No accessory building or structure shall exceed the height of the principal building or structure.
(3) 
No accessory building shall be permitted in any front yard.
(4) 
No accessory building shall be closer to the principal building on the lot on which it is located than 20 feet or the height of said accessory building, whichever is greater.
(5) 
Accessory buildings may be built within any side yard if the distance from said accessory building to the side line of the lot is equal to or greater than the required side yard setback for the principal building on said lot.
Garaging as an accessory use for not more than three motor vehicles may be erected on a single lot in all residential districts. In addition, not more than one boat, house trailer, other trailer or truck with a maximum weight carrying capacity of one ton, pickup or parcel delivery, owned and/or used by a resident on said lot, may be garaged on said lot; provided, however, that said boat, house trailer, other trailer, or truck shall be kept in an enclosed garage when on said lot. Any permitted farm operation shall not be subject to the above; provided, however, that the parking of motor vehicles and the storage of any farm machinery on any farm shall not be permitted within 100 feet of any property line.
[Amended 9-5-1986]
Any vacant lot in single ownership existing at the effective date of adoption or amendment of this chapter whose area or dimensions do not meet the requirements of the district in which the lot is located may be used or may have a structure erected thereon for a use permitted for that zoning district, provided that the building coverage limit is not exceeded, parking requirements are met and minimum yard and maximum height requirements are modified by the same percentage that the area of such lots bears to the zone district requirements, except that no side yard shall be less than either 10 feet or half that otherwise required by this chapter, whichever is greater. No building shall be set back less than 25 feet from any street right-of-way, and no building shall be required to have a height less than 12 feet and one story. All other applicable provisions of this chapter shall also apply.
All yards on corner lots abutting any street shall be construed as front yards and shall be subject to the front yard setback requirement of the zone in which said lot falls. All yards other than front yards of a corner lot shall be construed as side yards and shall conform to the side yard setback requirement of the zone in which said lot falls; provided, however, that nothing contained in this section shall be construed to permit a building closer to any property line than that as permitted and regulated in § 160-92.
The control and regulation of the uses of buildings and structures by this chapter shall apply equally to the nature and extent of the uses of the lot or lots upon which they are erected.
A. 
Outdoor storage of any kind or nature, except storage of those items customarily used in conjunction with a residential occupancy, is prohibited in all residential zones.
B. 
In all nonresidential zones, where not specifically prohibited, outdoor storage is only permitted in the side and rear yards as herein regulated. No article, equipment, vehicles, supplies or materials or other matter shall be kept, stored or displayed outside the confines of any building unless and until the same is screened by special planting or fencing, as approved by the Planning Board, and maintained in good condition so that it shall not be visible from any adjacent property or public street; provided, however, that where otherwise permitted by this chapter, the display of new and used motor vehicles as a permitted accessory use in a nonresidential zone district shall not be required to be screened by a planting or fence so that said use is not visible from any abutting public street.
On any corner lot in any zone, no fence, structure, planting or shrubbery over 30 inches in height above the level of the pavement at the center of the street opposite the point in question shall be erected or maintained within 50 feet of the intersection formed by the projections of the two street sidelines at the corner.
[Amended 8-2-1991]
A. 
Planting and fences on street property lines. No fence, hedge, shrubbery or planting on any lot in any zone shall be permitted to overhang or project beyond any street side line. The branches of all trees projecting beyond any such street side line must be trimmed at all times to ensure unobstructed vision and clearance eight feet above ground or sidewalk level.
B. 
Buffers. Whenever buffers have been specified by this chapter or as may be required by the municipal agency, such buffer shall be of the width so specified or required and shall be used to minimize adverse impacts or nuisances on a site or from adjacent areas. Within the buffer area, vegetation shall be placed so as to avoid damage to existing plantings and to provide maximum protection to adjacent properties. Existing wooded areas shall be incorporated into buffers wherever possible. The buffer shall be adequately planted with landscape materials, including trees, shrubs, grass, ground cover and berms, to present an attractive appearance, and shall include a screen at least 10 feet high at maturity. The screen shall be in accordance with the following specifications or an equivalent acceptable to the municipal agency.
[Amended 4-27-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-3]
(1) 
Dense hedges or deciduous trees and at least 50% evergreen shrubbery planted at six feet on center in each of two staggered rows.
(2) 
Evergreen hedge consisting of white pine, blue spruce or white spruce planted at 15 feet on center or dark American arborvitae planted four feet on center in each of two staggered rows.
(3) 
A landscaped earth berm, a minimum of six feet in width, supplemented with landscaping consisting of dense shrubs planted in front and a hedge behind as described in § 160-99B(1) and (2) above.
(4) 
Plantings used for screening a minimum of four feet in height at the time of planting.
C. 
Maintenance. The owner shall protect the integrity of the buffer area and ensure that it remains undeveloped. Plantings shall be properly maintained in order to minimize adverse effects on adjacent properties. The owner shall replace all dead and dying plants.
D. 
Improvements adjacent to tract lines. No embankments, excavation, structure, pond, detention basin, storm drainage facility or other utility shall be permitted beyond the front, side or rear yard setback line of a tract of land subject to development adjacent to property used or zoned for residential use, except for access into the interior of the tract or where stormwater discharge or utility line extensions must cross into adjacent lands and where appropriate utility easements have been established and dedicated as approved by the approving authority.
[Added 6-14-2001]
E. 
All residential dwellings shall incorporate a substantial tree and shrub buffer within 15 feet of any property line.
[Added 6-7-2002 by Ord. No. 2002-12]
The conversion of existing structures to a use permitted in the zone district in which said structure is located is equally subject to the same regulations as are new structures to be constructed in said zone district.
No driveway shall be permitted to serve any use other than the permitted use on the lot upon which said driveway is located.
[Amended 11-14-1986]
A. 
Only one principal building may be erected on a lot, except for related, compatible buildings constituting one basic use or operation under one management and limited to the following:
(1) 
Attached single-family residences in condominium ownership.
(2) 
Garden apartment developments.
(3) 
Public or institutional building complexes.
(4) 
Retail shopping or service facilities developments.
(5) 
Industrial or manufacturing building complexes.
(6) 
ECHO housing as permitted under § 160-121.
B. 
No building to be used as a dwelling shall be constructed, altered or moved on, to or in the rear of any building situated on the same lot, except for ECHO housing as permitted by § 160-121.
No lot, yard, parking area or other open space shall be so reduced in area or dimension as to make it less than the minimum required under this chapter. No lot, yard, parking area or other open space which is already less than the minimum required under this chapter shall be further reduced in area or dimension.
No sign shall hereafter be permitted in the Township of White unless it shall comply with the requirements of § 160-86 of this chapter.
A. 
The height limitations required in each zone district shall not apply to church steeples or farm buildings.
[Amended 12-27-2001]
B. 
Church buildings, hospitals for humans, public school buildings and structures, masts, flagpoles, household receiving antennas or any municipally owned, leased or operated building, structure or use shall not exceed 50 feet in height or the height limitation set for the zone district in which it is located, whichever is greater.
C. 
In the I Zone, roof structures such as air-conditioning, ventilating or elevator equipment, fans, stairways, railings, vents, duct work and other like mechanical equipment may be placed or erected on roofs of permitted buildings, provided that such roof structures do not occupy more than 20% of any roof area and do not exceed the applicable maximum building heights as permitted pursuant to § 160-174I of Article XXIV by more than 15 feet. Where the roof structures occupy more than 20% of any roof area or exceed the maximum applicable building height by more than 15 feet, such roof structures must be appropriately screened as required by the Planning Board, and no height exceptions under this subsection shall apply.
[Added 4-2-1982]
D. 
In the I Zone, freestanding accessory structures, such as chimneys, stacks, water tanks, electronic and communications equipment, columns, towers, silos, spires and other like structures, may be erected to a height functionally or technically necessary or required by state or federal regulation, provided that the distance of such accessory structures from any property line is not less than a dimension that equals the height of said accessory structure, plus the minimum applicable setback requirement set forth in § 160-174F, G and H of Article XXIV, and further provided that no width or horizontal dimension of such accessory structures may exceed 15 feet measured above the maximum applicable height limit for principal structures as set forth in § 160-174I of Article XXIV.
[Added 4-2-1982]
[Amended 11-14-1986]
No trailer or recreational vehicle or trailer or recreational vehicle camp and no mobile home less than 22 feet in width shall be used or occupied in any zone district other than in the R-4 Zone District. No trailer or recreational vehicle and no mobile home less than 22 feet in width shall be used as or in connection with a residence, business establishment, manufacturing or industrial operation, office or storage facility except as otherwise permitted in this chapter. A trailer may be set up for use in connection with a construction project in any zone for a period not to exceed 90 days, provided that an occupancy permit therefor has been obtained from or reissued by the Construction Official, who is hereby authorized to issue such permits. Any violation of any provisions in this chapter or the provisions of any other ordinance shall void said permit, and a trailer may be subject to immediate removal from the Township and such other action as the governing body may consider necessary.
[Amended 4-11-1997; 6-7-2002 by Ord. No. 2002-11]
A. 
General provisions related to fences and retaining walls.
(1) 
No fence or wall shall be constructed on any lot except according to the provisions of this section and the Township building code.
(2) 
A building permit shall be required for any fence or retaining wall or bulkhead in excess of 72 inches in height.
[Amended 10-12-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-4]
(3) 
No retaining wall or fence shall be erected in any location or at any height so as to impair sight distance and/or affect safe ingress and egress from any lot or street.
(4) 
This section shall not apply to arbors provided that the same are located within the subject property and are located a minimum of 10 feet from any property line bordering on a right-of-way.
B. 
Fences.
(1) 
No fence shall be erected within five feet of a street right-of-way.
(2) 
All fences must be constructed on the property of the applicant.
(3) 
Fences erected in a front yard shall not be more than four feet in height and shall not be more than 50% solid.
(4) 
Fences erected in the side or rear yards shall not exceed six feet six inches in height alone or in combination with a retaining wall or berm.
(5) 
For commercial or industrial property the maximum height shall be 10 feet.
(6) 
All fences when constructed shall be placed such that the good side faces adjoining properties and/or areas exposed to public view.
(7) 
No sharp or dangerous protrusions such as barbed or razor wire shall be placed on any fence.
(8) 
The foregoing limitations shall not apply to fences used in connection with agricultural uses, provided the same do not obstruct vision for purposes of traffic safety, nor shall said limitations apply to fences or walls required by the Planning Board in connection with site plan approval.
C. 
Retaining walls. Retaining walls may be constructed in accordance with the following requirements:
(1) 
No retaining wall shall be erected within five feet of a street right-of-way line, side or rear property line.
(2) 
No retaining wall shall be permitted to incorporate glass or spikes.
(3) 
All retaining walls shall be positively drained by providing sufficient underdrain installation. Surface drainage shall not be permitted to flow directly against the face of the wall.
(4) 
Any retaining wall in excess of 36 inches shall include at its top a barrier to prevent anyone from falling off of same.
(5) 
A retaining wall whose primary purpose is to bring the level of the property up to that of the roadway may be permitted to be constructed within a road right-of-way upon application to and approval by the Township Committee. The design and construction of any such wall shall be subject to the approval of the Township Engineer. The top of the retaining wall shall be no higher than the road grade or pavement. No approval under this section shall be construed as granting any rights to utilize the public right-of-way for any purpose other than access to the adjoining property.
D. 
Special provisions for railroad-tie and landscape-tie retaining walls.
(1) 
A building permit shall be required for all tie walls in excess of 36 inches in height. See attached Appendix, "Retaining wall detail," incorporated herein by reference.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Said appendix is on file in the Township offices.
(2) 
Railroad-tie retaining walls may be constructed to a maximum height of 64 inches above grade. If a railroad-tie retaining wall exceeds 64 inches, the wall shall be designed as a closed-face timber curb retaining wall with a maximum height of 12 feet and shall be designed by a professional engineer or architect.
(3) 
Railroad-tie retaining walls shall conform to the requirements of the Township building code.
(4) 
Railroad-tie retaining walls shall conform to the following minimum requirements:
(a) 
Tiebacks shall be a minimum length of seven feet and shall be provided with a four-foot minimum width.
(b) 
Tiebacks shall be installed on alternate courses at 16 feet on center and shall be offset horizontally eight feet from the tieback below.
(c) 
The face of the wall shall have a minimum batter of two inches per foot.
(d) 
The bottom course of the tie wall shall be set in an eight-inch sand bed and shall be pinned to firm ground with two half-inch diameter steel rods per bottom tie. The rods shall have a minimum length of 30 inches. The top of the bottom course tie shall be set at the finished grade at the bottom of the wall.
(e) 
All ties shall be spiked with four drift pins per tie and shall be of sufficient length to penetrate two members and four inches into the third member.
(f) 
All cuts or bored holes should, but are not required to, be coated with two coats of a wood preservative to treat the timber.
[Amended 4-2-1982]
Diagrams are included in Appendixes A, B, C and D for the purpose of interpreting or clarifying certain provisions of this chapter.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendixes A, B, C and D are included at the end of this chapter.
[Added 7-14-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-13[1]]
A. 
Statement of purpose.
(1) 
It is the express purpose of this section to provide special qualitative and quantitative development controls for all lands located within the Township that have present within their boundaries topographical conditions, hereinafter defined as "steep slopes," which shall be defined as slopes with a gradient of 15% or greater, as measured utilizing a two-foot contour interval.
(2) 
These special development controls are provided in recognition of the potentially negative impacts of construction in steep slope areas in the form of erosion, siltation, excessive removal of vegetation and soil, flooding, soil slippage, water runoff and destruction of unique land forms and scenic vistas. It is further the purpose of this section to encourage good land use planning and design, maximize optimal use of the natural terrain and maintain steep slopes and scenic vistas intact.
(3) 
Effective and reasonable application of these regulations will protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the Township.
B. 
Applicability. The requirements, guidelines and controls promulgated under this section shall be applicable to all properties within all zone districts situated in the Township in their existing physical state or condition as of the date of the passage of this section. The requirements of Subsections C, D and E shall apply where said properties have a slope area of 15% or greater.
C. 
Construction control limitations. Disturbance of steep slopes shall be limited to the following based on the indicated slopes:
Slope
Permitted Activity
Less than 15%
All activities
15% to less than 20%
Only for crossings that involve driveways, roads, utilities, storm sewers, and other linear development approved by the Board.
20% and greater
No disturbance
D. 
Exception. The above construction control limitations are not applicable for isolated slope areas of 15% or greater with an area of 1,000 square feet or less.
E. 
Departures and exceptions from the provisions of Subsections C and D above shall be considered variances.
F. 
The Board, in considering a variance from the provisions of Subsections C and D above, to the extent permitted by law and to the extent applicable to the variance requested, may be guided by the following:
(1) 
The developer shall demonstrate that the disturbance of the critical steep slope area is necessary for the proposed development of the subject tract.
(2) 
The developer shall demonstrate that the proposed development has utilized the noncritical areas of the tract as reasonably as practicable and has attempted to minimize the disturbance of the critical steep slope areas by limiting development to either isolated area(s) of steep slopes and/or those slopes with less of a steep grade prior to the disturbance of more environmentally sensitive critical areas.
(3) 
Appropriate revegetation and landscaping of the disturbed steep slope areas shall be provided to adequately stabilize the slopes and enhance the attractiveness of the site, if necessary, and shall be in accordance with accepted soil conservation and stormwater management techniques as promulgated by the Soil Conservation District and the Township Engineer.
(4) 
The proposed disturbance of the critical steep slope areas should minimize the impairment of the visual quality of the site. Moreover, the higher elevations along ridge and mountain tops which present visual amenities should be protected, where possible.
(5) 
The environmental impacts shall be satisfactorily controlled by the development proposal in a manner acceptable to the Township Engineer so that soil erosion, excess stormwater runoff, degradation of water quality, concentration of stormwater and water flow, and flooding do not occur.
(6) 
The developer also shall demonstrate that:
(a) 
Unless an EIS is otherwise required, endangered or threatened plants and wildlife shall not be harmed;
(b) 
The geologic disturbance, including blasting, cutting or excavating, resulting from the development of any critical steep slope area shall be satisfactorily mitigated; and
(c) 
The cost of providing and maintaining public facilities and services to those areas where critical slopes may be disturbed shall not be substantially increased as a result of such disturbance.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed original § 71-76V, Open space zoning.
[Amended 9-2-1983; 12-29-1997]
A. 
All lots must comply with the following:
(1) 
Drainage shall be controlled such that stormwater discharges do not constitute a potential hazard to any street or other vehicular way or to adjacent properties.
(2) 
A lot shall be served by a driveway, conforming to all requirements Chapter 120, Driveways, of the Code of the Township of White.
(3) 
All setback dimensions shall be calculated from lot boundaries except where there exist high voltage power lines or a utility easement therefor. In this case, setback distances shall be calculated from the nearest point of the easement.
(4) 
An adequate lot shall encompass sufficient area for construction of a principal structure and all necessary supporting facilities, including, without limitation, parking, loading, water supply, waste disposal and accessways.
(5) 
All lots shall provide soils data adequate to determine that there will be sufficient area on the property to accommodate a subsurface sewage disposal system and a reserve area of equivalent size and slope. Where soils on the proposed lot are similar, one additional soil lot within the reserve area shall be provided to meet this requirement.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original § 71-76W(2), concerning slopes in excess of 25%, as amended 8-5-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-14, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 7-14-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-13.
B. 
Lots containing state regulated environmentally sensitive area(s). No lot shall be created where more than 1/2 of the party consists of freshwater wetlands.
C. 
Development and disturbance restrictions. No development or disturbance shall occur within 50 feet of surface water bodies, except stream corridors as defined in this chapter, endangered or threatened species habitats, sinkholes or other limestone solution features.
[Amended 7-14-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-13]
[Added 12-7-1990]
A. 
In all zones of the Township of White, it shall be permissible to allow aboveground storage tanks for petroleum or its derivatives, but not to exceed 2,000 gallons in capacity, provided that all applicable rules and regulations are followed. Above ground tanks in excess of 2,000 gallons but less than 5,000 gallons in capacity shall be permitted, provided that such installations have been approved by and are operated in accordance with the requirements of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and all other rules, regulations and statutes pertaining to aboveground storage of petroleum or its derivatives. Aboveground storage tanks in excess of 5,001 gallons' capacity shall be permitted, provided that such installations have been approved by and are operated in accordance with the requirements of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and all other rules, regulations and statutes pertaining to aboveground storage of petroleum or its derivatives and provided that such tanks are accessory to the principal use on the site in question.
B. 
Aboveground storage with proper permits and Department of Environmental Protection approvals shall be permitted in any zone within the Township of White.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original § 71-76Y, Lot size averaging, as added 6-7-2002 by Ord. No. 2002-12, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 7-14-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-13.