Borough of Wood-Ridge, NJ Districts Established; Use Regulations

One-family detached dwelling, not to exceed one such dwelling on each lot.

Municipal parks and playgrounds, including customary recreational, refreshment and service buildings, and any other proprietary or governmental use of the Borough.

Places of worship, including parish houses and religious school buildings, and public and private schools conducted for children, including uses customarily accessory thereto. A private school permitted under this subsection shall be a nonprofit organization within the meaning of the Revised Statutes of New Jersey.

Building or structure used for agricultural purposes, provided that no greenhouse or heating plants shall be operated within 20 feet of any lot line, and no livestock, including horses, shall be kept on the property.

Permitted accessory uses and structures:

[Amended 12-1-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-15; 4-17-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-6]

Patios, decks, sheds, garden houses, greenhouses, dog houses, pool houses, playhouses, play equipment, gazebos, cabanas, pergolas, outdoor kitchens, outdoor bars, emergency generators, and fireplaces, firepits, grills, stoves, and ovens that are fueled by propane or natural gas, or which burn wood or wood substitutes, provided that they comply with the provisions of § 530-6D hereinbelow.

Private garage for not more than three motor vehicles, of which not more than one may be a commercial vehicle and the other two passenger vehicles.

Such vehicles shall belong to residents on the premises, except that space for not more than one such passenger automobile may be leased to a nonresident.

The one commercial vehicle is subject to the following limitations:[1]

It does not exceed a gross weight of 3 1/2 tons.

[2]

It is regularly housed in a garage building, as defined herein.

[3]

It is used by a resident of the premises in conjunction with his employment for the purpose of commuting to and from his place of employment, job assignments or job locations.

[4]

The foregoing permissive use shall not extend to any vacant land located in the designated zone which does not have a residence located thereon or a person living therein meeting the above requirements.

Editor's Note: See also § 530-64, Commercial vehicles.

The keeping of a reasonable number of customary household pets, but excluding the commercial breeding of the same.

Signs, in accordance with all applicable local ordinances or statutes.

Swimming pools, wading pools, spas, and hot tubs incidental to residential use of the premises and not operated for gain.

Conditional uses:

Professional office as part of a residential structure, subject to Article III.[2]

[2]

Editor's Note: Former Subsection C(2)(a) and (b), regarding community residences for the developmentally disabled, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 4-21-1997 by Ord. No. 97-5.

Special provisions.

[Added 2-8-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-9[3]]

Off-street parking, garages, and driveways.

[Amended 12-1-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-15]

Every house that is either newly constructed or more than 50% substantially renovated, altered, or reconstructed must contain a garage, either attached or detached, that can accommodate a minimum of one vehicle.

Every house shall have a driveway that can provide off-street parking for a minimum of two vehicles if the house has a garage or three vehicles if the house does not have a garage.

Maximum driveway width: 24 feet on a lot with a width of 50 feet or greater. For lots less than 50 feet wide, the driveway width shall be governed or controlled by the impervious coverage requirement specified in Subsection D(3) hereinbelow.

Lots with a width of 75 feet or greater may have a U-shaped driveway with two curb cut outs at the street right-of-way, provided that they must meet the impervious coverage requirement specified in Subsection D(3) hereinbelow.

Maximum total width of an entrance sidewalk located in the front yard between the street right-of-way and the front entrance of the house shall be five feet. Only one such entrance sidewalk is permitted per residence.

[Amended 12-1-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-15]

The maximum amount of impervious coverage in the front yard area shall be 60%, inclusive of all driveways and sidewalks located in the front yard area. The front yard area, for the purpose of this subsection, is to be considered the space between the street right-of-way and the actual front facade or foundation line of the house, as measured across the entire width of the property from side line to side line.

[Amended 12-1-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-15]

The nonimpervious/permeable surface in the front yard shall be landscaped and maintained with natural grass, ground cover, shrubs, trees, or any combination thereof. Artificial grass or turf shall not be permitted in the front yard.

One-family dwellings may be rented only in their entirety as a single rental unit for a period of not less than 28 consecutive days. Only one rental and/or lease may exist for a given period of time per one-family dwelling. Rental or subletting of individual rooms is not permitted.

[Added 5-15-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-5]

(6)

All houses and their accessory structures and yards shall be maintained in good repair and condition. Houses and/or accessory structures and/or yards shall be deemed to violate the Borough Zoning Ordinance if they have the following conditions: broken and/or missing windows, screens, or doors; holes in the roof, soffits, facia, or siding; missing, unsecured, or disconnected roof material, siding, architectural features, gutters, downspouts, or leader pipes; structurally compromised or failing roofs, walls, foundations, architectural features, driveways, patios, decks, porches, balconies, stairs, retaining walls, fences, pools, spas, or hot tubs; fallen or dead trees or overgrown lawns, shrubs, or vegetation.

[Added 12-1-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-15]

(7)

The following items may not be parked or stored in any driveway, yard, or parking lot:

[Added 12-1-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-15]

Vehicles that are not operable, not registered, without valid license plates, in disrepair, or undergoing repairs for a period in excess of 48 hours.

Campers, mobile homes, recreational vehicles, boats of any type or size, watercraft, aircraft, landscaping equipment, and/or construction equipment, with or without valid license plates and/or registration.

Trailers of any kind, with or without valid license plates, including those containing any motorized vehicle or tool, including, but not limited to, construction equipment, landscaping equipment, boats, jet skis, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, etc.

Equipment, machinery, tools, vehicle or equipment parts, building materials, interior furniture, appliances, and bulk materials, such as, but not limited to, household waste, recyclables, vegetative waste, scrap metals, soils, mulches, stones, aggregates, fuels, lubricants, or industrial liquids.

(8)

Outdoor fireplaces, firepits, grills, stoves, and ovens that burn wood or wood substitutes must comply with the following conditions:

[Added 12-1-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-15]

Must utilize a screen or cover that prevents embers or flammable material from escaping the unit and creating a risk of fire to the property or adjoining properties.

May not be constructed, located, or used within six feet of any structure or property line.

May not discharge smoke or fumes directly to an adjoining property at a height lower than the roof line of the adjoining property.

May not be used when wind conditions create the potential for smoke, fumes, embers, soot, or flammable materials to discharge directly to an adjoining property owner and/or cause a risk of fire.

(9)

Outdoor sound systems, entertainment systems, televisions, projectors and speakers for televisions, radios, receivers, phones, and other devices may not amplify music, broadcasts, recordings, or any other sounds in a manner that:

[Added 12-1-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-15]

Disturbs the peace, quiet and comfort of neighboring inhabitants; or

Is at a volume that is louder than necessary for the convenient hearing of voluntary listeners who are in the outdoor space in which the sound originates; or

Violates the provisions of Chapter 371 entitled "Noise."

(10)

The renting or leasing of outdoor parking or storage spaces shall not be permitted in any driveway, yard, or parking lot.

[Added 12-1-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-15]

(11)

The maintenance, repair, and/or care of retaining walls, decorative walls, fences, trees, and shrubs shall be the responsibility of the owner of the property on which they are sited pursuant to a property boundary survey. If a survey is not available or if there is a question or dispute as to the location and/or ownership of a retaining wall, decorative wall, fence, tree, or shrub, the homeowner must have a survey performed by a New Jersey licensed professional land surveyor. If a retaining wall, decorative wall, fence, tree, or shrub is sited on a property line in a manner that it is substantially located on two or more adjoining properties, the maintenance, repair, and/or care of the retaining wall, decorative wall, fence, tree, or shrub shall be the joint responsibility of both/all property owners. In this case, both/all property owners shall resolve and address all maintenance, repair, and care issues privately between/among themselves or through the Superior Court if an irreconcilable dispute or disagreement arises. Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing or prohibiting a property owner from trimming branches or growth of any tree or shrub that extend over the property line from an adjoining property where the trees or shrubs are planted.

[Added 12-1-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-15]

(12)

A residential dwelling or lot, inclusive of any and all accessory uses and structures, or any part thereof, shall not be used, occupied, rented or leased for any nonresidential use except as otherwise specifically permitted by certain provisions of this chapter.

[Added 12-1-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-15; amended 4-17-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-6]

(13)

Any residential dwelling or lot, inclusive of any and all yards, uses, structures or other improvements, or any part thereof, that does not comply with or otherwise violates any of the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to the issuance of an abatement order and/or violation notice and associated monetary penalty, and/or revocation of certificate of occupancy by the Borough Zoning Officer.

[Added 4-17-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-6]

(14)

An owner, renter or lessee of a residential dwelling or lot in which either a use, occupancy, condition, or rental or leasing activity occurs that is prohibited by the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to the issuance of a violation notice and penalty as follows:

[Added 4-17-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-6]

Fine for a first offense: $250. A first offense that is not abated within 10 days of issuance of an abatement order shall constitute a second offense and be subject to the penalties thereof.

Fine for a second offense: $500, plus an additional fine of $50 per day for each day that the dwelling's use, occupancy, condition, or rental or leasing activity is in violation of the provisions of this chapter. A second offense that is not abated within 10 days of issuance of an abatement order shall constitute a third offense and be subject to the penalties thereof.

Fine for a third offense and each subsequent offense thereafter: $1,000, plus an additional fine of $100 per day for each day that the dwelling's use, occupancy, condition, or rental or leasing activity is in violation of the provisions of this chapter and revocation of the dwelling's certificate of occupancy. A third offense and each subsequent offense thereafter that is not abated within 10 days of issuance of an abatement order shall constitute a subsequent offense and be subject to the penalties thereof.

[3]

Editor's Note: Section 1 of this ordinance also provided as follows: "Purpose: To establish requirements to prevent the overdevelopment and overutilization of single-family residential properties in Wood-Ridge as well as advance the purpose of zoning relative to providing adequate light, air, open space, and a desirable visual environment."

§ 530-7 R-2 Two-Family Residential District.

The following regulations shall apply in the R-2 District.

Permitted principal uses:

Any R-1 permitted principal use, subject to the same restrictions as prescribed therein.

Two-family detached dwelling, not exceeding one such building on each lot.

Permitted accessory uses:

Any R-1 permitted accessory use, subject to the same restrictions as prescribed therein.

Conditional uses:

Any R-1 permitted conditional use, subject to the same restrictions as prescribed therein.

Special provisions:

[Added 5-15-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-5]

Each unit in a two-family dwelling may be rented only in its entirety as a single rental unit for a period of not less than 28 consecutive days. Only one rental and/or lease may exist for a given period of time per unit of a two-family dwelling. Rental or subletting of individual rooms is not permitted.

All R-1 special provisions shall apply in the R-2 Zone.

[Added 12-1-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-15]

§ 530-8 R-3 Multifamily Residential District.

The following regulations shall apply in the R-3 District.

Permitted principal uses:

Dwelling for three or more families, built separately or in groups.

Professional offices, contained as a separate unit in a multifamily building or as a separate professional suite in a group of multifamily dwellings.

Permitted accessory uses:

Garages and off-street parking facilities.

Conditional uses: none.

[Amended 6-16-1997 by Ord. No. 97-16; 12-7-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-26]

Density. Construction of multifamily dwellings shall be limited to a number of dwelling units not to exceed 18 per acre.

[Added 9-21-1987 by Ord. No. 87-20]

Special provisions:

[Added 5-15-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-5]

Each unit in a multifamily dwelling may be rented only in its entirety as a single rental unit for a period of not less than 28 consecutive days. Only one rental and/or lease may exist for a given period of time per unit of a multifamily dwelling. Rental or subletting of individual rooms is not permitted.

All R-1 special provisions shall apply in the R-3 Zone.

[Added 12-1-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-15]

§ 530-9 RB Retail Business District.

The following regulations shall apply in the RB District.

Permitted principal uses:

Retail stores and banks.

Personal service stores, such as but not limited to barbershops, beauty parlors and tailors, provided that, where steam pressure is used in clothes pressing, the generating apparatus shall not exceed five rated boiler horsepower.

Business, professional or governmental office.

Funeral parlors.

Service establishments furnishing services other than of a personal nature.

(6)

Taverns and restaurants and fraternal, social, service and veterans' clubs, excluding amusement parks, arcades or circuses, whether open or enclosed.

(7)

Retail dry-cleaning establishments and self-service automatic laundries or dry-cleaning establishments.

(8)

Retail copying and print shops.

Permitted accessory uses:

Off-street parking and loading facilities.

Signs in accordance with all applicable local ordinances or statutes.

Accessory storage within a wholly enclosed permanent structure of materials, goods and supplies intended for sale or consumption on the premises.

Live musical entertainment, including but not limited to singers, bands, DJs and karaoke.

[Added 7-20-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-15]

Live musical entertainment shall be permitted only in restaurants that: 1) serve food prepared and cooked on site for on-premises consumption; 2) have seating for at least 50 patrons; and 3) are licensed to serve alcoholic beverages, subject to all applicable local ordinances, including those for noise.

Live musical entertainment shall be limited to the hours between 1:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m.

Drive-through windows. Drive-through windows shall be permitted only for banks and licensed pharmacies, subject to all applicable site plan and traffic reviews and conditions and all other applicable local ordinances so as not to negatively impact adjoining residential property owners.

[Added 7-20-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-15]

Conditional uses: none.

[Amended 7-20-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-15]

Prohibited uses:

[Added 7-20-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-15]

Fuel/service stations.

Automotive/auto body repair stations.

Sales of used vehicles, equipment, trailers and/or any other personal property.

Rental of property, portions of property and/or space(s) for parking and/or storage of vehicles, equipment, trailers and/or any other personal property.

Outdoor placement of tables, seating, merchandise, displays, fixtures, signs and/or advertisement on public sidewalks and/or rights-of-way.

§ 530-10 GB General Business District.

The following regulations shall apply in the GB District.

Permitted principal uses:

All uses permitted in the RB District.

Shopping centers.

Hotels.

[Added 3-20-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-4]

Permitted accessory uses:

Those uses and activities customary and incidental to permitted uses.

Conditional uses:

[Amended 2-22-1994 by Ord. No. 94-4; 12-14-1999 by Ord. No. 99-23]

Service stations in accordance with Article III.

Christmas tree sales.

The sale of Christmas trees shall be permitted between Thanksgiving and December 25 of each year, upon application to and approval of the Construction Code Official, who shall consider, by way of illustration and not limitation, the proximity of residences to the site of the proposed sale.

An application fee of $500 shall accompany each request for a permit from the Construction Code Official.[1]

Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III).

The application for permit shall be upon such form as may be promulgated by the office of the Construction Code Official.

§ 530-11 LIP Light Industrial Park District.

The following regulations shall apply in the LIP District.

Permitted principal uses:

Light industrial uses, including compounding and processing (excluding chemical), assembly, converting, handling and packaging of products, all the above from previously prepared materials.

Fully enclosed storage and distribution facilities.

General business offices.

Printing and newspaper printing.

Research and development establishments, excluding chemicals.

(6)

Executive, business and administrative offices.

Permitted accessory uses:

Those uses and activities customary and incidental to permitted uses.

Outdoor storage.

[Added 3-13-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-4[1]]

Block 249, Lots 1, 2, 3; Block 250, Lots 5, 6.01, 6.02; Block 252, Lots 1, 2, 3, 4; Block 253, Lot 1; Block 229, Lots 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10.01, 10.02; Block 229.01, Lot 11; Block 228, Lots 1.01, 1.02, 2, 3; Block 282, Lots 1, 2; Block 302, Lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9; Block 332, Lots 2, 3; and Block 334, Lot 1 situate in the LIP Zone are hereby reclassified to include outdoor storage in conjunction with a principal permitted use that is allowed in the said LIP Zone.

The outdoor storage permitted under the terms of this section shall be in accordance with the provisions of § 335-97B.

Editor's Note: This ordinance also stated that the Mayor and Council have and/or will adopt Res. No. P, which resolution sets forth the reasons why the LIP Zone must be modified for the properties listed in § 530-11B(2)(a), and such resolution is to be read in conjunction with and pari materia with the provisions of this ordinance.

Conditional uses:

Manufacture of electronic products, aeronautical equipment and other related products, precision tools and equipment, and garments and fabrics.

§ 530-12 OLIP Overlay of Light Industrial Park District.

[Added 12-13-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-28; amended 7-20-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-15]

Purpose and intent.

The purpose and intent of this section is to establish an initial overlay zone which is an alternative to the existing zoning with regard to this area. The application of this section does not affect the existing underlying Light Industrial Park zoning of the entire property. This section provides a series of new permitted land uses which are in addition to those provided in the current land use ordinance of the Borough.

The purpose of the overlay zone is to allow uses which are currently not permitted in the Light Industrial Park Zone, which is the current zoning of this property. It is intended that such uses will facilitate the overall redevelopment of this area of the Borough in a manner consistent with the West Side Wood-Ridge Redevelopment Plan.

The overlay zone. Block 320, Lot 1.01 (portion), of approximately 28.3 acres shall be included in the overlay zone which is currently zoned as a Light Industrial Park. The following exhibit is a metes and bounds description of the section of the property expressly designated to be included in the overlay zone.[1]

Editor's Note: Said exhibit is on file in the Borough offices.

Permitted and prohibited uses in the overlay zone.

The uses permitted in the overlay zone shall be those set forth as follows:

Public recreation and parks; active, passive and health club or similar uses;

Primary, secondary and postsecondary public schools;

Train station and related uses, including kiosks;

Structure for parking not to exceed five stories;

(e)

Professional and commercial offices;

(f)

Retail uses as defined and permitted in the T-4 Neighborhood Center Zone as set forth in the West Side Wood-Ridge Redevelopment Plan;

(g)

Residential uses as defined and permitted in the T-4 Neighborhood Center Zone, except that detached single-family homes shall not be permitted in the overlay zone; and

(h)

All uses permitted as set forth in the T-4 Neighborhood Center Zone.

All uses not listed above as permitted are deemed to be prohibited in the overlay zone.

Regulations of permitted use. The uses permitted in this overlay zone shall be subject to the bulk zoning requirements of the T-4 Neighborhood Center Zone, including all architectural, streetscape and landscaping provisions set forth for these uses in the West Side Wood-Ridge Redevelopment Plan, except for the following:

No single retail use in the overlay zone shall exceed 35,000 square feet;

The minimum lot size for a developable lot for any nonresidential use shall be not less than 2,500 square feet;

The maximum height of any structure or building in the zone, with the exception of the pedestrian overpass for the train station, shall be five stories; and

Residential density for affordable and market-rate housing developed pursuant to COAH obligations, which shall be at the direction of the Borough, shall not exceed the approximate residential per-acre density in the T-4 Neighborhood Center Zone. Residential development shall be only in the area demarcated on the exhibit, which is an area of approximately 12 acres in the overlay zone.

§ 530-13 WSRA Westmont Station Redevelopment Area District.

[Added 7-20-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-15[1]; amended 5-15-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-5]

Zoning regulations and standards for Wesmont Station Redevelopment Area shall be established and governed by the Wesmont Station Redevelopment Plan and its amendments, with the following exceptions:

One-family dwellings, whether attached or detached, may be rented only in their entirety as a single rental unit for a period of not less than 28 consecutive days. Only one rental and/or lease may exist for a given period of time per one-family dwelling. Rental or subletting of individual rooms is not permitted.

Each residential unit in a mixed-use building may be rented only in its entirety as a single rental unit for a period of not less than 28 consecutive days. Only one rental and/or lease may exist for a given period of time per residential unit of a mixed-use building. Rental or subletting of individual rooms within a residential unit is not permitted.

Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former §§ 248-12, ORL Office and Research Laboratory District; 248-13, OSP Off-Street Parking District; and 248-11.1, NSC Neighborhood Shopping Center District.

§ 530-14 PP Public Purpose District.

[Added 7-20-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-15[1]]

The PP Public Purpose District identifies all property owned by either the Borough of Wood-Ridge or the Wood-Ridge Board of Education.

The regulations of the PP Public Purpose District shall be determined by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Wood-Ridge based upon the recommendations of the Borough's Master Plan and in consultation with the Borough's Planning Board and Board of Education.