Planning & Community Development

The Department of Planning and Community Development is responsible for all matters concerning planning, zoning, redevelopment, and Affordable Housing in South Orange Village. 

strip of land with homes

Land Development and Zoning

South Orange Village Planning Department works closely with Village Administration on all land use matters and serves as the planning professional to the Land Use Boards. The Land Use Boards approve site plans, subdivisions, variance applications, redevelopment plans, and other tasks as prescribed by New Jersey’s Municipal Land Use Law (MLUL). More information about schedules, as well as application packages can be found on the Planning Board  and Zoning Board can be found on their pages. 

Zoning in South Orange 

South Orange Village’s Zoning Department provides zoning assistance and permit reviews for the development of lands in South Orange Village, pursuant to the Land Development Ordinance, the Master Plan and New Jersey’s Municipal Land Use Law (MLUL).

No building or land shall be used and no building or structure shall be built, altered, erected or used and no other land shall be cleared or graded as a matter of right without application and approval of a use / zoning permit by the Zoning Official. 

Permit submissions must demonstrate compliance with the Land Development Ordinance within Chapter 185 of the South Orange Village municipal code. 

Submitting to the Zoning Department: 

Zoning permits are accepted online using GovPilot software. Begin by typing your address in slowly to let it auto-fill. Permit payment is requested after the application is determined to be complete. Approvals, denials, and requests for more information are made within 10 days of a complete application, all communicated via the GovPilot software.

  1. Use Occupancy Permit here (Use Permit): which should be submitted prior to any signing of leases, purchases of property, or start of operations, to confirm that the building or land is zoned for the intended use. 
  2. Zoning Use Permit Application (here) which should be submitted for all structure or land changes, including but not limited to: building alterations, changes to land, patios, decks, retaining walls, new construction, sheds, driveway repaving, parking re-striping, signs, and any other residential or non residential improvements.
  3. Fence Permit should be submitted for any fences, gates, walls, and similar barriers

Applicants must demonstrate compliance with all relevant portions of the code. 

FAQ and Resources

The following frequently-requested topics are included below:

  • Pools and hot tubs:
    • By ordinance definition, a Private Swimming Pool “includes all swimming pools, bathing pools, wading pools or tanks of artificial construction, whether permanently installed or portable pools, collapsible or otherwise, having a depth of 18 inches or greater or having a volume in excess of 150 cubic feet, established or maintained by any person upon any premises occupied by not more than three families for the use of the occupants of such residence and their guests.”

If you comply with all provisions of the code, you may submit through the zoning and building departments, see above. 

If your plan requires deviates from the ordinance and requires variance approval, if it’s a change to a non-conforming use or lot, or if it requires subdivision or site plan approval, you must submit to the Planning or Zoning Board, linked above. 

Redevelopment Plans

Second + Sloan Redevelopment Plan

Lackawanna + Valley Redevelopment Plan

Church Street Redevelopment Plan (Amended and Reinstated)

Central Business District Redevelopment Plan

Valley & Third Streets Redevelopment Plan

Ordinance 4th & Valley Redevelopment Plan with plan attached

Vose + Taylor Redevelopment Plan