The Department of Community Development

The Department of Community Development has administrative jurisdiction over a variety of regulatory functions.

Planning Board

The Planning Board has jurisdiction over the adoption of the master plan, subdivision and site plan review, conditional use applications, and recommendations to amend zoning ordinances.

Board of Adjustment

The Board of Adjustment has jurisdiction over the appeal of a decision made by the zoning officer, appeals directly to the board for a variance and interpretations of zoning ordinances. The two main categories of variances are; c variances or` bulk' variances for setbacks etc., and d variances or` use' variances for uses not allowed by zoning ordinance.

Board of Health

The Board of Health has jurisdiction over registrar activities such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, death certificates and burial permits, animal control and licensing, food establishment licensing and mobile food units.

Zoning Department

The Zoning Department controls the use and development of all property within the township. Approval is required for the placement of any structure on a property. This includes: New homes, additions, decks, sheds, in-ground and above ground pools, gazebos, fences, pergolas, temporary structures such as tents, and storage pods, etc. Bring in a copy of your plot plan when making application. Zoning approval is required of all new tenants of commercial property, new and refaced identification signage. The zoning official makes flood hazard determinations and produces flood certifications, each based on the most up to date FEMA mapping  ( preliminary firm last revised 9/28/14) as well as substantial and non-substantial damage determinations.

Construction Office

The Construction Office administers the uniform construction code as adopted by the state for the application process, permits and inspections of all development.

Additional Links

Contact Information

Christopher Reid, Director
Community Development

Mailing Address: 818 Lacey Road, Forked River, NJ  08731
Office Location:  124 South Main Street, Forked River, NJ  08731
609-693-1100, Ext. 2253

Hours of Operation: 
Monday thru Friday
8:30 am thru 12:30 pm 
1:30 pm thru 4:30 pm 

Drop Box: 
Outside the southside of the building for dropping off documents

Email