Typical examples are: non-permitted use in a building, illegal signs, overcrowding, commercial vehicles, property maintenance. It is best to call Zoning Enforcement Officer, Elaine Broyles, 908-766-3850, Ext. 114, when the alleged offense is occurring, and provide her with as much detail as possible. This sounds simple, but all too often a complaint is made relative to an event which took place a week or more in advance, or a building (for instance a shed) constructed too close to a property line, after it is completed.

Some infractions reported to the Zoning Department are within the jurisdictions of other agencies and are best reported directly to the proper enforcing agency rather than using the zoning office as the "middle-man", which can lead to misinformation and/or delay in relaying the information to the proper authority. Below are some examples and relevant contacts:

  • Abandoned/unregistered vehicles - contact Police Department (but report Commercial Vehicles to Zoning)
  • After hours construction noise (heavy equipment) - contact Police Department
  • "Dumping" - contact Health Department and/or Police Department
  • Encroachment of streams, flood plain, wetlands and wetland buffers - contact NJ DEP

Some of the appropriate phone numbers for these agencies are indicated below:

  • NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJ DEP): 609-984-3285 or 609-292-1240
  • Bernards Township Health Department (contractually serving the Borough of Bernardsville): 908-204-3070
  • Bernardsville Police Department: 908-766-0037