Somerville NJ Moving Permit: Rules, PODs & Fees

Permit Summary

Permit status

Permit may be required

Official permit name

Zoning Permit for a temporary storage container; Chapter 74B permit for a POD in a public area

Authority

Fee

No moving-permit fee applies to an ordinary move into Somerville because the Borough states that a moving permit is not required. A zoning permit for a temporary storage container on private property has a $25 nonrefundable fee. For a POD in a public area, the fee is $25 for up to 10 calendar days and $25 for a 10-day renewal; if a full additional 10 days is not needed, the nonmetered extension rate is $5 per day after the first 10 days. If the POD is in front of parking meters, the fee is $100 for up to 10 calendar days and $100 for a 10-day renewal; the shorter extension rate stated for PODs between 1 and 20 yards is $20 per day.

Processing time

No moving-permit processing time applies to an ordinary move into Somerville. For a zoning permit, the Zoning Officer must issue or deny the permit within 10 business days after receipt of the request. Chapter 74B does not publish a fixed review time for a public-area POD permit.

Inspection required

Sometimes

Moving Permit Scope

Permit Scope

Somerville states that a moving permit is not required for an ordinary move into the Borough. Separate approvals apply when moving activity uses a temporary storage container on qualifying private residential property or places a POD in a street, sidewalk, municipal parking lot, or other public area.

Moving Equipment Covered

No moving-truck or moving-van permit is established for an ordinary move into Somerville. The Borough separately regulates temporary storage containers used during relocation on private residential property and PODs placed in public areas. The zoning rules state that a temporary storage container does not include a self-propelled registered motor vehicle.

Vehicle Eligibility Rules

Somerville does not publish moving-permit vehicle eligibility criteria for ordinary moving trucks or vans. The traffic code excludes trucks over four tons gross weight from specified streets except for pickup and delivery of materials on those streets, and trucks over four tons may not be parked on any street between 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

Moving Container Rules

For private residential property, temporary storage containers used during relocation are allowed only on lots with a lawfully existing residential dwelling in the R-1, R-2, R-3, and PO-R districts and require a permit from the Zoning Officer. Only one container is allowed at a time; it may not exceed 8 feet wide, 10 feet high, or 20 feet long. It must be on an existing driveway or in the rear yard, may not contain flammable, combustible, toxic, or hazardous materials, and may not obstruct traffic, sight distance, or intersection sight triangles. Use is limited to 30 days from delivery without a building permit or 90 days with an active building permit. A POD in a public area requires a separate Chapter 74B permit and may not exceed 8 feet high, 24 feet long, or 8 feet wide.

Parking & Reserved Space

Reserved space size

Somerville does not publish a standard curb-reservation length or number of parking spaces for ordinary moves. For a permitted public-area POD, the container itself may be no larger than 8 feet high, 24 feet long, and 8 feet wide; this is an equipment-size limit, not a reserved-curb-space allowance.

Location Restrictions

A private temporary storage container must be on an existing driveway or in the rear yard; on a common driveway it must be in the rear yard at least 8 feet from the side lot line and 10 feet from the rear lot line, and a driveway container should be set back as far as possible from the front lot line. A public-area POD is allowed only when Community Development or Police determines there is no safe or practical private location; in a residential zone, public placement also requires a Police determination that private-property space is insufficient. Public placement may not interfere with safe traffic flow or occur on designated holidays, sale days, or special-event days.

Metered Parking Rules

If a POD is placed in front of parking meters, Chapter 74B sets a $100 fee for a permit term of up to 10 calendar days and a $100 fee for a 10-day renewal. If a full additional 10 days is not needed, the chapter states a $20 daily extension rate for PODs between 1 and 20 yards.

Timing & Permit Duration

Application lead time

No moving-permit lead time applies to an ordinary move into Somerville. A private temporary storage-container permit and a public-area POD permit must be obtained before placement, but the reviewed Borough provisions do not state a minimum advance filing period.

Maximum permit duration

A private temporary storage container may remain for up to 30 days from delivery without an active building permit or up to 90 days with an active building permit. A public-area POD permit is issued for no more than 10 calendar days and may be renewed for another 10 calendar days, with shorter paid extensions available under Chapter 74B. A public-area POD also may not be placed more than 24 hours before work begins or remain more than 24 hours after work is completed without Community Development approval.

Enforcement & Street Restrictions

Enforcement / Towing Rules

For a public-area POD, the permit may be revoked if placement or use becomes a health, safety, welfare, or nuisance hazard. Each day of violation of Chapter 74B is a separate offense punishable by a minimum fine of $100 per day. The reviewed moving-related provisions do not establish a moving-specific towing procedure for reserved curb space.

Traffic / Street Restrictions

A public-area POD cannot be approved if Police determines that it would endanger public safety or unreasonably interfere with the efficient movement of traffic, and it may not interfere with the free and safe flow of traffic. Private temporary storage containers may not obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic flow, sight distance, or intersection sight triangles. Trucks over four tons gross weight are excluded from specified streets except for pickup and delivery of materials on those streets, and trucks over four tons may not be parked on any street between 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

What You Need Before Applying

Requirements

Somerville does not require a moving permit for an ordinary move into the Borough, but the Borough advises contacting the Fire Marshal to confirm whether a fire inspection is required. A temporary storage container on qualifying private residential property requires a zoning permit and must meet the Borough's location, size, duration, and safety rules. A POD placed in a public area requires a Borough permit and Community Development/Police safety approval.

Exemptions

An ordinary move into Somerville that does not involve a separately regulated temporary storage container or public-area POD does not require a moving permit. Under Chapter 74B, the Department of Community Development may exempt persons contracting with the Borough from requirements other than the chapter's safety requirements.

Required Documents

No moving-permit application is required for an ordinary move into Somerville. For a private temporary storage container, the Borough requires a written application on its form and a notarized statement acknowledging the temporary-container rules. For a public-area POD, the application must state the exact location, size and capacity, requested duration, and intended use, and the applicant must provide a certificate of insurance naming the Borough of Somerville as an additional insured.

Official Sources

Last verified: September 24, 2026