01Homes in Bergen County and their plumbing
About 956,000 people lived in Bergen County at the 2020 Census.
| Building type | Where you'll often find it | Typical plumbing concerns |
|---|---|---|
| Suburban single-family houses | Ridgewood, Paramus, Fair Lawn, Teaneck, Tenafly, Mahwah, Ramsey | Water heaters, sump pumps, sewer laterals, roots |
| High-rise co-ops & condos | Fort Lee, Cliffside Park, Edgewater | Leaks between units, risers, booster pumps |
| Older two-family houses | Garfield, Lodi, Hackensack, Palisades Park | Shared drains, frozen pipes, cast iron |
02Common plumbing problems
- Sump pump failures and basement water
- Water heater replacement
- Sewer lateral roots under mature trees
- Leaks between units in Palisades high-rises
- Frozen pipes in older homes
03Licensing & permits
- Who can do the work
- NJ licensed master plumbers, or employees under their supervision. A homeowner may work on their own single-family home. Details
- Permits
- Construction office of your municipality, under the NJ Uniform Construction Code. How NJ permits work
- Plumbing code
- National Standard Plumbing Code (UCC plumbing subcode)
- Lead service lines
- NJ water utilities must replace lead service lines, generally within 10 years of the 2021 law; you may get a letter from yours
04Water, sewer & gas
- Water
- Veolia serves much of the county; some municipal systems
- Gas
- PSE&G
- Sewer
- Bergen County Utilities Authority and municipal systems
Providers vary by street and town. Your bill shows which one serves your address. Smell gas? Leave and call 911 or your gas utility from outside.
05Cities & towns
- Hackensack
- Fort Lee
- Englewood
- Teaneck
- Paramus
- Ridgewood
- Fair Lawn
- Bergenfield
- Garfield
- Cliffside Park
- Palisades Park
- Rutherford
- Mahwah
- Ramsey
- Tenafly
- New Milford
- Lodi
06Bergen County plumbing FAQ
Do I need a permit for a new water heater in Bergen County?
In most towns, yes: a permit from the municipal construction office and an inspection. The installer usually files it.
07Nearby areas
Sources & review
Last reviewed . General information, not legal or engineering advice. Rules change and individual buildings differ.