Official Site of The State of New Jersey

Jefferson Township is located in the northwestern section of Morris County and the northcentral part of the Highlands region. A largely rural residential community, Jefferson enjoys a great deal of preserved land, which accounts for approximately 65% of the township’s total land area. The township is home to Mahlon Dickerson Reservation and the Rockaway River Wildlife Management Area, and also contains the most shoreline of Lake Hopatcong among the four municipalities that border the lake. The township is bisected by Route 15 which supports a strong commercial core.

Jefferson Township is petitioning the Highlands Council for a review of its master plan and development regulations for conformance with the Highlands Regional Master Plan (RMP) in the township's planning area lands. Jefferson is already conforming for its lands in the preservation area. The staff Consistency Review and Recommendations Report below provides an overview and analysis of this review. Comments on this petition were accepted between April 24 and May 24, 2025. At this time it is anticipated that the Council will take action on the petition at its June public meeting.

Draft Consistency Review and Recommendations Report (pdf)
Public Notice Announcing Public Comment Period (pdf)

Area 27,383 acres/42.78 mi²
Preservation Area 24,080 acres
Planning Area 3,303 acres
RMP Conformance Status Conforming, Preservation Area only; Petitioning for Planning Area.
Liaison Elizabeth Ward
Jefferson Township official website

Certified to issue certain Highlands Exemptions.

Please contact the municipality directly for the most recent versions of planning and regulatory documents. Please contact the Highlands Council liaison listed above for information about Jefferson Township’s work with the Council.

• Phase 1 Sewer Service Area Expansion Feasibility Study - 2025
• Lake Hopatcong Trout Habitat and Tagging Study – Year Two – 2024
• Lake Hopatcong Trout Habitat and Tagging Study – 2023
• Master Plan Highlands Element – 2014
• Highlands Exemption Ordinance [municipality is authorized to issue certain Highlands Exemptions] – 2014
• Highlands Referral Ordinance [directs certain planning and regulatory documents be referred to the Highlands Council for review] – 2014
• Highlands Environmental Resource Inventory (ERI) – 2013