Official Site of The State of New Jersey

Sparta Township in Sussex County is located on the northwest edge of the New Jersey Highlands region. Primarily characterized by its rural nature with a suburban core, Sparta features eleven distinct lake communities and multiple wildlife management areas including Sparta Mountain, Walkill Preserve, and Weldon Brook Wildlife Management Area. Commercial areas include Sparta's town center along Main Street and Sparta Avenue, the Lake Mohawk & White Deer Plaza area, and development along Route 15.  The township has been working with the Highlands Council to help implement the Regional Master Plan since shortly after the RMP was published. The town achieved conformance with the RMP for its Preservation Area lands in 2015. 

Sparta Township has requested a review of its local planning and regulatory documents for alignment with the Highlands Regional Master Plan (RMP) in the Planning Area. The staff Consistency Review and Recommendations Report below provides an analysis of this review. The report is available for public comment through Tuesday, November 19, 2026. Please see public notice below for instructions about how to submit comments.

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

Quick Facts

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 Sparta Township’s work with the Council.

• Conformance Assessment - Planning Area - 2026
• Open Space and Recreation Plan Element – 2023
• Highlands Exemption Ordinance [Municipality is authorized to issue certain Highlands Exemptions] – 2015
• Highlands Referral Ordinance [directs certain planning and regulatory documents be referred to the Highlands Council for review] – 2015
• Master Plan Reexamination Report and Resolution – 2014
• Highlands Master Plan Element – 2014
• Water Use and Conservation Management Plan Pilot – 2013/2014
• Build Out Report – 2009
• Fair Share Plan (3rd Round) – 2009
• Environmental Resource Inventory - 2009