Washington Township Real Estate

Sewell, Turnersville and the actual municipality

The township says it is served by several postal ZIP codes: Blackwood (Turnersville) 08012, Glassboro 08028, Grenloch 08032, Pitman 08071, Sicklerville 08081 and Sewell 08080. Those postal names are also used in neighboring towns, so a listing that says Sewell or Turnersville is not proof that the home is in Washington Township.

Here’s what that means for you: confirm the municipality on the property’s tax record, then confirm the school assignment for that exact address with Washington Township Public Schools. The district’s office is at 206 E. Holly Avenue in Sewell, and its website has an Enroll section.

Property taxes and assessments

The township explains that assessments are based on the market value of the property, while the tax rate is set by the Gloucester County Board of Taxation based on the budgets of the municipality, county, schools and fire district. That means taxes can change even when an assessed value does not. Look up the assessment through the township’s Tax Assessor page and ask for the current bill.

The township says taxes are due February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1, with bills normally mailed in July. Appeals of an assessment are filed with the Gloucester County Board of Taxation. Statewide programs such as ANCHOR, Senior Freeze (Property Tax Reimbursement) and the Stay NJ Property Tax Credit Program, and local deductions such as the Veteran Property Tax Deduction, are explained on the NJ Division of Taxation site.

Water, sewer and the resale inspection

The Washington Township Municipal Utilities Authority was created to operate a sanitary sewer system and a water distribution system within the township. The MUA delivers water to its customers and acts as the sewage collection agent, while sewage is treated by the Gloucester County Utilities Authority. Its water comes from wells drawing on several aquifers, and customers are billed quarterly.

The township requires a Certificate of Occupancy before a change of owner. Its housing FAQ describes a visual health and safety inspection that looks at items such as smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, handrails and guards, and it suggests scheduling at least three weeks before settlement. The inspector checks for permits first, so unpermitted work can delay a CO. If a property you are considering uses a private well, NJ’s Private Well Testing Act requires the water to be tested and the results reviewed by both parties before closing.

Getting around, zoning and parks

The township describes itself as located on Route 42, the North-South Freeway, at the beginning of the Atlantic City Expressway, with Interstate 295, I-95, I-676 and the New Jersey Turnpike nearby and PATCO service available from Lindenwold. NJ TRANSIT buses serve the township. Check NJ TRANSIT and PATCO for current schedules.

The Planning & Zoning office handles zoning permits and posts the zoning map, master plan reexaminations and redevelopment plans online. Fences, pools and decks on residential lots need a zoning permit and may also need a construction permit. Washington Lake Park on Hurffville Cross-Keys Road is the township’s large municipal park, with walking trails, athletic fields, courts, pavilions, an amphitheater and Cedar Lake.

What you will find in Washington Township

• Single-family homes in established subdivisions
• Townhomes, often with a homeowners association
• Condominiums
• Active-adult (age-restricted) communities, where association rules set eligibility

Buying in Washington Township

• A Sewell or Turnersville mailing address does not by itself tell you the municipality. The township lists several postal names within its borders, and those same postal names also cover parts of nearby towns, so confirm the municipality on the tax record.
• Confirm the school assignment for the exact address with Washington Township Public Schools, rather than relying on the mailing address or a listing.
• Water and sewer service in the township comes from the Washington Township MUA; sewage is treated by the Gloucester County Utilities Authority. Ask for recent quarterly bills.
• For condos, townhomes and age-restricted communities, compare association fees, what the association maintains, and its rules.

How the buying process works →

Selling in Washington Township

• The township requires a Certificate of Occupancy (resale) inspection before a change of owner; its housing office suggests scheduling at least three weeks before settlement.
• The inspector checks permits first, and a CO will not be issued if unpermitted work is unresolved, which can delay settlement. Sort out old permits early.
• Since March 20, 2024, NJ sellers must disclose flood risk information on the property condition disclosure statement before the buyer is bound by the contract.

What's my home worth? →

Before you buy in Washington Township: what to check

• Confirm on the tax record that the property is in Washington Township, Gloucester County, not just a Sewell or Turnersville address.
• Confirm the school assignment for the exact address with Washington Township Public Schools.
• Look up the property’s assessment through the township’s Tax Assessor page and ask for the latest tax bill.
• Ask for recent Washington Township MUA water and sewer bills.
• For a condo, townhome or age-restricted community, get the association fee, budget, rules and a list of what it maintains.
• Ask the seller whether the resale Certificate of Occupancy inspection is scheduled and whether past work had permits.
• Check the address on the NJDEP flood tools and FEMA Flood Map Service Center, especially near a lake or stream.

Nearby areas