Borough (New Jersey)

New Jersey municipal government
Traditional types
Borough Township City Town Village
Modern forms
Walsh Act commission 1923 municipal manager
Faulkner Act forms
Mayor–council Council–manager Small municipality Mayor–council–administrator
Nonstandard forms
Special charter
Changing form of municipal government
Charter Study Commission
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A borough (also spelled boro), in the context of local government in the U.S. state of New Jersey, refers to one of five types and one of eleven forms of municipal government (in addition to those established under a special charter).^[1]

The borough is the most common form of local government in New Jersey. In 2023 there were 253 boroughs in New Jersey.^[2] However, boroughs were not always so common. In 1875 only 17 boroughs had been created, all by special acts of the legislature. These original boroughs were subdivisions of townships, established by state charter; Elizabeth was the first, established by royal charter in 1740, within the now defunct Elizabeth Township. About half of them had been dissolved, or changed into other forms of government—often cities. In 1875, a constitutional amendment prohibited such local or special legislation.^[3] Bergen County is home to the highest number of boroughs of any New Jersey county, at 56.^[4]