[21] Old Tappan was incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on October 18, 1894, from portions of Harrington Township, based on the results of a referendum held two days earlier.

[1][2] One of only four confluence points in New Jersey, the 41°N 74°W crossing, is in Old Tappan on watershed property owned by United Water.

[25] The borough is bordered to the north by the hamlets of Pearl River and Tappan in the town of Orangetown in Rockland County, New York.

[38] Stone Point Park is located on Westwood Avenue and is the site of many community events such as Town Day.

[41] There is also a track and football field as well as a dozen tennis courts at the high school that are open to the general public.

[5] The borough form of government used by Old Tappan is a "weak mayor / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie.

The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council.

The mayor and borough council conduct all of its business during monthly meetings open to the public.

All legislative powers of the borough are exercised by the mayor and council in the form of a resolution, ordinance or proclamation.

[3] As of 2024[update], the mayor of Old Tappan is Republican Thomas E. Gallagher, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027.

[3][45][46][47][48][49] In June 2019, the borough council selected Jin Yhu from three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2021 that had become vacant following the resignation of Anna Haverilla, who took office as the Borough Administrator; Yhu, the borough's first Korean-American councilmember, served on an interim basis until the November 2019 general election,[50] when voters elected him to serve the balance of the term of office.

[51] In February 2016, the borough council selected Thomas Gallagher from three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the council seat expiring in December 2017 that was vacated by John Kramer when he took office as mayor.

Gallagher will serve until the November 2016 general election, when voters will select a replacement to fill the balance of the term of office.

[54][55][56] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 5th congressional district is represented by Josh Gottheimer (D, Wyckoff).

As of 2025[update], the county executive is James J. Tedesco III (D, Paramus), whose four-year term of office ends December 31, 2026.

[61] Bergen County's Commissioners are: Thomas J. Sullivan Jr. (D, Montvale, 2025),[62] Chair Germaine M. Ortiz (D, Emerson, 2025),[63] Joan Voss (D, Fort Lee, 2026),[64] Vice Chair Mary J. Amoroso (D, Mahwah, 2025),[65] Rafael Marte (D, Bergenfield, 2026),[66] Steven A. Tanelli (D, North Arlington, 2027)[67] and Tracy Silna Zur (D, Franklin Lakes, 2027).

[68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75] Bergen County's constitutional officials are: Clerk John S. Hogan (D, Northvale, 2026),[76][77] Sheriff Anthony Cureton (D, Englewood, 2027)[78][79] and Surrogate Michael R. Dressler (D, Cresskill, 2026).

[89] Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 66.5% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 91.5% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).

[100] The force is responsible for all aspects of policing in the borough, including responding to fire and medical emergency calls.

Each patrol car is equipped with a first aid kit, oxygen tank, and an automated external defibrillator.

Dispatching is provided by the 9-1-1 call center at the River Vale Police Department as part of an interlocal arrangement that dates back to the early 1970s or earlier.

[101] Officers of the Old Tappan Police Department are members of Pascack Valley Local 206 of the New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association.

[104] The corps provides basic life support, and is staffed primarily by certified Emergency Medical Technicians.

The primary jurisdiction of the OTFAC is the Borough of Old Tappan, but the corps also regularly responds to requests for mutual aid from the neighboring First Aid Squads of River Vale, Emerson, Washington Township, Westwood, Hillsdale, and Tri-Boro (Park Ridge, Woodcliff Lake, and Montvale).