Construction Department

The homeowner is oftentimes confronted with the question as to whether or not a construction permit is required for certain building improvements. Briefly, it is rather common knowledge that the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code requires a permit for all work involving new construction, renovation, and addition to a structure, which may include but not limited to a deck, a swimming pool, hot water heater, furnace or boiler, electrical wiring and plumbing.

PERMITS PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS AS A HOMEOWNER AND CONSUMER AND ENSURES YOUR SAFETY IN YOUR HOME.

Permits must be obtained from the Building Department for the following:

• Installing a new furnace, water heater or boiler (this also includes having the chimney inspected and certified and having the proper form completed in full)
• Installing central air conditioning
• An addition of any type
• An alteration of any type
• Building a garage
• Buidling a shed over 200 square feet
• Installing a pool (either above ground or in ground)
• New electric wiring or upgrading the electric service in your house
• Enclosing a porch, adding a porch, porch steps and replacement steps
• Finishing of a basement
• Any interior alterations (removal and replacement of sheetrock, etc.)
• Kitchen remodeling and cabinet replacement
• Installing fireplaces and wood burning stoves (either gas or wood burning)
• Bathroom renovations (relocation of fixtures, sheet rocking and tub replacement)
• Adding of new bathroom
• New windows, this does NOT include replacements as long as they are the same size and style as the old ones (ex: double hung to double hung/casement to casement)
• Demolition work of any kind
• Installation of any fire alarm system

Permits are NOT required for the following:

• Roofing or siding as long as the materials are the same
• Replacement of electric outlets or switches that have already been installed
• Installation of flooring material (i.e., carpet, linoleum)
• Painting or wall papering
• Replacement of faucets, bathroom fixtures (in same location) as long as piping does not have to be replaced or rearranged, or no new electric is installed
• Replacement of glass in windows or doors as long as the glass conforms to the minimum requirements
• Repair or replacement of duct work

Miscellaneous:

• Sheds 200 square feet in size or under and less than 10 feet high require a zoning permit only
• Construction Permits are required for retaining walls over 4 ft in height (Zoning and possible Engineering required for ALL retaining walls)
• Do not make any final payments to your contractor until the work has been inspected and final approvals have been granted

FOR ALL NJ UCC PERMIT APPLICATION FORMS, PLEASE VISIT THE NJDCA WEBSITE, https://nj.gov/dca, SELECT "CODES AND STANDARDS", THEN "DIVISION HOME".  ALL FORMS MAY BE FOUND AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE.