N.J. Admin. Code § 19:4-11.4

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 19:4-11.4 - Construction permits

(a) General construction permit fee requirements are as follows:

1. The fee for plan review shall be paid at the time of application for a permit. The amount of this fee shall then be deducted from the amount of the fee due for a construction permit, when the permit is issued. Plan review fees are not refundable.

2. The fee to be charged for a construction permit will be the sum of the basic construction fee plus all applicable special fees, such as elevator or sign fees. This fee shall be paid before a permit is issued.

3. The fee to be charged for a certificate of occupancy shall be paid before a certificate is issued. This fee shall be in addition to the construction permit fee.

4. The NJMC, acting as agent for the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, shall have the responsibility, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 13:17-1 et seq. for the approval of all plans, for issuing compliance with the NJ UCC and for all enforcement as contained in N.J.A.C. 19:6-1 et seq. Therefore, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 19:6-1.5, the fees in this section shall pertain.

5. The applicant, owner or developer of newly constructed or rehabilitated residential units that are to be legally restricted to occupancy by households of low or moderate income shall be exempted from the fees set forth in (b) and (c) below and otherwise payable to the NJMC.

(b) NJMC plan review fees are as follows:

1. The plan review fee for new construction shall be based upon the volume of the structure.

i. For buildings or structures in Use Groups A, F or S, the plan review fee shall be $.010 per cubic foot;

ii. For health care facilities in Use Groups B or I, the plan review fee shall be $.022 per cubic foot; and

iii. For all other buildings or structures, the plan review fee shall be $.016 per cubic foot.

2. The plan review fee for renovations, alterations, repairs, site construction associated with pre-engineered systems of commercial farm buildings, premanufactured construction and external utility connections for premanufactured construction shall be based upon the estimated cost of work.

i. For health care facilities in Use Groups B or I, the fee shall be $ 14.00 per $ 1,000 or part thereof for estimated cost not exceeding $ 50,000, $ 11.00 per $ 1,000 or part thereof for estimated cost in excess of the first $ 50,000 and not exceeding $ 100,000 and $ 9.00 per $ 1,000 or part thereof for estimated cost in excess of the first $ 100,000.

ii. For all other buildings or structures, the fee shall be $ 10.00 per $ 1,000 or part thereof for estimated cost not exceeding $ 50,000, $ 8.00 per $ 1,000 or part thereof for estimated cost in excess of the first $ 50,000 and not exceeding $ 100,000, and $ 7.00 per $ 1,000 or part thereof for estimated cost in excess of the first $ 100,000.

iii. For the installation of renewable and/or sustainable energy system(s), such as photovoltaic, wind energy, hydropower or geothermal system installation(s) and other systems determined by the Chief Engineer to be renewable and/or sustainable energy system installations, the fee shall be 50 percent of the fee calculated in accordance with (b)2i or ii above, based on the cost of construction of such system.

3. The elevator device plan review fees shall be set forth in (c)3 below.

4. There shall be an additional fee of $ 45.00 per hour for review of any amendment or change to a plan that has already been released.

(c) Construction permit fees are as follows:

1. In any case where the NJMC conducts plan review for a local enforcing agency, the fee charged by the local enforcing agency for inspection services shall be 80 percent of the fee that would otherwise be determined under the local fee schedule.

2. The basic construction permit fee shall be the sum of the parts computed on the basis of the volume or cost of construction, the number of plumbing fixtures and pieces of equipment, the number of electrical fixtures and the rating of electrical devices and the number of sprinklers, standpipes, and detectors (smoke and heat) at the unit rates and/or the applicable flat fees as provided in this section plus any special fees. The minimum fee for a basic construction permit covering any or all building, plumbing, electrical or fire protection work shall be $ 65.00.

i. Building volume or cost: The fees for new construction or alteration are as follows:

(1) Fees for new construction shall be based upon the volume of the structure. Volume shall be computed in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.2 8. The new construction fee shall be in the amount of $ 0.027 per cubic foot of volume for buildings and structures of all use groups and types of construction as classified and defined in articles 3 and 4 of the building subcode; except that the fee shall be $ 0.015 per cubic foot of volume for use groups A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4, F-1, F-2, S-1 and S-2, and the fee shall be $ 0.0008 per cubic foot for structures on farms, including commercial farm buildings under N.J.A.C. 5:23-3.2(d), used exclusively for the storage of food or grain, or the sheltering of livestock, with the maximum fee for such structures on farms not to exceed $ 1,145.

(2) Fees for renovations, alterations and repairs shall be based upon the estimated cost of work. The fee shall be in the amount of $ 24.00 per $ 1,000. From $ 50,001 to and including $ 100,000, the additional fee shall be in the amount of $ 18.00 per $ 1,000 of estimated cost above $ 50,000. Above $ 100,000, the additional fee shall be in the amount of $ 15.00 per $ 1,000 of estimated cost above $ 100,000. For the purpose of determining estimated cost, the applicant shall submit to the NJMC such cost data as may be available, produced by the architect or engineer of record, or by a recognized estimating firm, or by the contractor. A bona fide contractor's bid, if available, shall be submitted. The NJMC shall make the final decision regarding estimated cost based on recognized standards.

(3) Fees for additions shall be computed on the same basis as for new construction for the added portion.

(4) Fees for combination renovations and additions shall be computed as the sum of the fees computed separately in accordance with (c)2i(2) and (3) above.

(5) The fee for tents, in excess of 900 square feet or more than 30 feet in any dimension, shall be $ 92.00.

ii. Plumbing fixtures and equipment fees are as follows:

(1) The fee shall be $ 10.00 per fixture, piece of equipment or appliance connected to the plumbing system, and for each appliance connected to the gas piping or oil piping system except as listed in (c)2ii(2) below.

(2) The fee shall be $ 65.00 per special device for the following: grease traps, oil separators, water-cooled air conditioning units, refrigeration units, utility service connections, back flow preventers equipped with test ports (double check valve assembly, reduced pressure zone and pressure vacuum breaker backflow preventors), steam boilers, hot water boilers (excluding those for domestic water heating), gas piping, gas service entrances, active solar systems, sewer pumps, interceptors and fuel oil piping.

iii. Electrical fixtures and devices fees are as follows:

(1) For the first block consisting of one to 50 receptacles or devices, the fee shall be $ 36.00; for each additional block consisting of up to 25 receptacles or devices, the fee shall be $ 6.00. For the purpose of computing this fee, receptacles, fixtures or devices shall include lighting fixtures, wall switches, convenience receptacles, sensors, dimmers, alarm devices, smoke and heat detectors, communications outlets, light-standards eight feet or less in height including luminaries, emergency lights, electric signs, exit lights or similar electric fixtures and devices rated at 20 amperes or less including motors or equipment rated less than one horse power (hp) or one kilowatt (kw).

(2) For each motor or electrical device rated one hp or one kw to 10 hp or 10 kw; for each transformer or generator rated from one kw or one kilovolt-ampere (kva) to 10 kw or 10 kva; for each replacement of wiring involving one branch circuit or part thereof; for each storable pool or hydromassage bath tub; for each under-water lighting fixture; for household electric cooking equipment rated up to 10 kw; for each fire, security or burglar alarm control unit; for each receptacle rated from 30 amperes or 50 amperes; for each light standard greater than eight feet in height including luminaries; and for each communications closet the fee shall be $ 10.00.

(3) For each motor or electrical device rated greater than 10 hp or 10 kw to 50 hp or 50 kw; for each service equipment, panel board, switch board, switch gear, motor-control center, or disconnecting means rated 225 amperes or less; for each transformer or generator rated greater than 10 kw or 10 kva to 45 kw or 45 kva; for each electric sign rated greater than 20 amperes to 225 amperes including associated disconnecting means; for each receptacle rated greater than 50 amperes; and for each utility load management device, the fee shall be $ 46.00.

(4) For each motor or electrical device rated greater than 50 hp or 50 kw to 100 hp or 100 kw; for each service equipment, panel board, switch board, switch gear, motor-control center or disconnecting means rated greater than 225 amperes to 1,000 amperes; and for each transformer or generator rated greater than 45 kw or 45 kva to 112.5 kw or 112.5 kva, the fee shall be $ 92.00.

(5) For each motor or electrical device rated greater than 100 hp or 100 kw; for each service equipment, panel board, switch board, switch gear, motor-control center or disconnecting means rated greater than 1,000 amperes; and for each transformer or generator rated greater than 112.5 kw or 112.5 kva, the fee shall be $ 457.00.

(6) The fee charged for electrical work for each permanently installed private swimming pool as defined in the building subcode, spa, hot tub or fountain shall be a flat fee of $ 46.00 which shall include any required bonding, and associated equipment such as filters, pumps, motors, disconnecting means, switches, required receptacles, and heaters, etc., excepting panel boards and underwater lighting fixtures. For public swimming pools, the fee shall be charged on the basis of number of electrical fixtures and rating of electrical devices involved in accordance with (c)2iii(1) through (5) above.

(7) The fee charged for the installation of single and multiple station smoke or heat detectors and fire, burglar or security alarm systems in any one or two-family dwelling shall be a flat fee of $ 23.00 per dwelling unit. For fire, burglar and security alarm systems and detectors in buildings other than one or two-family dwellings, the fee shall be charged in accordance with (c)2iii(1) and (2) above.

(8) For installations consisting of multimeter stacks, the fee shall be based on the ampere rating of the main bus and not upon the number of meters or rating of disconnects on the meter stack. Individual load side panel boards shall be charged in accordance with (c)2iii(3), (4) or (5) above. There shall be no additional fee charged for the concurrent installation of individual feeder conductors.

(9) For motors or similar devices requiring concurrent installation of individual controls, relays and switches, the fee shall be based only upon the rating of the motor device. There shall be no additional fee charged for the concurrent installations of individual circuit components, for example, controllers, starters and disconnecting means.

(10) For electrical work requiring replacement of service conductors or feeder conductors only, the fee shall be in accordance with (c)2iii(2) through (5) above based on the designated ampere rating of the over current device of the service or feeder.

(11) The fee charged for process equipment shall be based on the ampere rating of the over current device protecting the conductor feeding the process equipment or the cutoff device.

(12) For the purpose of computing these fees, all electrical and communications devices, utilizing equipment and motors which are part of premises wiring, except those which are portable plug-in type, shall be counted.

iv. Fees for fire protection and other hazardous equipment; sprinklers, standpipes, detectors (smoke and heat), pre-engineered suppression systems, gas and oil fired appliances not connected to the plumbing system, kitchen exhaust systems, incinerators and crematoriums, are as follows:

(1) The fee for 20 or fewer heads shall be $ 65.00; for 21 to and including 100 heads, the fee shall be $ 120.00; for 101 to and including 200 heads, the fee shall be $ 229.00; for 201 to and including 400 heads, the fee shall be $ 594.00; for 401 to and including 1,000 heads, the fee shall be $ 822.00; for over 1,000 heads the fee shall be $ 1,050.

(2) The fee for one to 12 detectors shall be $ 36.00; for each 25 detectors in addition to this, the fee shall be $ 12.00.

(3) The fee for each standpipe shall be $ 163.00.

(4) The fee for each independent pre-engineered system shall be $ 65.00.

(5) The fee for each gas or oil fired appliance which is not connected to the plumbing system shall be $ 33.00.

(6) The fee for each kitchen exhaust system shall be $ 33.00.

(7) The fee for each incinerator shall be $ 260.00.

(8) The fee for each crematorium shall be $ 260.00.

(9) For single and multiple station smoke or heat detectors and fire alarm systems in any one or two-family dwellings, there shall be a flat fee of $ 23.00 per dwelling unit. For detectors and fire alarm systems in buildings other than one or two-family dwellings, the fee shall be charged in accordance with (c)iv(2) above.

(10) For each fire pump, the fee shall be $ 92.00.

3. Elevators fees are as follows:

i. The fee for plan review for elevator devices in structures in Use Groups R-3, R-4 and for elevator devices wholly within dwelling units in R-2 structures shall be $ 50.00 for each device.

ii. The fee for plan review for elevator devices in structures in Use Groups other than R-3 and R-4 shall be $ 260.00 for each device.

iii. The fee for a certificate of approval or certificate of compliance certifying the work done under a construction permit has been satisfactorily completed shall be $ 28.00.

iv. Acceptance tests. The NJMC fees for witnessing acceptance test and performing inspections in structures not in Use Group R-3, R-4, or exempted R-2 structure, shall be as follows:

(1) Traction and winding drum elevators:

(A) One to 10 floors: $ 243.00;

(B) Over 10 floors: $ 405.00;

(C) Hydraulic elevators: $ 216.00;

(D) Roped hydraulic elevators: $ 243.00;

(E) Escalators, moving walks: $ 216.00;

(F) Dumbwaiters: $ 54.00; and

(G) Stairway chairlifts, inclined and vertical wheelchair lifts and manlifts: $ 54.00;

(2) Additional charges for devices equipped with the following features shall be as follows:

(A) Oil buffers (per buffers): $ 43.00;

(B) Counterweight governor and safeties: $ 108.00; and

(C) Auxiliary power generator: $ 81.00.

v. The NJMC fee for elevator devices in structures in Use Group R-3 or R-4, or otherwise exempt devices in R-2 structures, shall be $ 162.00.

vi. The fee for witnessing acceptance tests of, and performing inspections of, alterations shall be $ 54.00.

vii. The NJMC fees for routine, six month, tests and inspections for elevator devices in structures not in Use Groups R-3 or R-4, or otherwise exempt devices in R-2 structures, shall be as follows:

(1) Traction and winding drum elevators:

(A) One to 10 floors: $ 151.00;

(B) Over 10 floors: $ 194.00;

(C) Hydraulic elevators: $ 108.00;

(D) Roped hydraulic elevators: $ 151.00; and

(E) Escalator, moving walks: $ 151.00.

viii. The fee for one year periodic inspection and witnessing of tests of elevator devices, which shall include a six month routine inspection, shall be as follows:

(1) Traction and winding drum elevators:

(A) One to 10 floors: $ 216.00;

(B) Over 10 floors: $ 259.00;

(C) Hydraulic elevators: $ 162.00;

(D) Roped hydraulic elevators: $ 216.00;

(E) Escalator, moving walks: $ 346.00;

(F) Dumbwaiters: $ 86.00; and

(G) Stairway chairlifts, inclined and vertical wheelchair lifts and manlifts: $ 130.00.

(2) Additional yearly periodic inspection charges for elevator devices equipped with the following features shall be as follows:

(A) Oil buffers (charge per oil buffer): $ 43.00;

(B) Counterweight governor and safeties: $ 86.00; and

(C) Auxiliary power generator: $ 54.00.

ix. The fee for the three year or five year inspection of elevator devices shall be as follows:

(1) Traction and winding drum elevators:

(A) One to 10 floors (five year inspection): $ 367.00; and

(B) Over 10 floors (five year inspection): $ 410.00; and

(2) Hydraulic and roped hydraulic elevators:

(A) Three-year inspection: $ 270.00; and

(B) Five-year inspection: $ 162.00.

4. The fees for certificates and other permits are as follows:

i. The fee for a demolition or removal permit shall be $ 65.00 for a structure of less than 5,000 square feet in area and less than 30 feet in height, for one or two-family residences (use group R-3 of the building sub-code), and structures on farms including commercial farm buildings under N.J.A.C. 5:23-3.2(d), and $ 120.00 for all other use groups.

ii. The fee for a permit to construct a sign shall be in the amount of $ 1.20 per square foot of surface area of the sign, computed on one side only for double-faced signs. The minimum fee shall be $ 46.00.

iii. The fee for a certificate of occupancy shall be $ 28.00.

iv. The fee for a certificate of occupancy granted pursuant to a change of use shall be $ 120.00.

v. The fee for a certificate of continued occupancy issued under N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.2 3(c) shall be $ 120.00.

vi. The fee for the first issuance and renewal of a temporary certificate of occupancy shall be $ 28.00.

(1) Exception: There shall be no fee for the first issuance of the temporary certificate of occupancy provided the certificate of occupancy fee is paid at that time.

(2) Exception: Where a written request for a temporary certificate of occupancy is made for reasons other than uncompleted work covered by permit (such as uncompleted work required by prior approvals from State or municipal agencies), no renewal fee shall be charged.

vii. The fee for plan review of a building for compliance under the alternate systems and non-depletable energy source provisions of the energy subcode shall be $ 274.00 for one and two-family homes (use group R-3 of the building subcode), and for light commercial structures having the indoor temperature controlled from a single point, and $ 1,369 for all other structures.

viii. The fee for an application for a variation in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.1 0 shall be $ 594.00 for class I structures and $ 85.00 for class II and class Ill structures. The fee for resubmission of an application for a variation shall be $ 163.00 for class I structures and $ 120.00 for class II and class III structures.

5. Periodic inspections: The fees for periodic departmental reinspection of equipment and facilities granted a certificate of approval for a specified duration in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.2 3 shall be as follows:

i. For cross connections and backflow preventers that are subject to testing, requiring reinspection every three months, the fee shall be $ 33.00 for each device when they are tested (thrice annually) and $ 85.00 for each device when they are broken down and tested (once annually).

N.J. Admin. Code § 19:4-11.4

Amended by R.2011 d.118, effective 4/18/2011.
See: 42 N.J.R. 2938(a), 43 N.J.R. 1044(a).
In (b)2i, deleted a comma following "$ 100,000", and substituted a period for "; and" at the end; and added (b)2iii.