BEFORE beginning any project, please carefully review the 7 STEP instructions below.

PLEASE NOTE: If you are using a Contractor . . .

Be aware that the Contractors’ Registration Act requires all home improvement contractors to be registered with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs. The Office of Construction Codes is barred from issuing construction permits to an unregistered contractor who is required to register.

STEP 1

     A. Before beginning any project, use the Zoning & Permit Requirements chart to                determine if your project requires zoning approval and/or a construction permit(s).

     B. review the Tax Assessment Chart to identify the tax implications of your project.

STEP 2

If zoning approval is required . .

     Review the Zoning Checklist. If your project requires zoning approval, please                     complete and submit a Zoning Application to the Construction Department.

STEP 3

If a construction permit is required . . .

     Before the project begins, the homeowner or contractor applies for a permit. Review         STEP 4 below to properly apply for permit(s). Permit applications require information         about the construction project including who will perform the work and what, when and       how the work will be done. Sketches, drawings, plans or other documentation of the           work will have to be submitted for review, as will payment of the appropriate permit             fees upon approval.

About the Construction Permit

     The construction permit is the document which grants legal permission for                            construction to start. Each major phase of construction must be inspected to make            certain the work conforms to the appropriate code, the permit, and the approved                plans. As construction proceeds, the applicant refers to the inspection schedule and          calls the Construction Office to schedule the various inspections.

STEP 4

Completing & Submitting Permit Application(s)

     CLICK HERE to view the various permit applications you may need. After the permit         application is completed and submitted to the construction department, it is reviewed         by the sub-code official who will determine if the project is in compliance with the               construction codes, zoning ordinance and other municipal or state ordinances /                 statutes. Applications may be approved, rejected, or additional information and                   clarification may be requested.

STEP 5

Approved & Rejected Permit Applications

     If the permit application is rejected, the applicant is notified of the reason and may opt       to correct and resubmit or appeal the decision. If it is approved, the application is               processed by the office, the applicant pays the calculated permit fees and a permit is         issued.

STEP 6

     Once the permit is issued, you may begin the project related to your approved         permit. The permit must be hung in a visible place at the project location.

STEP 7

Granting a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) / Approval (CA)

     Upon completion and final inspection of all work, the Construction Official issues a             Certificate of Occupancy (CO) or a Certificate of Approval (CA), the formal document         which marks the completion of the construction project. Note that the work is not                considered complete until all inspections have been completed and the Construction          Official issues the CO or CA.

PLEASE NOTE: If your project exists within a historic district or at a register historic site, you will need to consult with the Historic Preservation Commission. For more information about the Commission, please CLICK HERE.