Frequently Asked Questions

REPLACEMENT: WATER HEATERS/FURNACES/BASEMENT/RENOS/ELECTRICAL PANEL WORK. ETC

Please indicate If the work is  located within your house or is it located in your basement with a separate access from the rear/side yard that would enable an inspection to be conducted w/o the inspector having to go through the main part of your occupied house?

REQUIRED INSPECTIONS:

Construction work must be inspected in accordance with the State Uniform Construction Code Regulations N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.18. This agency will carry out such periodic inspections during the progress of work as are necessary to insure that the work installed conforms with the requirements of the Uniform Construction Code.

The owner or other responsible person in charge of work must notify this agency when work is ready for any required inspections specified below.

Requests for inspections must be made at least 24 hours prior to the time the inspection is desired. Inspections will be performed within three business days of the time for which they are requested. The work must not proceed in a manner which will preclude the inspection until it has been made and approval granted.

Required inspections for all subcodes for one- and two-family dwellings are as follows:

-       The bottom of footing trenches before placement of footings, except that in cases of pile foundations, inspections shall be made in accordance with the requirements of the building subcode.

-       Foundations and all walls up to grade level prior to back filling.

-       All structural framing, connections, wall and roof sheathing and insulation; electrical rough wiring, panel and service installation; rough plumbing. The framing inspection shall take place after the rough electrical and plumbing inspections and after the installation of the heating, ventilation and /or air conditioning duct system. The insulation inspection shall be performed after all other subcode rough inspections and prior to the installation of any interior finish material.

-       Installation of all finished materials, sealings of exterior joints, plumbing piping, trim and fixtures; electrical wiring, devices and fixtures; mechanical systems equipment.

Additional required inspections for all subcodes of construction, for other than one- and two-family dwellings, are fire suppression systems, heat producing devices and Barrier Free subcode accessibility, if applicable.

Required special inspections. The applicant by accepting the permit will be deemed to have consented to these requirements:

A final inspection is required for each applicable subcode area before a final Certificate of Occupancy or Approval may be issued. The final inspections include the installation of all interior and exterior finish materials, sealing of exterior joints, mechanical system and other required equipment; electrical wiring, devices and fixtures; plumbing pipes, trim and fixtures; tests required by any provision of the adopted subcodes,

Barrier Free accessibility, if applicable; and verification of compliance with NJAC 5:23-3.5, "Posting structures".

A complete copy of released plans must be kept on the job site.

The following are general guidelines. Please contact the Building and Construction Office for specific requirements for your situation.

NJAC 5:23-2.14 Construction Permits-when required

It shall be unlawful to construct, enlarge, repair, renovate, alter, reconstruct or demolish a structure, or change the use of a building or structure, or portion thereof, or to install or alter any equipment for which provision is made or the installation of which is regulated by this chapter, or to undertake a project involving lead abatement in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:17, without first filing an application with the construction official, or the appropriate subcode official where the construction involves only one subcode, in writing and obtaining the required permit therefor.

Exception: No permit shall be required for ordinary maintenance as defined in N.J.A.C. 5:23-1.4 and 2.7.

The follow are exceptions from (a) above:

Ordinary maintenance as defined in N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.7 shall not require a permit or notice to the enforcing agency;

Minor work as defined by N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.17A shall require a permit. However, work may proceed, upon notice to the enforcing agency, before the permit is issued;

Emergency work not involving lead abatement, except that a permit shall be applied for or notice given as soon thereafter as is practicable, but not later than 72 hours thereafter;

Permit requirements for tents and membraned structures shall be in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:23-3.14(b)20ii. A temporary greenhouse meeting the criteria of N.J.A.C. 5:23-3.14(b)20ii(4) shall not require a permit except as otherwise provided in N.J.A.C. 5:23-3.14(b)20ii(5)

Gas utility company shall not be required to obtain a permit or give notice to the enforcing agency for replacement of interior gas utility company-owned metering (meter and related appurtenances) by exterior gas utility company owned-metering if the work is performed by qualified employees of the gas utility company.

Lead abatement work performed on a steel structure or other superstructure or in a commercial building.

A permit shall not be required for garden type utility sheds and similar structures, which are 100 square feet or less in area, 10 feet or less in height and accessory to buildings of Use Groups R-2, R-3, or R-4. Such garden type utility sheds and similar structures are required to comply with N.J.A.C. 5:23-9.9.

A permit shall not be required for fences six feet or less in height. This exception does not apply to barriers surrounding public or private swimming pools.

Ordinary Maintenance NJAC 5:23 - 9.3

The following are general guidelines. Please contact the Building and Construction Office for specific requirements for your situation.

(a) The following items are ordinary repairs and shall be treated as such by every enforcing agency.  No permits for, inspections of, or notice to the enforcing agency of ordinary repairs shall be required.  This is not an all-inclusive listing of ordinary repairs.

1.  Ordinary building repairs include:

i.  Exterior and interior painting;

ii.  Installation, repair or replacement of any interior finishes of less than 25% of the wall area in any given room, in a one- or two-family dwelling.  This shall include plastering and drywall installation.

(1) Vinyl wall covering of any amount is an ordinary repair.

(2) Paneling shall not be considered an ordinary repair.

iii.  Wall papering at any location;

iv.  The replacement of glass in any window or door.  However, the replacement glass shall be of a type and quality that complies with the minimum requirements of the code;

v.  The installation or replacement of any window or door, including garage doors, in the same opening without altering the dimensions or framing of the original opening.  This shall include storm windows and storm doors.  "(Any new window or door shall be of the same type and operation as the existing window or door and conform to the requirements of the code regarding means of egress and emergency escape)" "The installation and replacement of means of egress and emergency escape windows and doors may be made in the same opening without altering the dimensions or framing of the original opening, and shall not reduce the required height, width or net clear opening of the previous window or door assembly.";

vi.  The repair of any nonstructural member such as a "(railing)" "partition railing or kitchen cabinet";

        vii.  The repair or replacement of any interior or exterior trim, decoration or moldings;

      viii.  The replacement or installation of any flooring material, except carpeting, with a new material.  However, installation of carpeting in one- and two-family dwellings will be permitted under ordinary repairs.

        ix.  The repair of existing roofing material not exceeding 25% of the total roof area within any  period.

x.  The repair of existing siding with like material not exceeding 25% of the total building exterior wall area within any  period.

xi.  The repair or replacement of any part of a porch or stoop which does not structurally support a roof above.

        xii.  The replacement or installation of screens.

      xiii.  The replacement of any roll or batt insulation when installed adjacent to or not more than one and a half inches from an interior finish, and;

        xiv.  Replacement of exterior rain water gutters and leaders.

2.  Ordinary plumbing repairs include:

i.  Replacement of hose bib valves in single-family dwellings.  Replacement hose bib valves shall be provided with an approved atmospheric vacuum breaker;

ii.  Re finishing of existing fixtures.  Relining of fixtures shall not be considered an ordinary repair;

        iii.  Replacement of ball cocks.  Replacement ball cocks must be an approved anti-siphon type.

        iv.  Repairs of leaks involving the replacement of piping between two adjacent joints only;

v.  Clearance of stoppages;

        vi.  Replacements of faucets or working parts of faucets;

        vii.  Replacements of working parts of valves;

      viii.  Replacements of traps except for traps on culinary sinks in food-handling establishments "(and)"

        ix.  Replacement of a water closet or lavatory or kitchen sink in a single-family dwelling with an approved similar fixture provided that no change in the piping arrangement is made. "Replacement water closets bearing a date of July 1, 1991, or later, must use an average of 1.6 gallons or less of water per flushing cycle;and

x.  Replacement of domestic clothes washers and dishwashers."

3.  Ordinary electrical repairs include:

i.  The replacement of any receptacle, switch, or lighting fixture rated at 20 amps or less and operating at less than 150 volts to ground with a like or similar item.  Replacement of receptacles in locations where  circuit interrupter protection is required in the electrical subcode, shall not be considered ordinary electrical repairs;

        ii.  Repairs to any installed electrically-operated equipment such as doorbells, communication systems, and any motor operated device.  Provided, however, that if fire-protection systems are interrupted for repairs, the fire official shall be notified in accordance with the building subcode; "(and)"

        iii.  Installation of communications wiring as covered by article 800 of the electrical subcode in one- and two-family dwellings, or the alteration/rearrangement of existing communications wiring in other occupancies provided, however, that the rearrangement does not involve penetration of a fire-rated assembly and is not in a hazardous location as defined in chapter 5 of the electrical subcode "(.)" "; and

iv.  Replacement of domestic dishwashers and

v.  Replacement of kitchen range hoods in single-family dwellings."

4.  Ordinary fire protection repairs include:

i.  The replacement of any sprinkler or smoke detector or heat detector head with a like device and

        ii.  The repair or replacement of any component of a fire-alarm or smoke- and heat-detection equipment.

5.  Ordinary heating ventilation and air conditioning repairs shall include:

i.  Replacement of motors, pumps and fans of the same capacity;

        ii.  Repair and replacement of heating, supply and return piping and radiation elements which does not require rearrangement of the piping system.

        iii.  Repair and replacement of duct work;

        iv.  Repair of air conditioning equipment and systems, and

    v.  Repair or replacement of control devices for

heating and air conditioning equipment "(.)" "and

        vi.  Replacement of kitchen range hoods in single-family dwellings."

6.  Ordinary elevator repairs include:

i.  The following work on elevator brakes:

(1) Installation of new linings;

(2) Replacement of brake switches, brake stand pivot bushings, and bearings or the reaming out and use of oversized pins.  Replacement or repair of brake magnets, magnet coils and/or core sleeves.

(3) Renewal of phase-splitting coils; and

(4) Re-babbitting of brake pin holes (gearless), and realigning of brake stands to pulleys.

ii.  The following controller/selector repairs;

(1) Installation of overload relays and potential switches, and installation of replacement of reverse phase relays;

(2) Replacement of damages resistance tubes, grids, broken controller panel sections, main power or brake rectifiers, power and light transformers, and microprocessor printed circuit boards.  Replacement or reconditioning of dash pots and retarders.  Replacement of a controller with a like or with the state-of-the-art controller when only those features which are available on the existing controller will be made functional;

(3) Rewinding of generator armatures, commutators, commutator brushes, and turning down and undercutting of commutators;

(4) Removal for testing on a workbench, reinsulating, banding and reinstallation of motor generators and

(5) Repair of solid state drives and adjustments of generator;

iv.  The following work on hoist motors:

(1) Installation or renewal of bearing oil gauges, renewal of sleeve or ball bearings, and re-babbitting of sleeve bearings (gearless);

(2) Replacement of motor armatures, rotors, motor collector rings, commutators, commutator brushes, and turning down and undercutting of commutators.

(3) Rewinding of stators, armatures, and field coils, and

(4) Removal for testing on a workbench, reinsulation, banding and reinstallation of hoist motors and realignment of motors to worm shafts.

v.  The following work on machines;

(1) Installation of new demountable drive sheave rims, new drive shafts, new integral drive sheaves, split couplings;

(2) Replacement of worms, gears, worm shaft housings, thrust bearings, thrust housings, external ring gears and pinions, machine drums, solid drive sheaves with demountable drive sheaves, and sheave bearing.  Replacement or repair of stop motion switches, slack cable switches, replacement of drive sheave linings.  Regrooving of drive sheaves;

(3) Re-babbitting of main bearings, external gears and bearings and worm shaft housings;

(4) Renewal of sleeve bearings, drum buffers, and drum shafts;

(5) Re-securing of loose brake pulleys and realignment of brake pulleys with motor gear shaft; and

(6) Removal of bearing shims.

vi.  The following work on hoist ropes, compensating ropes and compensating chains:

(1) Replacement or re-socketing of hoist ropes and replacement of compensating ropes or chains, governor ropes and hitches; and

(2) Shortening of hoist ropes due to a rope stretch.

vii.  The following work on governors:

(1) Recalibration, sealing and reconditioning of governors, or replacement of governors with like equipment; and

(2) Replacement of reconditioning of governor rope tension sleaves.

      viii.  The following work on overhead, deflector, car and counterweight sheaves:

(1) Replacement or repair of sheaves, sheave bearings and sheave shafts; and

(2) Re-babbitting of sheave bearings.

xi.  The following work on hoistways:

(1) Replacement of traveling cables and other hoistway wiring;

(2) Repair of counterweights, hoistway switches, hydraulic pistons, oil lines in the pit, and repacking of packing glands; and

(3) Repair or replacement of hoistway door equipment, rollers relating cables, gibs, hail buttons, lanterns, position indicator stations, and all exiting related equipment, selector tapes, cables, dust covers, toe guards and hoistway fascia, and repair or replacement of all existing pit equipment with like equipment.

x.  The following work on rails and guides:

(1) Realignment or replacement of main or counterweight rail sections with like products; and

(2) Repair or replacement of guide shoe liners or car and counterweight guides with like product.

xi.  The following work on cabs:

(1) Installation or replacement of main and auxillary car operating panels, emergency lighting, communication devices, door protective and reopening devices, car position indicators, and in-car lanterns;

(2) Repair or replacement of operating station on top of cars, door operating devices, motors, linkages, hangers, etc., hoistway door drive mechanisms, clutches, etc., side emergency exit latching devices and electrical switches, floor leveling and selector drive devices, terminal slow down and limiting devices, load weighing devices (on top of car and under car isolation), keyless entry and security devices, top of car intrusion devices, closed-circuit TV surveillance devices, lighting fixtures in the car on top of the car and under the car, and

(3) Replacement of ceilings with code approved materials, and of door saddles, cab flooring, walls and panels with materials equivalent to those being replaced in respect to weight and fire resistance.