Borough of Middlesex, NJ Chapter 168 Construction Codes, Uniform

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Middlesex 12-28-1976 by Ord. No. 743; amended in its entirety 6-26-2007 by Ord. No. 1717. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Certificates of occupancy — See Ch. 158.

Fire prevention — See Ch. 200.

Land development — See Ch .248.

Zoning — See Ch. 420.

§ 168-1 Enforcing agency established.

A. There is hereby established in the Borough a State Uniform Construction Code enforcing agency to be known as the Uniform Construction Office of Middlesex Borough, consisting of a Construction Official, Building Subcode Official, Plumbing Subcode Official, Electrical Subcode Official, Fire Protection Subcode Official, and such other subcode officials for such additional subcodes as the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs, State of New Jersey, shall hereafter adopt as part of the State Uniform Construction Code. The Construction Official shall be the Chief Administrator of the Uniform Construction Office of the Borough.

B. Each official position created in Subsection A shall be filled by a person qualified for such position pursuant to P.L. 1975, c. 216, as amended and N.J.A.C. 5:23, provided that, in lieu of any particular subcode official, an on-site inspection agency may be retained by contract pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:23. More than one such official position may be held by the same person, provided that such person is qualified pursuant to P.L. 1975, c. 217 and N.J.A.C. 5:23 to hold each such position.

C. The public shall have the right to do business with the enforcing agency at one office location except for emergencies and unforeseen or unavoidable circumstances. The location shall be the Municipal Building, 1200 Mountain Avenue, Middlesex, New Jersey.

D. The office shall receive applications for construction permits and plan review, issue construction permits and certificates of occupancy, collect fees, penalties, fines and issue notices and orders. The office shall be open during normal business days, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Mayor and Council shall provide the enforcing agency with an adequate staff for the above-named functions and duties and it shall include a technical assistant and clerk.[1]

[1] Editor’s Note: Former Subsection E, regarding certificates of occupancy, which immediately followed, was repealed 3-13-2018 by Ord. No. 1936.

§ 168-2 Construction fees.

[Amended 6-26-2012 by Ord. No. 1814; 3-13-2018 by Ord. No. 1936]

A. Fees for alterations, renovations and repairs, all structures and use groups: The applicant shall submit such cost data as necessary and available from a bona fide contractor's bid, architect or engineering firm or recognized estimating firm. The appropriate Subcode Official will serve as the final decision regarding estimated cost.

B. A nonrefundable plan review fee of 25% shall be charged for all permits. The plan review fee shall be calculated from the total permit fees.

C. No certificate of occupancy shall be issued unless and until the applicant submits a receipt or similar document demonstrating to the satisfaction of the Construction Official that all excess items, materials, refuse, garbage, trash, tree stumps, wire, paint cans, insulation and similar building materials have been disposed of in a lawful manner.

(1) Building subcode fees.

(a) New construction and additions of all use groups, except below, as per N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.28: $0.050 per cubic volume.

(b) New construction of Use Groups S-1 and S-2 as per N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.28: $0.0270 per cubic volume.

(c) New construction of commercial farm buildings: $0.0018 per cubic volume.

(d) Alteration renovations and repairs for all use groups.

[1] Cost of construction of up to $50,000: $25 per $1,000 cost.

[2] Cost of construction of $50,001 to $100,000: $18 per $1,000 cost.

[3] Cost of construction of over $100,001: $15 per $1,000 cost.

(e) Roofing.

[1] R3, R4 or R5 single or two-family dwelling: $75.

[2] All other uses: based on cost of construction.

(f) Siding: $100.

(g) Fence over six feet high: $75.

(h) Signs (wall or pylon): $75 each.

(i) Pools.

[1] Aboveground: $100.

[2] In-ground: $250.

(j) Retaining walls over four feet high.

[1] Retaining walls with a surface area 550 square feet or less that are associated with a residential structure: $75.

[2] Retaining walls with a surface area of greater than 550 square feet that are associated with a residential one- or two-family structure: $200.

[3] Retaining walls for all other use groups other than residential one- and two-family structure: based on cost of construction.

(k) Asbestos abatement: $150.

(l) Lead hazard abatement: $150.

(m) Radon systems: $100.

(n) Demolition: $300.

(o) Emergency generator: $75 each.

(p) Temporary tents: $150.

(q) Temporary office or construction trailers: $75.

(r) Antenna, mast, satellite dish: $150.

(s) Structural towers: $500.

(t) Minimum fee: $75.

(u) Change of contractor: $75.

(v) State of New Jersey surcharge fee:

[1] Per cubic foot: $0.00371 or $1.90 per $1,000 of estimated cost of construction with a minimum fee of $1.

[2] State permit fees excluded for commercial farm buildings, asbestos or lead abatement, legally restricted low- or moderate-income households demolition or nature disasters when local agency is waiving fee.

[3] State permit fees shall be in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:23-2, as same may be amended from time to time.

(2) Plumbing subcode fees.

(a) "Plumbing fixture or appliance" includes water closet, urinal/bidet, bathtub, lavatory, shower, floor drain, sink, dishwasher, drinking fountain, washing machine, hose bibb or similar devices.

(b) "Plumbing appurtenances" includes water heater, fuel oil piping, gas piping, LP gas tank, steam boiler, hot water boiler, sewer pump, interceptor/separator, backflow preventer, grease trap, sewer connection, water service connection, stacks, water-cooled air conditioner, lawn sprinkler or similar devices.

(c) Plumbing fees shall be as follows:

[1] Plumbing fixtures or appliances: $30 each.

[2] Plumbing appurtenances: $65 each.

[3] Water or sewer capping: $100 each.

[4] Emergency generator: $75 each.

[5] Minimum fee: $75.

[6] Change of contractor: $75.

(3) Electrical subcode fees:

(a) Fees for electrical lighting fixtures, receptacles, switches, detectors, light poles, motors, emergency and exit lights, communication points, alarm devices, FAC panel, underwater lighting fixture or similar device shall be:

[1] For the first 50 devices: $50.

[2] Each additional 25 devices or fraction thereof: $25.

(b) Fees for electric range receptacle, oven/surface unit, electric hot water heater, electric dryer receptacle, dishwasher receptacle, garbage disposal, central air-conditioning unit, space heater, air handler, baseboard heat, motor, transformer, generator or similar device shall be:

[1] For up to 100 hp or kw: $30 each.

[2] For 101 hp or kw or above: $300 each.

(c) The fees for service panels, subpanels, feeders, switches, switchboards, motor control centers, alarm panels, signs, disconnects and similar devices.

[1] For up to 100 amps: $75.

[2] For 101 amps to 200 amps: $125.

[3] For 201 amps to 1,000 amps: $225.

[4] For over 1,000 amps: $450.

(d) Fees for service, subpanels, motor control center, sign, feeder, switchboard or similar device shall be:

[1] For up to 200 amps: $75 each.

[2] For 201 amps or above: $300 each.

(e) Pools.

[1] Aboveground: $75 each.

[2] In-ground: $150 each.

(f) Hot tub or spa: $75 each.

(g) Solar/photovoltaic systems.

[1] For up to 50 kw: $75.

[2] For 50.1 kw or above: $300.

(h) Emergency generator: $75 each.

(i) Disconnect of service: $75 each.

(j) Temporary office or construction trailer: $75 each.

(k) Annual inspection of pool or spa: $150.

(l) Minimum fee: $75.

(m) Change of contractor: $75.

(4) Fire subcode fees.

(a) Flammable/combustible storage tanks (installation or removal).

[1] Up to 2,000 gallons: $75 each.

[2] Over 2,000 gallons: $500 each.

(b) Alarm devices and detectors (smoke and fire).

[1] One to 16 devices: $75.

[2] Over 16 devices: $100.

(c) Supervisory devices: $175 each.

(d) Signaling devices: $75 each.

(e) Fire pump: $150 each.

(f) Alarm or pre-action valves: $75.

(g) Automatic sprinkler systems:

[1] One to 20 heads: $75.

[2] Twenty-one to 100 heads: $130.

[3] One hundred one to 200 heads: $250.

[4] Two hundred one to 400 heads: $625.

[5] Four hundred one to 1,000 heads: $850.

[6] One thousand heads and over: $1,150.

[7] Each additional riser: $50.

(h) Standpipe: $250 each.

(i) Pre-engineered systems (wet, dry, foam, FM-200): $100 each.

(j) Kitchen hood exhaust system: $125 each.

(k) Smoke control system: $250 each.

(l) Fuel-fired appliances (gas, oil, solid): $75 each.

(m) Fireplace venting: $75 each.

(n) Metal chimney: $75 each.

(o) Emergency generator: $75 each.

(p) Water tank or fire main: $150 each.

(q) Change of contractor: $75.

(r) Minimum fee: $75.

(5) Mechanical inspector fees shall be as follows:

(a) Heating/conversion/replacement for R3, R4 or R5: $75.

(6) The fee for elevator plan review and elevator installation inspections shall comply with the standards listed in N.J.A.C. 5:23-12 by the DCA.

(7) Occupancy permit fees shall be as follows:

(a) Certificate of occupancy:

[1] R3, R4 and R5, residential one- or two-family: $100.

[2] All other use groups, per occupancy: $150.

(b) Certificate of continued occupancy:

[1] R3, R4 and R5, residential one- or two-family: $100.

[2] All other use groups, per occupancy: $250.

(c) Change of use: $200.

(d) Certificate of approval or compliance: no fee.

(e) Temporary certificates of occupancy: no fee for first.

(f) Renewal of temporary certificates of occupancy: $30.

(8) Variation fees shall be as follows:

(a) Class I: $690.

(b) Class II/III: $295.

(c) Resubmission of an application for Class I: $295.

(d) Resubmission of an application for Class I/II: $150.

(9) Reinstatement of lapsed permit: $75 per subcode.

§ 168-3 Adoption of Code.

The Mayor and Council of the Borough of Middlesex do hereby adopt the Uniform Construction Code as the official building code of the Borough of Middlesex, and a copy of said code is hereby annexed to this chapter and made a part hereof. Three copies of the code shall also be placed on file and shall so remain on file in the office of the Middlesex Borough Construction Official so long as said code is in effect, for the use and examination of the public.