Township of Hamilton, NJ Chapter 144 Construction Codes, Uniform

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Hamilton 12-27-1976 by Ord. No. 572-76. Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Fire prevention — See Ch. 170.

§ 144-1 Enforcing agency.

[Amended 12-19-1994 by Ord. No. 1187-94]

A. There is hereby established in the Township of Hamilton a State Uniform Construction Code enforcing agency to be known as the "Department of Inspections," consisting of a Construction Official, Building Subcode Official and Fire Protection Subcode Official, Plumbing Subcode Official, Electrical 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 enforcing agency.

B. Each official position created in Subsection A hereof shall be filled by a person qualified for such position pursuant to P.L. 1975, c. 217[1], 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 position.

[1] Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 52:27D-119 et seq.

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 of said office shall be in the Municipal Building, located at 6101 Thirteenth Street, Mays Landing, New Jersey, 08330.

§ 144-2 Appeals from decisions.

Appeals from decisions of the enforcing agency shall be heard under the rules and regulations established by the Atlantic County Construction Board of Appeals.

§ 144-3 Fees.

Ordinance #1894-2018 Amending Chapter 144-3 Section (2) Plumbing fixtures and equipment

Click Here for ORDINANCE #1894-2019    

 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 144 OF THE TOWNSHIP CODE TO PROVIDE FOR OR AMEND THE FEES FOR CERTAIN CONSTRUCTION PERMIT APPLICATIONS IN THE TOWNSHIP OF HAMILTON, COUNTY OF ATLANTIC 

2019-02-12

[Last amended 3-5-2018 by Ord. No. 1875-2018]

A. Plan review fee. The fee for plan review shall be 25% of the amount to be charged for a construction permit.

B. The basic construction fee shall be the sum of the parts computed on the basis of volume or cost of construction, the number of plumbing fixtures and pieces of equipment, the number of electric fixtures and the number of sprinklers, standpipes and detectors (smoke and heat) at the unit rates provided herein, plus any special fees.

(1) Building volume or cost. Fees for new construction shall be based upon the volume of the structure. Volume shall be computed in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.28. Use groups and types of construction as used herein are classified and defined in Articles 3 and 4 of the Building Subcode. The minimum fee for any new construction shall be $65.

(a) The fees for new construction are as follows:

Use Group		Fee
Use Groups No. 1
	A=Assembly	$0.038 per cubic foot of structural volume
	B=Business
	H=High hazard
	I=Institutional
	E=Education
	R=Residential
	M=Mercantile
Use Groups No. 2
	F=Factory	$0.021 per cubic foot of structural volume
	S=Storage
	U=Utility
Use Groups No. 3
Buildings and structures on commercial farms ("farms," as defined in the Uniform Construction Code)
	A=Assembly	$0.0011 per cubic foot of structural volume, up to $1,602 maximum
	F=Factory
	S=Storage

(b) Renovations, alterations and repairs.

[1] Fees for renovations, alterations and repairs shall be based upon the estimated cost of the work at the following rates:

Estimated Cost of Work	Rate
$1 to $50,000	$34 per $1,000
$51,000 to $100,000	Additional fee of $26 per $1,000
Over $100,000	Additional fee of $22 per $1,000

[2] For the purposes of determining the estimated cost, the applicant shall submit to the Department 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, and a bona fide contractor's bid, if available, shall be submitted. The Department shall make the final decision regarding estimated cost.

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

(d) Fees for combined renovations and additions shall be computed as the sum of the fees computed separately in accordance with Subsection B(1)(a) and (b) above.

(e) Sign fees. The fee for a permit to construct a sign shall be as follows:.

[1] Pylon signs.

Number of Square Feet	Fee (per square foot)
First 100	$6
Next 400 (from 101 to 500)	$4.75
Over 500	$3.50

[2] Ground signs.

Number of Square Feet	Fee (per square foot)
First 100	$3
Next 400 (from 101 to 500)	$2.10
Over 500	$1.40

[3] The minimum fee shall be $65.

(f) Cellular communications towers: $129.

(g) Retaining walls.

[1] Greater than 550 square feet, Class 3: $210.

[2] Less than or equal to 550 square feet, Class 3: $106.

[3] Other than Class 3: cost of construction.

(h) Lead abatement.

[1] Permit, flat fee: $196.

[2] Lead abatement clearance certificate: $39.

(i) Demolition fees.

[1] All use groups, except R-3, R-4, R-5: $168 flat fee.

[2] Use Groups R-3, R-4, R-5, less than 5,000 square feet, 30 feet maximum height: $92 flat fee.

(j) Prototype credit fee: 20% of original permit charge.

(k) DCA surcharge fee:

[1] New: as determined by Department of Community Affairs.

[2] Alterations: as determined by Department of Community Affairs.

(l) Continuing certificate of occupancy fee: $168.

(m) Change of use fee: $168.

(n) Minimum fee: $65.

(o) Variation application, in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.10: $45.

[1] Class 1: $65.

[2] Class 2 or higher: $130.

(p) Minor asbestos abatement, permit: flat fee of $100 per building.

(q) Certificates of occupancy.

Use Group		Fee
Use Groups No. 1
	Residential only, flat fee	$40
Use Groups No. 2 (flat fee)
	A=Assembly	$65
	B=Business
	H=High hazard
	I=Institutional
	E=Education
	M=Mercantile
	F=Factory
	S=Storage
	U=Utility

(r) Renewal of temporary certificate of occupancy, flat fee: $39.

(2) Plumbing fixtures and equipment. The fees shall be as follows:

[Amended 2-4-2019 by Ord. No. 1894-2019]

Use		Fee
(a)	Each 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 indicated in § 144-3B(2)(b) below	$15 per item, minimum of $60
(b)	Special devices, including but not limited to: grease traps, oil separators, refrigeration units, utility service connections, backflow preventers equipped with test ports (double check valve assembly, reduced pressure zone, and pressure vacuum breaker backflow preventers), steam boilers, hot water boilers (excluding those for domestic water heating), active solar systems, sewer pumps and interceptors. There shall be no inspection fee charged for gas service entrances	$91 per special device

(3) Electrical fixtures and devices. Fees for electric fixtures and devices shall be as stated in NJAC 5:23-4.20, along with § 144-3D below.

(4) Fire protection and other hazardous equipment. For sprinklers, standpipes, detectors (smoke and heat), pre-engineered suppression systems, gas- and oil-fired appliance systems, incinerators and crematoriums, the fees shall be as follows:

(a) Sprinkler heads, wet or dry/detectors (smoke, heat, fire, etc.). In computing fees for heads and detectors, the number of each shall be counted separately, and two fees, one for heads and one for detectors, shall be charged.

Number of Heads/Detectors	Fee
1 to 20	$91
21 to 100	$168
101 to 200	$321
201 to 400	$831
401 to 1,000	$1,150
Over 1,000	$1,469

(b) Pre-engineered systems, CO², clean agent, halon, foam, dry or wet chemical: $129 each.

(c) Stand pipes: $321 each.

(d) Kitchen hood exhaust systems: $65 each.

(e) Gas- and oil-fired appliances, other than heating systems: $65 each.

(f) Incinerators, crematoriums: $571 each.

(g) Woodstoves, fireplaces, inserts, space heaters: $65 each.

(h) 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 $60 per dwelling unit. For detectors and fire alarm systems in buildings other than one- or two-family dwellings, the fee shall be in accordance with § 144-3B(4)(b).

(i) Compliance assurance inspection (CAI): $65 minimum.

(5) Elevators. The fee for elevator registration, installation and inspection shall be in accordance with the Department of Community Affairs fee schedule.

(6) Installation of underground storage tanks.

(a) Residential: $65.

(b) Commercial: $130.

(7) Mechanical permit.

(a) For all heat conversions in existing residential dwellings only: minimum fee, $80 [gas to gas (P); electricity to gas (F, P, E); oil to oil (P); oil to gas (F, P); electricity to oil (F, P, E)].

(b) For all heat conversions in existing commercial dwellings, including rooftop units: $160.

(c) A mechanical permit assistance sheet as well as the appropriate subcode application must be filled out and a copy of a brochure or specifications for the new system and, when required, a duct-work diagram or chimney certification.

(8) Temporary structures.

(a) Tents: $300, which shall include plumbing, electrical, fire and building permits. It does not include any fees required by any other governmental authority.

(9) Periodic inspections. Fees for the periodic departmental reinspection of equipment and facilities granted a certificate of approval for a specified duration in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.23 shall be as follows:

(a) For cross connections and backflow preventers that are subject to testing and required reinspections every 12 months, the fee shall be $65 for each device when they are tested annually.

(10) Annual permits.

(a) The fee to be charged for an annual construction permit shall be charged annually. This fee shall be a flat fee based upon the number of maintenance workers who are employed by the facility and who are primarily engaged in work that is governed by a subcode. Managers, engineers and clerical workers shall not be considered maintenance workers for the purpose of establishing the annual construction permit fee. Annual permits may be issued for building/fire protection, electrical and plumbing. Fees shall be as follows:

[1] One to 25 workers (including foreman): $933 per worker;

[2] Each additional worker over 25: $329 per worker.

(b) Prior to the issuance of the annual permit, a training registration fee of $196 per subcode shall be submitted by the applicant to the Department of Community Affairs, Construction Code Element, Training Section, along with a copy of the construction permit (Form F-170). Checks shall be made payable to "Treasurer, State of New Jersey."

(11) Renewal of lapsed construction permit. The fee to renew a lapsed construction permit shall be 75% of the original permit fee.

(12) Final computation. All fees shall be rounded to the nearest dollar.

(13) Exemptions.

(a) All government-owned and -operated structures, whether federal, state or local, shall be exempt from all local permit fees (except as provided by N.J.S.A. 52:27D-126c). All fees required to be remitted to payees other than the Township of Hamilton, including surcharge fees and contracted services, shall be charged and collected.

(b) A disabled person, or a parent or sibling of a disabled person, shall not be required to pay any municipal fee or charge in order to secure a construction permit for any construction, reconstruction, alteration or improvement which promotes accessibility to his own living unit.

(14) Aboveground pools: flat fee of $140.

(15) In-ground pools (Building Subcode only):

(a) Greater than 550 square feet: $210.

(b) Less than or equal to 550 square feet: $106.

C. The Construction Official shall, with the advice of the subcode officials, prepare and submit to the Township Committee, biannually, a report recommending a fee schedule based on the operating expenses of the agency and any other expenses of the municipality attributable to the enforcement of the State Uniform Construction Code Act.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 52:27D-119 et seq.

D. The administrative surcharge for private on-site inspection and plan review agencies, pursuant to NJAC 5:23-4.18(j), shall be 35% of the appropriate subcode permit fees. This surcharge shall only apply to subcode areas for which the municipality has a contract with the on-site agency.

E. This section shall be effective immediately after final adoption.[2]

[2] Editor's Note: Original § 63-4, Fire limits, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 2-5-1990 by Ord. No. 1018-90; and original § 63-6, Plumbing fees, was repealed 2-5-1990 by Ord. No. 1018-90.