Township of Kingwood, NJ Chapter 71 Construction Codes, Uniform

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Kingwood 12-28-1976 by Ord. No. 4-11-76. Amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 71-1 Enforcing agency; administration; subcode officials.

[Amended 1-18-1991 by Ord. No. 7-1-91; 11-16-1998 by Ord. No. 9-8-98]

A. There is hereby established in the Township of Kingwood a State Uniform Construction Code enforcing agency to be known as the "Kingwood Township Construction Department," 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 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 (N.J.S.A. 52:27D-126 et seq. and as may be 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. Said office location shall be within the Municipal Building of Kingwood Township.

§ 71-2 Appeals.

Persons aggrieved by decisions of the enforcing agency may appeal such decisions to the Construction Board of Appeals established by the Board of Chosen Freeholders of Hunterdon County.

§ 71-3 Fees.

A. The fee for a construction permit shall be the sum of the subcode fees listed in Subsection A(1) through (5) hereof and shall be paid before the permit is issued. All construction permit fees will be rounded off to the nearest dollar on permits inspected by the Kingwood Township Construction Code Official; and, the fees for subcode inspections by private on-site officials authorized by the Township shall likewise be rounded off to the nearest dollar.

[Last amended 5-5-2016 by Ord. No. 18-04-2016]

(1) The building subcode fees shall be:

(a) For all new construction other than commercial farming and use groups U, R-3, R-4 and R-5, the permit fee shall be based on the volume of the structure. Volume shall be computed in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.28. The fee for building in all use groups other than those listed above shall be $0.027 per cubic foot. The minimum fee in any case shall be not less than $60.

(b) For new construction buildings in use groups U, R-3, R-4, and R-5, the fee per cubic foot shall be $0.040. The minimum fee in any case shall be $60.

(c) For newly constructed commercial farm buildings fulfilling the specific requirements as described in the State of New Jersey Uniform Construction Code [N.J.A.C. 5:23-3.2(d)], the fee shall be $0.015 per cubic foot with a minimum fee of $60.

(d) For renovations, alteration and repairs, the fee shall be $34 per $1,000 estimated cost of the work, up to and including $50,000. The additional fee for costs above $50,000 estimated cost of the work shall be $26 per $1,000 of estimated cost. Above $100,000, the fee on the amount exceeding $100,000 shall be in the amount of $22 per $1,000 of estimated cost. The minimum fee in any case shall be $60.

(e) For repairs and alterations to commercial farm buildings, the fee shall be $18 per $1,000 estimated cost of the work.

(f) For combinations of renovations and additions or alterations, all fees shall be computed separately as new building and additions or alterations.

(g) (Reserved)

(h) The fee for roofing, reroofing, siding and residing work in use groups R-4 and R-5 shall be $75 each.

(i) The fee for a demolition permit shall be a set fee of $75 per structure.

(j) The fee for fireplaces/wood stoves and chimney installations shall be a set fee of $125 for solid fuel stoves and factory-built stoves.

(k) The minimum fee for all building subcodes shall be $60.

(l) The fee for premanufactured sheds up to 400 square feet shall be a set fee of $75. Sheds built on site shall be priced per cubic volume above.

(m) The fee for installation of an in-ground swimming pool shall be $250, and for installation of an above-ground pool shall be $140. These fees are solely for pool construction and do not include fees for other necessary work, such as, by way of example, fees for installation of electrical or pool heaters.

(n) The fee for fences required by code, surrounding all pools shall be a set fee of $50.

(o) The fee for tank removals shall be a set fee of $75.

(p) The fee for radon mitigation shall be a set fee of $100.

(q) The fee for plan review shall be 20% of the amount to be charged for the construction permit and shall be paid before the plans are reviewed. The amount paid for this fee shall be credited toward the amount of the fee to be charged for the construction permit. Plan review fees are not refundable.

(r) The fee for a permit for the removal of a building or structure from one lot to another or to a new location on the same lot shall be $60.

(s) The fee for a permit to construct a sign shall be $4 per square foot of the surface area of the sign, provided that the minimum fee shall be $60. The area of a two-sided sign shall be calculated from one side only.

(t) The fee for a certificate of continued use occupancy shall be $150.

(u) The fee for a temporary certificate of occupancy shall be $35.

(v) The fee for a certificate of occupancy granted pursuant to a change of use shall be $174.

(w) The fee for multiple certificates of occupancy shall be $50 per unit, regardless of use.

(x) The fee for a residential certificate of occupancy as a result of new construction, renovation, addition or the like in the R-3, R-4 and R-5 groups shall be $50. The fee for all other use groups shall be 10% of the construction permit fee, but the minimum fee for a certificate of occupancy shall be $50.

(y) The fee to construct a patio, retaining wall, tennis court, all other playing courts, etc., shall be $75.

(2) Plumbing subcode fees.

(a) The minimum fee shall be $60 per permit.

(b) The fee shall be $15 per fixture, stack, piece of equipment or appliance connected to the plumbing system, and for each appliance connected to the gas piping or oil piping system.

(c) The fee for special devices, including, but not limited to, service connections, separators, refrigeration units, backflow preventers, steam boilers, hot water boilers, solar systems, sewer pumps and other similar devices, shall be $91 each.

(d) The fee for repairs to septic systems shall be $60.

(e) The fee for underground and aboveground tanks shall be a set fee of $75 per tank.

(3) Mechanical subcode fees.

(a) The minimum fee shall be $80 per permit.

(b) The fee for the replacement of an individual mechanical device shall be the minimum fee for the first device, and $40 for each additional device, and shall include inspection for combustion air.

(c) No separate fee shall be charged for gas, fuel oil, or water piping connections associated with the mechanical equipment inspected.

(d) A flat fee of $150 shall be charged for each new or replacement complete HVAC system installation, consisting of a furnace, compressor, A-coil, drip pan, condensate pump or, discharge line, humidifier, combustion air or any combination thereof.

(4) Electrical subcode fees.

(a) The minimum fee per permit shall be $60. The fee for receptacles and fixtures shall be $60 for the first 50 and $25 for each additional 25 or part thereof.

(b) Motors and electrical devices fees shall be:

[1] Over one horsepower and up to 10 horsepower: $35;

[2] Over 10 horsepower and up to 50 horsepower: $60;

[3] Over 50 horsepower and up to 100 horsepower: $125;

[4] Over 100 horsepower: $600.

(c) Transformer and generators fees shall be:

[1] Over one kilowatt up to 10 kilowatts: $15;

[2] Over 10 kilowatts up to 45 kilowatts: $60;

[3] Over 45 kilowatts up to 112.5 kilowatts: $125;

[4] Over 112.5 kilowatts: $600.

(d) Service panels, entrances, and subpanel fees shall be:

[1] One amp up to 200 amps: $75;

[2] Two hundred one amps up to 1,000 amps: $200;

[3] Greater than 1,000 amps: $600.

(e) Photovoltaic systems shall be priced on the kilowatt rating. The fee shall be:

[1] One to 50 kilowatts per system: $125;

[2] Fifty-one to 100 kilowatts per system: $200; and

[3] One hundred one and over kilowatts per system: $600.

(f) All electric for pools and hot tubs shall be a set fee. Aboveground pools and hot tubs shall be $100. In-ground pools shall be $150.

(g) The fee for the electrical certificate of continued occupancy shall be $100.

(5) Miscellaneous.

(a) The fee for code letters, research or information letters and related matters shall be $25, plus $0.50 per page.

(b) The fee for a permit for installation of an elevator shall be the fee as established by N.J.A.C. 5:23-4.20.

(c) The fee for the inspection of an elevator shall be the fee as established by N.J.A.C. 5:23-4.20.

(d) The permit fee for the construction of any building or structure by the Township of Kingwood or any of its respective agencies is waived.

(e) The fee for a photocopy of any document shall be $0.50 per page. In addition, general research for unspecified documents shall be billed at the rate of $25 per hour with a minimum fee of $25.

(f) The fee for an application for variation shall be $151 for Class 2 and 3, with a resubmission fee of $82. The fee for Class 1 applications shall be $748, with a reapplication fee of $289.

(g) For cross-connection backflow preventers that are subject to testing and require inspection annually, the fee shall be $75 for each device when they are tested by an approved agency.

(h) The State of New Jersey state surcharge fee shall be in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:23-4.19.

(i) All construction fees shall be rounded to the nearest dollar.

(j) Any fees not covered in this Subsection A shall be in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:23-4.20.

(k) In the absence of the Construction Official, any persons possessing the required licensing and credentials may assume the duties of the Construction Official, so long as any such person has been duly authorized by Kingwood Township.

(l) The annual permit fees shall be in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:23-4.20.

(m) Fees for lead and asbestos abatement shall be a set fee of $100. Clearance certificate fees shall be $50 each.

(n) The fee for temporary tents of 900 square feet or more than 30 feet in any direction shall be a set fee of $75.

(o) The fee for temporary trailers in place for less than six months shall be set fee of $100. If longer than six months, new zoning approvals and new permits must be obtained.

(p) Solar heat fees shall be based on alteration costs stated in Subsection A(1)(d) above.

(q) Plan review on as-built drawings shall be priced at $50 per hour.

(r) Permits for and inspections of all elevators shall be obtained from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.

(6) Fire protection subcode fees.

(a) The minimum fee for any one permit shall be $60. The separate fees set forth below, if less than $60, shall be increased to $60 if the total fees for permits applied for as to the fire protection subcode do not total at least $60.

(b) The fees for alarm, signal, and supervisory devices, including but not limited to total of smoke/heat detectors, pull stations, water-flow switches, horns, strobes, bells, tamper switches, and low/high air switches shall be as follows:

[1] Sixty dollars for the first 12 devices and $20 for each additional 10 devices;

[2] Each fire pump: $125;

[3] Each pre-engineered system: $200;

[4] Kitchen exhaust systems: $65 for groups R-3 and R-5; for all other groups, the fee shall be $250;

[5] Incinerators and crematoriums: $475.

(c) The fee for R-4 and R-5 fire alarm systems shall be $60.

(d) The fee for each gas or oil appliance not connected to the plumbing shall be a set fee of $80 each.

(e) The fee for standpipes shall be $300 each.

(f) The fees for suppression system devices, including but not limited to fire pumps, dry pipe/alarm valves, and pre-action valves shall be $100 each.

(g) Sprinkler system fees (wet and dry) shall be as follows:

[1] One to 20 heads: $90;

[2] Twenty-one to 100 heads: $150;

[3] One hundred one to 200 heads: $289;

[4] Two hundred one to 400 heads: $748;

[5] Four hundred one to 1,000 heads: $1,036;

[6] Over 1,000 heads: $1,350.

(h) The fee for storage tanks above or below ground shall be $75 each.

(i) The fee for pre-engineered systems shall be as follows:

[1] Wet chemical: $200 each.

[2] Dry chemical: $200 each.

[3] CO₂ suppression: $200 each.

[4] Foam suppression: $200 each.

[5] Halon (or similar) suppression: $200 each.

[6] Smoke control systems: $300 each.

[7] Kitchen hood exhaust systems: $100 each.

[8] Commercial, gas or oil-fired: $100 each.

[9] Spray booths: $100 each.

[10] Appliances, other:

[a] Wood burning fireplaces or solid fuel: $80 each.

[b] Fuel-burning appliances: $80 each.

B. 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 agencies and any other expenses of the municipality fairly attributable to the enforcement of the State Uniform Construction Code Act.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Former Subsection C, Surcharge fee, as amended, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 5-5-2016 by Ord. No. 18-04-2016.

§ 71-4 Adoption of code; reporting.

[Added 11-16-1998 by Ord. No. 9-8-98]

A. There is hereby adopted, by reference, the State Uniform Construction Code Act of New Jersey, P.L. 1975, c. 217 (N.J.S.A. 52:27D-119 et seq.) as may be amended, and the Construction Official and all subcode officials shall enforce the State Uniform Construction Code with all of the powers, functions and duties described by said Act and the New Jersey Administrative Code 5:23.

B. The Construction Official shall keep a detailed record of all applications and proceedings in said department and shall provide monthly reports to the Township Committee on those items within the department and as directed by the Township Committee, as well as the accounting for all fees received and submitted to the Chief Financial Officer of the Township.