Borough of Alpha, NJ Construction Codes, Uniform

The fee for plan review shall be computed as a percentage of the fee for a construction permit, and shall be paid at the time of the application for a permit or, at the discretion of the Construction Official, be paid at the time of granting the permit. Plan review fees are not refundable.

The fee to be charged for a construction permit shall be the sum of the basic construction fees plus all applicable surcharges, flat fees and special fees, such as elevator or sign fees. This fee shall be paid before a permit is issued.

The fee to be charged for a certificate for occupancy shall be paid before the certificate is issued. This fee shall be in addition to the construction permit fee.

Fees shall be rounded to the nearest dollar amount or to the next larger dollar amount.

Whenever the municipality contracts with an on-site agency for plan review and inspection subcode services, the construction permit fees charged for those contracted subcode services shall be Department fees pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:23-4.20 multiplied by the percentage set forth in contract between the municipality and the agency. The fee shall not exceed the amount to be paid to the private agency except for the surcharge fee in accordance with § 178-3C(3).

State of New Jersey training fees.

In order to provide for the training, certification and technical support programs required by the Act, the enforcing agency shall collect a surcharge fee, which shall be based upon the volume of new construction within the municipality. Said fee shall be accounted for and shall be remitted to the Treasurer, State of New Jersey, on a quarterly basis for the fiscal quarters ending September 30, December 31, March 31 and June 30 and not later than one month next succeeding the end of the quarter for which it is due.

Amount. This fee shall be in accordance with the prevailing New Jersey State permit surcharge fees pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:23-4.19(b) of the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code.

No fee shall be collected for pre-engineered systems of commercial farm buildings.

No fee shall be collected for permits to perform asbestos abatement or lead abatement.

No fee shall be collected for permits for the construction or rehabilitation of residential units that are to be legally restricted to occupancy by households of low or moderate income, as defined in N.J.A.C. 5:43-1.5.

(d)

No fee shall be collected for permits for the demolition of a building or other structure.

(e)

No fee shall be collected for work consequential to a natural disaster when the local code enforcement agency is waiving its fee.

Enforcing agency fees.

Plan review fee. The fee for plan review shall be 5% of the amount to be charged for a new construction permit.

Basic construction permit fees. The basic construction permit fee shall be the sum of the parts computed on the basis of the volume or cost of construction, the number of plumbing fixtures and pieces of equipment, the number of electrical fixtures and ratings of electrical devices, the number of sprinklers, standpipes and detectors (smoke and heat) at the unit rates and/ or applicable flat fees as provided herein plus any special fees.

Administrative municipal surcharge fees. The following municipal surcharge fees shall be assessed and shall be in addition to the basic construction permit fees and certificate, flat or other special permit fees as listed in this section. Administrative fees are assessed to defray the additional costs associated with processing the permits or certificates for the following class of permits:

There shall a municipal surcharge fee in the amount of 15% of the cost of a subcode (permit fee) whenever the municipality contracts with a private on-site agency for plan review and inspection services for a technical subcode.

There shall be an additional municipal surcharge calculated at 2 1/2 times the herein-listed permit fees, and it shall be added to the cost of a construction permit whenever the enforcing agency is required to investigate and notify an owner, agent, applicant or contractor to obtain a construction permit for work performed in violation of N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.14 or N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.17A.

There shall be an additional surcharge of $125 assessed whenever the enforcing agency is required to investigate or notify an owner, agent, applicant or contractor to abate a certificate or occupancy violation pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.23.

Building subcode fees. The fees for new building construction or alterations shall be:

For Use Groups A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4, A-5, B, E, F-1, F-2, H, I, M, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, S-1, S-2, and U, the permit fee shall be $65 for the first 2,000 cubic feet of building or structure volume and $0.027 per cubic foot of building or structure volume in excess of 2,000 cubic feet. For structures on farms, including commercial farm buildings under N.J.A.C. 5:23-3.2(d), the maximum fees for such structures on farms shall not exceed $1,145.

[Amended 4-10-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-05]

Fees for renovations, alterations and repairs, site construction associated with pre-engineered systems of commercial farm buildings, premanufactured construction, and the external utility connections for premanufactured construction shall be based upon the estimated cost of work.

For Use Groups A-3, R-3, and R-5, the fee shall be $46 for the first $3,000 of the estimated cost of work and $16 per $1,000 of value for the cost of work exceeding $3,000 up to and including $50,000, and $12 per $1,000 of value for the cost of work in excess of $50,000.

For Use Groups A-1, A-2, A-4, A-5, B, E, F-1, F-2, H, I, M, R-1, R-2, R-4, S-1, S-2, and U, the fee shall be $56 for the first $3,000 of estimated cost of work and $24 per $1,000 of value for the cost of work exceeding $3,000 up to and including $50,000, and $12 per $1,000 of value for the work in excess of $50,000.

For the purpose of determining estimated cost, the applicant shall submit to the enforcing agency, when required by the Construction Official, such cost data as may be available, produced by the architect or engineer of record, or by a recognized firm, or by the contractor. A bona fide contractor's bid, if available, shall be submitted. The Construction Official shall make the final decision regarding the estimated cost of work.

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

Fees for a combination of renovations and additions shall be computed as the sum of the fees computed separately in accordance with Subsection D(1), (2), and (3) above.

The fee for tents, in excess of 900 square feet or more than 30 feet in any dimension, shall be a flat fee of $92.

The fee for roofing and siding work completed on a structure in Use Groups R-3 and R-5 shall be a flat fee of $48.

The fee for an aboveground swimming pool shall be $65. The fee for an in-ground swimming pool shall be $150. These fees shall include any protective fencing mechanically attached to a pool structure or other protective fencing equal to or less than six feet in height. Fencing higher than six feet is subject to the fees herein listed.

The fee for premanufactured garden and utility-type yard sheds which are from 100 to 200 square feet in area or greater than 10 feet in height and accessory to Use Groups R-3 or R-5 of the building subcode shall be $36. The fee for utility yard sheds for all other use groups or sheds constructed on site shall be $48. The fees for all sheds greater than 200 square feet shall be computed in accordance with § 178-3D(1).

The fee for the installation of a fence over six feet in height and accessory to Use Groups R-3 and R-5 of the building subcode shall be $46. For all other use groups the fee shall be $120.

Plumbing subcode fees; plumbing fixtures and equipment.

For plumbing fixtures and equipment, the fee shall be in the amount of $13 per fixture, piece of equipment or appliance connected to the plumbing system and for each appliance connected to the gas piping or oil piping systems, except as indicated in Subsection E(2) below.

The fee shall be $65 per special device for the following: 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 utility service entrance.

There shall be a flat fee of $52 for four or fewer plumbing fixtures, appliances, or pieces of equipment connected to the gas or oil piping system.

Electrical subcode fees; electrical fixtures and devices.

The fee for the first block of outlets consisting of one to 25 receptacles, fixtures or devices shall be $46, and for each additional block consisting of 25 receptacles, fixtures or devices, the fee shall be $8. For the purpose of computing this fee, receptacles, fixtures or devices shall include lighting fixtures, wall switches, convenience receptacles, sensors, dimmers, alarm devices, smoke and heat detectors, communication outlets, light standards eight feet or less in height, including luminaries, emergency lights, electric signs, exit lights or similar electric fixtures and devices rated 20 amperes or less, including motors or equipment rated less than one horsepower (hp) or one kilowatt (kw).

For each motor or electrical device rated from one hp or one kw to 10 hp or 10 kw; for each transformer or generator rated from one kw or one kva to 10 kw or kva; for each replacement of wiring involving one branch circuit or branch thereof; for each storable pool or hydromassage bathtub; for each underwater lighting fixture; for household electrical cooking equipment rated up to 16kw; for each fire, security or burglary alarm control unit; for each receptacle rated from 30 amperes to 50 amperes; for each light standard greater than eight feet in height, including luminaries; and for each communications closet, the fee shall be $13.

For each motor or electrical device rated from greater 10 hp or 10 kw to 50 hp or 50 kw; for service equipment, panelboard, switchboard, switchgear, motor control center, or disconnecting means rated 225 amperes or less; for each transformer or generator rated from greater than 10 kw or 10 kva to 45 kw or 45 kva; for each electrical sign rated greater than 20 amperes to 225 amperes, including associated disconnected means; for each receptacle rated greater than 50 amperes; and for each utility load management device, the fee shall be $54.

For each motor or electrical device rated from greater than 50 hp or 50 kw to 100 hp or 100 kw; for each service equipment panelboard, switchboard, switchgear, motor control center or disconnecting means rated from greater than 225 amperes to 1,000 amperes; and for each transformer or generator rated from greater than 45 kw or 45 kva to 112.5 kw or 112.5 kva, the fee shall be $116.

For each motor or electrical device rated greater than 100 hp or 100 kw; for each service equipment, panelboard, switch board, switchgear, motor control center or disconnecting means rated greater than 1,000 amperes; and for each transformer or generator rated greater than 112.5 kw or 112.5 kva, the fee shall be $576.

The fee charged for electrical work for each permanently installed swimming pool as defined in the building subcode, spa, hot tub or fountain shall be a flat fee of $65 which shall include any required bonding and associated equipment such as filter pumps, motors, disconnecting means, switches, required receptacles, and heaters, etc., excepting panelboards and underwater lighting fixtures. For public swimming pools, the fee shall be based on the number of electrical fixtures and ratings on electrical devices involved in accordance with Subsection F(1) through (5) above.

The fee charged for the installation of single- and multiple-station smoke or heat detectors and fire, burglar or security alarm systems in any one- or two-family dwelling shall be a flat fee of $29 per dwelling unit. For fire, burglar and security alarm systems and detectors in buildings, other than one- or two-family dwellings, the fee shall be charged in accordance with Subsection F(1) and (2) above.

For photovoltaic systems, the fee shall be based on the designed kilowatt rating of the solar photovoltaic system as follows:

For one to 50 kilowatts, the fee shall be $58.

For 51 to 100 kilowatts, the fee shall be $116.

For greater than 100 kilowatts, the fee shall be $576.

For installations consisting of multimeter stacks, the fee shall be based on the ampere rating of the main bus and not upon the number of meters or rating of disconnects on the meter stack. Individual loadside panel boards shall be charged in accordance with Subsection F (3), (4) and (5) above. There shall be no additional fee charged for the concurrent installation of individual feeder conductors.

(10)

For motors or similar devices requiring concurrent installation of individual controls, relays and switches, the fee shall be based only upon the rating of the motor or device. There shall be no additional fee charged for the concurrent installation of individual circuit components, for example, controllers, starters, and disconnecting means.

(11)

For electrical work requiring the replacement of service entrance conductors or feeder conductors only, the fee shall be in accordance with Subsection F(2) through (5) above based on the designated ampere rating of the overcurrent device of the service or feeder.

(12)

The fee charged for process equipment shall be based on the ampere rating of the overcurrent device protecting the conductor feeding the process equipment or cutoff device.

(13)

For the purpose of computing, all electrical and communications devices, utilization equipment and motors which are part of premises wiring, except those which are portable plug-in type, shall be counted.

(14)

For the inspection of an electrical service and the issuance of a cut-in card, as part of an electric utility request to install or unblock and electric meter, the fee shall be $54.

(15)

For an annual electrical inspection of swimming pools, spas or hot tubs, which are required to be inspected pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.18C, the fee shall be $54.

Fire protection subcode fees. For fire protection and hazardous equipment, sprinklers, standpipes, detectors (smoke and heat), pre-engineered suppression systems, gas- and oil- fired appliances not connected to the plumbing system, kitchen exhaust systems, incinerators and crematoriums, the fee shall be as follow:

The fee for 20 or fewer heads shall be $83; for 21 to and including 100 heads, the fee shall be $115; for 101 to and including 200 heads, the fee shall be $289; for 201 to and including 400 heads, the fee shall be $748; for 401 to and including 1,000 heads, the fee shall be $1,036; For over 1,000 heads, the fee shall be $1,323.

The fee for one to 12 detectors shall be $72; and for each additional 25 detectors or portion thereof, the fee shall be in the amount of $15.

The fee for each standpipe shall be $289.

The fee for each independent pre-engineered system shall be $116.

The fee for each gas- or oil-fired appliance that is not connected to the plumbing system shall be $58.

The fee for each kitchen exhaust system shall be $58.

The fee for each incinerator or crematorium shall be $365.

For single- and multiple-station smoke or heat detectors and fire alarm systems in any one- or two-family dwelling, there shall be a flat fee of $36 per dwelling unit. For detector and fire alarm systems in buildings other than one- or two-family dwellings, the fee shall be charged in accordance with Subsection G(2) above.

The fee for the installation of a flammable or combustible liquid storage tank in excess of 275 gallons' capacity in Use Groups R-3 and R-5 shall be $46. For all other use groups, the fee shall be $73 per tank.

Fees for certificates and other permits are as follows:

For a demolition or removal permit for a building or structure less than 5,000 square feet in area and less than 30 feet in height; for one- or two-family residences (Use Group R-3 or R-5) and structures on farms, including commercial farm buildings under N.J.A.C. 5:23-3.2(d), the fee shall be $82. For all other use groups the fee shall be $150. For the removal of a structure accessory to Use Group R-3 or R-5 and less than 200 square feet in area, the fee shall be $36.

For the removal or abandonment of an underground flammable or combustible liquid storage tank and accessory to a Use Group R-3 or R-5 of the building subcode the fee shall be $46. For all other use groups, the fee for underground storage tanks shall be $120. For the removal of an aboveground combustible or flammable liquid storage tank up to 660 gallons in capacity for all use groups shall be $39. For aboveground tanks over 660 gallons the fee shall be $120.

The fee for a permit to construct a sign shall be in the amount of $1.45 per square foot of surface area of the sign; computed on one side only for double-faced signs. The fees for signs with a surface area of 32 square feet or less shall be a flat fee of $46.

The fee for a certificate of occupancy shall be $65 for buildings in Use Groups R-3 and R-5 of the building subcode. For Use Groups A, B, E, F, H, I, R1, R2, R4, S, and U in the building subcode, the fee shall be $120. For buildings requiring the issuance of multiple certificates of occupancy for more than one dwelling or tenant space, the fee shall be $40 per tenant space, dwelling or unit area within the building.

The fee for a certificate of occupancy granted pursuant to a change of use group shall be $150.

The fee for a certificate of continued occupancy shall be $120.

The fee for the first issuance and the renewal of a temporary certificate of occupancy shall be $45 for all use groups.

The plan review fee of a building, for compliance under the alternate systems and nondepletable energy source provisions of the energy subcode, shall be $274 for one- and two-family homes (Use Groups R-3 or R-5 of the building subcode) and for light commercial structures having the indoor temperature controlled from a single point. For all other structures, the fee shall be $1,369.

The fee for an application for a variation in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.10 shall be $594 for Class I structures and $120 for Class II and Class III structures. The fee for a resubmission of an application for a variation shall be $229 for Class I structures and $65 for Class II and Class III structures.

(10)

The fee for a permit for lead hazard abatement work shall be $106. The fee for a lead abatement clearance certificate shall be $28.

(11)

The administrative fee for a construction permit issued for an asbestos hazard abatement project shall be $106.

An administrative fee for each certificate of occupancy issued following the completion of an asbestos hazard abatement project shall be $28.

(12)

For cross-connections and backflow preventers that are subject to testing and requiring an annual reinspection, the fee shall be $65 for each device when they are tested. In occupancies where multiple backflow preventers are inspected and tested on the same day, requiring one commute to the inspection site, the fee shall be $65 for the first device and $13 for each additional device. For other inspection arrangements requiring additional commutes to the inspection site, the fees shall repeat and be in addition to the initial inspection fees.

(13)

The fee for a mechanical inspection in a Use Group R-3 or R-5 structure by a mechanical inspector shall be a flat fee of $58 for the first installed device, appliance, or piece of equipment and $16 for each additional device, appliance, or piece of equipment. No separate fee shall be charged for the gas, fuel oil, or water-piping connections associated with the mechanical equipment.

Annual permit requirements and fees.

The fee for an annual construction permit shall be charged annually. This fee shall be a flat fee based upon the number of maintenance workers (including foremen) employed by the facility, and who are primarily engaged in work that is governed by a subcode. Managers, engineers, and clericals 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 for annual permits shall be as follows:

For one to 25 persons the fee shall be $667 per worker, and for each additional person over 25 the fee shall be $232 per worker.

Prior to the issuance of the annual permit, a training registration fee of $140 per subcode and a list of not more than three individuals to be trained per subcode shall be submitted by the applicant to the Department of Community Affairs, Bureau of Code Services, Training Section, along with a copy of a construction permit (Form F170). Checks shall be made payable to "Treasurer, State of New Jersey." The Department shall register these individuals and notify them of the courses being offered.

Elevator devices.

The fee for the plan review for elevator devices in structures of Use Groups R-3 and R-5 and for elevator devices within dwelling units in R-2 structures shall be $50 for each device.

The fee for plan review for elevator devices in all other use groups and the common area devices in Use Group R-2 shall be $260 for each device.