[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Chester as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted by Ord. No. 96-06]
[Last amended 8-19-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-06]
The Borough of Chester shall charge fees for the various services rendered, as provided by the applicable municipal ordinance governing said service, in accordance with the following fee schedule:
Chapter
Section
Description
Amount
Ch. 9, Art. II
Board of Recreation Commissioners
§ 9-11
Recreation program fees
Use of gazebo, per day
$25.00
Use of municipal field
Private function, per day
$100.00
Large sale event, per day per concessionaire
$10.00
Field House event (for use by profit groups; private individual or family use; and community groups)
Up to 5 hours
$500 resident; $700 nonresident
After 5 hours (60 minutes or any part thereof equals 1 hour)
$100 per hour
Field House Meeting Room only
Up to 2 hours
$150 resident; $175 nonresident
After 2 hours
$75 per hour depending on scheduling and availability
For use by community groups
Up to 2 hours
No charge for one meeting in a month; $150 for second or subsequent meeting in the same month
After 2 hours
$75 per hour depending on scheduling and availability
There will be an additional $50 for the use of the outdoor grill
There will be a $100 security deposit on all event rentals
Ch. 55, Art. II
Police Department: Contracted Off-Duty Employment
§ 55-12A
Hourly rate of compensation for contracting the services of any off-duty member of the Chester Borough Police Department
$70/hour
§ 55-12B
Additional fee to cover administrative costs, overhead and out-of-pocket expenses of the Borough of Chester, per hour
$10.00
§ 55-12D
Payment for a patrol vehicle utilized during off-duty law enforcement services:
Per eight-hour shift
$40.00
In excess of initial eight hours, per hour
$10.00
Ch. 60
Finances
§ 60-1
Returned check fee
$20.00
Ch. 72, Art. I
Solid Waste Utility
§ 72-2
Annual customer billing
$400.00
Ch. 82
Alarms
§ 82-4
Police alarm permit fee
$20.00
Fire alarm installation permit (non-single-family residential):
Initial application fee
$25.00
Initial permit fee
$25.00
Renewal fee
$25.00
Fire alarm installation permit (single-family residential):
Initial application fee
$10.00
Initial permit fee
$10.00
Renewal fee
$10.00
§ 82-8
Automatic telephone trunkline, annual
$60.00
Ch. 85
Alcoholic Beverages
§ 85-3D
Liquor licenses, annual fees
Plenary retail consumption
$2,500.00
Plenary retail distribution
$2,500.00
Club license
$150.00
Ch. 88
Amusement Devices
§ 88-3
Proprietor's license
Initial license
$330.00
Annual renewal license
$175.00
§ 88-4
Device license, per device, annual
$35.00
§ 88-7
Amendment to increase devices
$10.00
Device transfer fee
$10.00
Ch. 91
Animals
Art. I
Dog Control
§ 91-1
Dog licenses:
Local license fee, neutered animal
$18.00
Local license fee, non-neutered animal
$21.00
State registration fee
$1.00
Pilot clinic fee
$0.20
Late fee, per month
$10.00
Replace lost tag or license
$3.50
Art. II
Pet Shops, Kennels, Shelter, Pounds
§ 91-9
Kennels, annual fees
Accommodating 10 or less dogs:
License fee
$50.00
Inspection fee
$35.00
Accommodating more than 10 dogs:
License fee
$100.00
Inspection fee
$35.00
Pet shops, annual fees
License fee
$50.00
Inspection fee
$25.00
Application late fee, per day:
$1.00
Reinspection fee, per reinspection
$35.00
Ch. 102
Fraudulent Checks
Check returned for insufficient funds
$20.00
Ch. 109
Uniform Construction Codes
§ 109-5
Construction permit
Minimum fee covering any and all building, plumbing and fire protection work
$65.00
The fee for a construction permit shall be the sum of the subcode fees listed in Schedules I-IV below.
Schedule I, Building Subcode
New construction, including additions, per cubic foot of the building or structure volume
All use groups
$0.030
Minimum fee for new construction and/or new additions
$150.00
Renovations, alterations and repairs, per $1,000 of estimated cost of work up to $50,000
All use groups
$24.00
Renovations, alterations and repairs per $1,000 of estimated cost of work between $50,001 and $100,000
All use groups
$20.00
Renovations, alterations and repairs per $1,000 of estimated cost of work over $100,000
All use groups
$18.00
Roof
$65.00
Siding
$65.00
Fence
$65.00
Pool:
Aboveground
$50.00
In-ground
$90.00
Asbestos removal
$65.00
Lead abatement
$90.00
No fee is required for ordinary repairs as the term is defined by regulations promulgated by the State of New Jersey
The combination of renovations and additions. fee shall be the sum of the fees computed separately as renovations and additions.
Reinstatement of a lapsed permit:
1/2 the original permit fee
Training fees
In accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:23-4.19
Schedule II, Plumbing Subcode
1. All use groups except R-3/R-4, per fixture, appliance and stack connected to the plumbing system except those listed in Subsection 2
$12.00
2. All use groups, except R-3/R-4, per grease trap, interceptor, water-cooled air-conditioning unit, refrigeration unit, water and sewer connections, backflow preventors, steam boilers, hot water boilers (except those for domestic water heating), active solar systems, sewer pump interceptors and cross connectors
$65.00
3. All use groups, except R-3/R-4, for all appliances connected to fuel oil piping or gas piping
$65.00
Schedule III, Electrical Subcode
As per current on-site inspection contract plus an administration fee of $15; fees shall be rounded to the nearest dollar.
Schedule IV, Fire Subcode
All use groups
1. Installation storage tanks (except Use Groups R-3/R-4):
Aboveground:
5,000 gallons or less, each
$25.00
5,001 - 12,000 gallons, each
$50.00
Over 12,000 gallons, each
$100.00
Underground
5,000 gallons or less, each
$50.00
5,001 - 12,000 gallons, each
$100.00
Over 12,000 gallons, each
$200.00
2. Alarm devices (e.g., smokes, heats, pulls, water/flow):
1 - 20
$35.00
21 - 100
$110.00
101 - 200
$215.00
201 - 400
$425.00
401 - 1,000
$775.00
Over 1,000
$980.00
3. Suppression systems
Dry pipe/alarm valves, each
$15.00
Pre-action valves, each sprinkler head (dry/wet)
$15.00
1 - 20
$60.00
21 - 100
$120.00
101 - 200
$212.00
201 - 400
$550.00
401 - 1,000
$800.00
Over 1,000
$1,050.00
Standpipes/hydrants, each
$100.00
Fire pump each
$100.00
4. Preengineered systems:
Suppression systems (e.g., wet chemical, dry chemical, CO2 suppression, foam suppression, halon suppression), each
$85.00
5. Kitchen exhaust system, each
$50.00
6. Appliances (except Use Groups R-3/R-4)
$25.00
Gas-fired
Oil-fired
Solid-fuel-fired, each
7. Chimney relining, each
$25.00
8. Spray booth, each
$50.00
9. Emergency and exit lights, each
$5.00
10. Installation of incinerators and crematoriums
$338.00
Schedule V, Mechanical Subcode Use Groups R-3/R-4
Installation of a water heater, fuel oil, or gas piping, steam boiler, hot water boiler, hot air furnace, oil tank, LPG tank or fireplace
$46.00
Plan review fees:
All use groups, per total amount to be charged for the construction permit
25%
Demolition permits
Demolition of storage tank
$50.00
All other use groups
$100.00
Removal permit
Residential
$65.00
All other use groups
$95.00
Sign: per square foot
$1.11
Elevators
Permit to install, and each reinspection for elevators, escalators, moving walks, and dumbwaiters for all use groups
As per N.J.A.C. 5:23-12.6
Five-year inspection and witnessing of tests
As per N.J.A.C. 5:23-12.6
Certificate of occupancy
Per cost of permit
10%
Minimum fee - residential
$65.00
Minimum fee - all other use groups
$95.00
Temporary certificate of occupancy
$100.00
Continued certificate of occupancy
$95.00
Use group change
$161.00
Plan review fees
All use groups, per total amount to be charged for the construction permit
20%
Demolitions: all use groups
Storage tanks
$50.00
Structures or buildings
$100.00
Removal permit:
Residential
$65.00
All other use groups
$95.00
Sign permits:
Per square foot
$1.50
Minimum fee
$46.00
Elevators - plan review
As per N.J.A.C. 5:23-4.20(c)6 and 7
Inspection and witnessing fees
As per N.J.A.C. 5:23-12.6(a), (b) and (c)
Certificates
Certificate of occupancy
10% per cost of permit
Minimum fee:
Residential
$65.00
All other use groups
$95.00
Temporary certificate of occupancy
$100.00
Continued certificate of occupancy
$95.00
Use group change
$161.00
Lead abatement clearance certificate
$25.00
Application for variation
$100.00
For cross-connections and backflow preventors that are subject to testing, requiring reinspection annually, per device when tested
$65.00
Ch. 132
Fire Prevention
Art. I
Local Enforcement of the Uniform Fire Safety Code
§ 132-8
State fire safety permits
§ 132-8A
Life hazard registrations
Fees determined by and collected by the State of New Jersey
Application fee:
Type 1
$42.00
Type 2
$116.00
Type 3
$331.00
Type 4
$497.00
§ 132-8C
Non-life hazard uses
Annual registration fees:
Less than 1,200 square feet gross floor area
$25.00
1,200 square feet or greater gross floor area
$50.00
Certificate of Fire Code status
$50.00
§ 132-8E
Change of occupancy - Fire Official's certificate of smoke detector compliance:
If requested at least 10 days prior to change of occupant
$35.00
If requested four to 10 days prior to change of occupant
$70.00
If requested fewer than four days prior to change of occupant
$125.00
Ch. 144
Games of Chance
§ 144-2
Bingo, per occasion
State fee
$20.00
Local fee
$20.00
Raffles
On premises 50/50, per day
Under $400 in total prizes awarded
No fee
Over $400 in total prizes awarded:
State fee
$20.00
Local fee
$20.00
On-premises merchandise, per day:
State fee
$20.00
Local fee
$20.00
Off-premises 50/50, per $1,000 or part thereof of retail prize value:
State fee
$20.00
Local fee
$20.00
Off-premises merchandise, per $1,000 or part thereof of retail prize value:
State fee
$20.00
Local fee
$20.00
Non-draw raffle, for each wheel or game on any day or series of 6 days:
State fee
$20.00
Local fee
$20.00
Calendar raffle:
State fee
$20.00
Local fee
$20.00
Ch. 148
Public Garages, Service Stations, Bulk Gas and Oil Storage Plants
§ 148-3
Application fee
$50.00
Ch. 153
Horse-Drawn Carriage Tours
§ 153-4
License application fee
$150.00
Ch. 159, Art. II
Business Insurance Registration
§ 159-14
Registration fee
$25
Ch. 163
Land Development and Procedures
Applications for development
Refer to Land Development and Procedures, Fee Schedule 1 through Fee Schedule 3 (§ 163-29)
Special business license
$100.00 (per sale day)
§ 163-77B(1)(a) (Zoning permits)
New house
$100.00
Additions
$100.00
All pools
$50.00
Fences, sheds, decks, patios, and other accessory structures
$50.00
All sign permits
$50.00
Zoning permit certificate of nonconformity
$125.00
Zoning verification letter
$50.00
Change in nonresidential use/occupancy
$75.00
Driveway replacement/expansion/new construction
$50.00
§ 163-90D
Temporary banners
$50
Ch. 168
Limousine and Livery Service
License for a limousine or livery service:
Operator's license, per year
$100.00
Vehicle fee, per vehicle per year
$20.00
Ch. 170
Massage, Bodywork and Somatic Therapy Establishment
§ 170-4
Annual permit fee for establishment
$100.00
§ 170-8
Fingerprint fee
State Police fee
Provisional permit fee for individual
$100.00
Ch. 178, Art. I
Special Business Licenses
§ 178-4D
Fee for special business license
$25.00 per day
Ch. 180
Business Licenses
Fee for business license
$75.00
§ 180-3
Inspection
$50.00
Ch. 192
Sewers and Water
§ 192-10A
Tapping fees for taps, supply pipes and accessories
Time and materials plus 10%
§ 192-10B
Minimum deposit at time of application
$100.00
§ 192-10C
Renewal of supply pipes
Time and materials plus 10%
§ 192-17
Removal/Repair of frozen meter
Cost of repair plus $25.00
§ 192-18B
Permit to fill cistern, surface pond or swimming pool over 5,000 gallons
$25.00
§ 192-18E
Water turn-on charge
$20.00
§ 192-18F
Water turn-on charge
$20.00
Water turnoff charge
$20.00
§ 192-19B
Water turn-on charge
$20.00
§ 192-20
Water rates
Up to the first 8,000 gallons, quarterly
$47.50
Over 8,000 gallons, per each additional 1,000 gallons or portion thereof, quarterly
$4.15
§ 192-27D(3)(a)
Inspection fee for grease, oil and sand interceptors
$200.00
§ 192-28B(4)
Sewer permit fees
Residential uses
$75.00
Public outbuildings and commercial uses
$150.00
Establishments producing industrial wastes, laboratory wastes or both
$225.00
User fee - actual volume: For the first 10,000 gallons consumed in each quarter
$200.00
User fee - actual volume: Per gallon in excess of 10,000 gallons in each quarter
$0.0225
User fee - actual volume of restaurants not equipped with outside grease trap as per Borough requirements, per gallon
$0.150
Minimum quarterly user fee
$181.25
Connection fee
The dollar amount of debt service from the inception of the sewer utility plus funds expended on sewer capital projects plus funds reserved for future capital projects minus any legal settlements received (recovery costs) divided by the number of existing equivalent connections in the Borough multiplied by the number of equivalent connections granted
Sewer application administrative fee
$100.00
§ 192-33
User fee-actual volume:
For the first 15,000 gallons consumed in each quarter
$191.25
Per gallon in excess of 15,000 gallons in each quarter
$0.0185
User fee-actual volume of restaurants not equipped with outside grease trap as per Borough requirements, per gallon
$0.150
§ 192-33
Business permit-application fee
$75.00
Ch. 197
Soil Control
§ 197-5
Land disturbance permit application fee
$100.00
Land disturbance permit review escrow
See § 204-4
Land disturbance permit inspection escrow
See § 204-4
§ 197-11
Soil erosion/sediment control plan filing fee
Major subdivision
$150.00
Additional fee per lot
$15.00
Soil erosion/sediment control plan filing fee-site plan
$150.00
Additional fee
5% of the control measure's estimated cost or $450, whichever is greater
Soil erosion/sediment control plan filing fee, all other purposes
$150.00
Additional fee
5% of the control measure's estimated cost or $450, whichever is greater
§ 197-21
Soil moving permit application fee
$50.00
Minor soil moving permit review escrow
$150.00
Major soil moving permit, basic review escrow
$300.00
Major soil moving, additional escrow, per cubic yard of soil to be moved
$0.05
Ch. 202
Farmers' Markets
§ 202-9
Farmer's Market Concessionaire
Per 10x10 area
$500
Per 10x20 area
$800
§ 202-9
Market proprietor’s license fee per calendar year
$100/year
§ 202-9
Market concessionaire’s license fee
$10/day (to be split evenly with Recreation Commission if held on recreation property)
§ 202-9A
Fee for clean-up and removal of trash and debris after farmer's markets
$350
Ch. 203
Special Events
§ 203-3B
License fee for concessionaire's license, per day
$10.00
§ 203-7
Special event proprietor’s license fee per calendar year
First event (per year)
$0.00
Each subsequent event (per year)
$100.00
§ 203-7A
Fee for cleanup and removal of trash and debris after special events
$350
Ch. 204
Stormwater Management
§ 204-4
Application to Land Use Board
$0.00
Application to Borough Engineer for review of plan - minor
$250.00
Application to Borough Engineer for review of plan - major
$1,000.00
Inspection escrow
To be determined
§ 204-10
Annual stormwater maintenance permit fee
$50
Ch. 205
Streets and Sidewalks
Art. I
Excavations
§ 205-2D
Road opening permits
Road opening application
$100
Borough Engineer review and inspection escrow for opening up to 50 linear feet
$500
Borough Engineer review and inspection escrow for opening up to 50 to 100 linear feet
$750
Borough Engineer review and inspection escrow for opening up to 100 to 250 linear feet
$1,000
Borough Engineer review escrow plus inspection escrow to be calculated by Borough Engineer for openings more than 250 linear feet
$1,000
Borough Engineer review and inspection escrow for utility service connections for approved public utilities
$350
Borough Engineer review and inspection fee for Borough residents only
$250
Art. III
Storm Sewers, Culverts and Ditches
§ 205-25
Application for waiver of prohibited excavations as per § 205-24
$100
Ch. 206
Mobile Vendors
§ 206-7
Mobile vendors
$500
Ch. 207
Peddlers, Solicitors and Canvassers
§ 207-4
Peddlers, solicitors and canvassers license
$500
Ch. 211
Swimming Pool, Chester Area
§ 211-6
One-Time Initiation Fee
Family, resident
$355
Family, nonresident
$455
Couple, resident
$280
Couple, nonresident
$355
Single adult 21+, resident
$180
Single adult 21+, nonresident
$230
Senior 62+
$50
§ 211-6
Annual Fee
Family, resident
$480
Family, nonresident
$590
Family caregiver/nanny
$135
Couple, resident
$375
Couple, nonresident
$430
Single adult 21+, resident
$295
Single adult 21+, nonresident
$345
Senior 62+
$100
Early Bird Swim
$50
Swim team
$100
Convenience fee for credit cards (senior citizen members exempt from convenience fee)
5%
§ 211-6
Daily Fee
Guest pass
$10
Ch. 213
Temporary Secondary Signs
§ 213-3
Temporary secondary sign (one-sided)
$25.00
§ 213-3
Temporary secondary sign (two-sided)
$50.00
Ch. 214
Towing
§ 214-3
Towing list:
Application
$200.00
Two-year license
$400.00
Towing services:
Days:
First mile or less
$40.00
Each additional mile
$1.75
Nights, weekends, and NJ state holidays:
First mile or less
$50.00
Each additional mile
$1.75
Storage services, per day:
Inside building, storage facility capacity:
21 or more spaces
$15.00
10 - 20 spaces
$20.00
Less than 20 spaces
$25.00
Outside secured, storage facility capacity:
21 or more spaces
$10.00
10 - 20 spaces
$12.00
Less than 10 spaces
$12.00
Outside unsecured, storage facility capacity:
21 or more spaces
$8.00
10 - 20 spaces
$10.00
Less than 20 spaces
$12.00
Ch. 218
Trailers and Trailer Parks
§ 218-3
Trailer park
Annual license fee
$600.00
Monthly charge per occupied site
$15.00
If occupancy is less than full month, per-day occupancy charge
$1.00
License transfer fee
$250.00
Ch. 225
Vehicles and Traffic
§ 225-13
Abandoned vehicles impound storage fee, per day
$10.00
Ch. 238
Business Licenses
§ 238-1
Application fee
$50.00
Ch. 244
Retail Food Establishments
§ 244-5
Annual license fee:
Supermarket:
Seats for 1 - 15 persons
$300.00
Seats for over 15 persons
$400.00
Stores without seats
$175.00
Stores with only candy or prepackaged goods (food items not being the main product sold)
$50.00
Restaurant, cafeteria, store with seats, hotel, bed-and-breakfast:
With seats for 1 - 25 persons
$175.00
With seats for 26 - 75 persons
$270.00
With seats for over 75 persons
$400.00
Church having kitchen facility
$15.00
Agricultural market or roadside stand licensed pursuant to Ch. 186 of the Borough Code
$135.00
Farmers' market concessionaire
$70.00
Vehicle, cart or movable facility or display, licensed pursuant to Ch. 203 of the Borough Code
$100.00
Concessionaires licensed pursuant to Ch. 203 of the Borough Code, per special event
$35.00
Non-profit-making vendor as defined in Ch. 203 of the Borough Code
No fee
Nonprofit organization described in Ch. 203 of the Borough Code operating with a special permit issued by the Municipal Clerk
No fee
Veteran or volunteer fireman holding a special license pursuant to N.J.S.A. 45:24-9 or 10:
Per special event
$35.00
Per annum
$100.00
Ch. 256
Individual Sewage Disposal Systems
§ 256-13
Individual subsurface sewage disposal systems
Test observation and inspection fees, per lot or proposed lot, per day
$100.00
Application filing fee:
Construct new system (plus escrow deposit for estimated technical review fees, at cost)
$700.00
Permit to alter an existing system if the plan includes a new field (plus escrow deposit for estimated technical review fees, at cost)
$700.00
Permit to alter an existing system if the plan does not include a new field (plus escrow deposit for estimated technical review fees, at cost)
$350.00
Permit to repair an existing system
$100.00
Reinspection fees, per lot for each reinspection
$100.00
Technical review fees
At cost
Review of development plan for proposed subdivision or proposed site plan for report to Planning Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment
$300.00
For submission to the Board of Health of a request for an initial determination as to whether it would be necessary to alter an existing individual subsurface sewage disposal system in order to provide an adequate and appropriate system to serve an existing structure currently devoted to residential use if the structure were enlarged or otherwise modified, provided that the resulting structure would continue to be used exclusively for residential purposes
$100.00
For submission to the Board of Health of a request for an initial determination as to whether it would be necessary to alter an existing individual subsurface sewage disposal system in order to provide an adequate and appropriate system to serve a proposed modification, enlargement or change in use of an existing structure if the structure would be used in whole or in part for any nonresidential purpose
$300.00
Every request for an initial determination shall be accompanied by all available information as to the existing system and the proposed modification or enlargement of any existing structure and the proposed new use of the property.
A fee under this subsection shall not be required in the event that the question as to the adequacy of an existing individual subsurface sewage disposal system to serve a proposed use is presented in connection with an application for site plan approval filed with the Board of Health.
A fee paid pursuant to this subsection is separate from and shall not be credited towards any other fee which may subsequently be required under this section.
Ch. 262
Individual Water Supply Systems
Permit fee, new individual water supply system (plus escrow deposit for estimated technical review fees, at cost)
$250.00
Each necessary reinspection, per hour or part thereof
$50.00
Inspection of double check valve installed in interconnected water supply systems:
Two-inch line, per annum
$100.00
Larger line, per annum
$150.00
Certificate of potable water supply
$15.00
Ch. A268
Cable TV Franchise
§ A268-6
Franchise fee - cable TV per gross revenues from all recurring charges from subscription fees
2%
MISCELLANEOUS
Miscellaneous fees
As per N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5b