[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Raritan 1-25-1977; amended in its entirety 9-27-1994 (Ch. 20 of the 1966 Code). Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Unfit buildings — See Ch. 113.
Fire prevention — See Ch. 167.
Housing standards — See Ch. 195.
Land use and development — See Ch. 207.
Plumbing fees and charges — See Ch. 255.
Property maintenance — See Ch. 262.
A. 
There is hereby established in the Borough of Raritan a State Uniform Construction Code enforcing agency, to be known as the "Borough of Raritan Building Department," consisting of a Construction Official, Building Subcode Official, Plumbing Subcode Official, Electrical Subcode Official, Elevator Subcode Official, Fire Protection Subcode Official and such of the 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 Act.[1] The Construction Official shall be the chief administrator of the enforcing agency.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 52:27D-119 et seq.
B. 
Each official position created in Subsection A hereof shall be filled by a person qualified for such position pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:23-1.1 et seq., R. 1993, d. 106, provided that, in lieu of any particular subcode official, an on-site inspection agency may be retained by a contract pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:23-1.1 et seq. More than one such official position may be held by the same person, provided that such person is qualified pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:23-1.1 et seq., codified in N.J.S.A. 52:27D-123 et seq., to hold each 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.
[Amended 12-14-2010 by Ord. No. 10-16]
A. 
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 rating of electrical devices, the number of sprinklers, standpipes and detectors (smoke and heat) at the unit rates and/or the applicable flat fees as provided herein, plus any special fees.
(1) 
The building subcode fee(s) shall be:
(a) 
New construction and additions. The fee for new structures and additions shall be $0.035 per cubic foot of volume of new structures and additions; volume shall be computed in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.28. The minimum fee for new structures and additions shall be $200, except, for prefabricated utility sheds less than 200 square feet, the minimum fee shall be $50.
(b) 
Alterations. The fee for alterations to existing structures shall be $25 per $1,000 of estimated cost. The minimum fee for alterations shall be $50.
(c) 
For combination of new additions and alterations, the fee shall be the sum of the fees computed separately.
(d) 
Signs. The fee for a permit to construct a sign shall be:
[1] 
For pylon signs, the fee shall be $5 per square foot.
[2] 
For all other signs, the fee shall be $4 per square foot.
[3] 
The minimum fee for a sign shall be $50.
(e) 
Swimming pools. The fee for the installation of a swimming pool shall be:
[1] 
For one- and two-family residential dwellings, the permit fee shall be $150 for in-ground and $75 for aboveground.
[2] 
For all other use groups, the permit fee shall be $200 for each pool.
(f) 
Demolition. The permit fees for the demolition of a structure shall be:
[1] 
Commercial and industrial: $300 per structure.
[2] 
Residential: $125 per story.
[3] 
Accessory structures such as utility sheds and garages: $50 per structure.
(g) 
Flammable or combustible storage tanks. The permit fee for the removal or abandonment of storage tanks shall be:
[1] 
Residential tanks:
[a] 
Underground: $75.
[b] 
Aboveground: $50.
[2] 
Commercial tanks:
[a] 
Up to 2,000 gallons: $100.
[b] 
Over 2,000 gallons: $200.
(h) 
Certificate of occupancy. The fee for a certificate of occupancy shall be 5% of the permit fee. The minimum fee shall be $100 for R-5 Residential and $200 for all other use groups. The fee for the certificate of occupancy must be paid prior to the issuance of a temporary or final certificate of occupancy. If the temporary certificate of occupancy expires prior to the issuance of the final certificate of occupancy, a fee of 50% of the original certificate of occupancy fee will be required. The fee for a certificate of continued occupancy shall be $50.
(i) 
Application for variation. The fee for a variation filed in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.10 shall be $550 for Class I structures and $150 for Class II and Class III structures.
(j) 
Special event tents. The permit fee for a temporary tent shall be $100 per tent.
(k) 
Renewal of existing or expired permit. The fee for the renewal of any existing or expired permit shall be equal to 50% of the original permit fee charged.
(2) 
Minimum fee. The minimum building permit fee shall be $50.
(3) 
The plumbing subcode fee(s) shall be:
(a) 
Plumbing fixtures. The permit fee for plumbing fixtures shall be $20 per fixture (water closet, urinal, bidet, lavatory, sink, floor drain, hose bib, bathtub, shower, drinking fountain, washing machine, dishwasher).
(b) 
Special devices. The permit fee for special devices shall be $85 per device (utility service connection, ejector pumps, steam shower, boiler, testable backflow preventer, grease trap, interceptors); there shall be no fee charged for gas service connections.
(c) 
Minimum fee. The minimum plumbing permit fee shall be $50.
(4) 
The electrical subcode fee(s) shall be:
(a) 
Electrical fixtures and devices: lights, receptacles, switches, sensors, dimmers, alarm devices, smoke and heat detectors, communications outlets, emergency lights, or similar electric fixtures and devices rated 20 amperes or less, including motors or equipment less than one horsepower (hp) or one kilowatt (kw).
(b) 
For the first block consisting of one to 50 devices, the permit fee shall be $55; for each additional block consisting of up to 25 additional devices, the permit fee shall be $25.
(c) 
Signs. The permit fee for the first sign shall be $50 and for each additional sign on the same permit, $25.
(d) 
Swimming pools. The permit fee shall be $150 for an in-ground pool and $75 for an aboveground pool.
(e) 
The permit fee for an annual pool inspection shall be $125.
(f) 
Heating equipment. The permit fee for a furnace or boiler shall be $50.
(g) 
Electric heat. The permit fee for electric heat shall be $50 per unit up to six kw and $75 for each unit over six kw. Each additional heating unit shall be $25.
(h) 
Service and subpanels. The permit fee for electric service and subpanels shall be:
[1] 
Up to 150 amps: $60.
[2] 
One-hundred-fifty-one to 300 amps: $75.
[3] 
Three-hundred-one to 800 amps: $250.
[4] 
Eight-hundred-one to 1,000 amps: $600.
[5] 
Over 1,000 amps: $800.
(i) 
Transformers and generators. The permit fee for transformers and generators shall be:
[1] 
Up to 45 kva: $50.
[2] 
Between 45 kva and 112.5 kva: $75.
[3] 
Over 112.5 kva: $250.
(j) 
Air-conditioning equipment. The permit fee for air-conditioning equipment shall be:
[1] 
Five tons or less: $50.
[2] 
Between five and 10 tons: $75.
[3] 
Over 10 tons: $100.
(k) 
Motors. The permit fee for electric motors shall be:
[1] 
One hp to 10 hp: $30.
[2] 
Eleven hp to 50 hp: $60.
[3] 
Fifty-one hp to 100 hp: $120.
[4] 
Over 100 hp: $500.
(l) 
Photovoltaic systems. The permit fee for photovoltaic systems shall be:
[1] 
One to 50 kw: $75.
[2] 
Fifty-one to 100 kw: $150.
[3] 
Greater than 100 kw: $600.
(m) 
Minimum fee. The minimum electrical permit fee shall be $50.
(5) 
The fire protection subcode fee(s) shall be:
(a) 
Fire sprinkler systems. The fee for fire sprinkler systems shall be:
[1] 
One to 20 heads: $100.
[2] 
Over 20 heads: an additional $3 per head.
[3] 
For each standpipe, the fee shall be $300.
(b) 
Fire-detection systems. The fee for detectors shall be:
[1] 
R-5 Residential uses up to 12 devices: $60.
[2] 
R-5 Residential uses over 12 devices: an additional $3 per device.
[3] 
All other use groups except R-5 systems panel: $75.
[4] 
All other use groups except R-5 systems devices one to 12: $75.
[5] 
All other use groups except R-5 systems devices over 12: $5 each.
(c) 
Preengineered systems. The fee for each preengineered system shall be $150.
(d) 
Fuel storage tanks. The fee for the installation of storage tanks shall be:
[1] 
Each tank up to 2,000 gallons shall be $75.
[2] 
Each tank over 2,000 gallons shall be $200.
(e) 
Kitchen exhaust system. The fee for each kitchen exhaust system shall be $100.
(f) 
Mechanical systems. The fee for each mechanical system requiring a fire-protection permit shall be:
[1] 
For R-5 Residential, the fee shall be $75 for new installations and $50 for replacements or appliances or devices with like equipment.
[2] 
For all other use groups, the fee shall be $100 for new installations and replacements.
(g) 
Chimney liners. The fee for each chimney liner shall be:
[1] 
In R-5 Residential uses, the fee shall be $75.
[2] 
In all other use groups, the fee shall be $125.
(h) 
Minimum fee. The minimum fire-protection permit fee shall be $50.
(6) 
Any fees that have not been specified in this section shall be in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:23-4.19 of the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code.
B. 
Fee schedule reports: the Construction Official shall, with the advice of the subcode officials, prepare and submit to the Mayor and Borough Council of the Borough of Raritan, as required by the Department of Community Affairs and set forth in the New Jersey Administrative Code, N.J.A.C. 5:23-1.1 et seq., and as amended from time to time by the Department of Community Affairs, a report recommending a fee schedule based upon the operation expenses of the agency and any other expenses of the municipality fairly attributable to the enforcement of the State Uniform Construction Code Act, N.J.S.A. 52:27D-123 et seq.
C. 
Surcharge fees. In order to provide for the training certification and technical support programs required by the State Uniform Construction Code Act, N.J.S.A. 52:27D-123 et seq., and as required by the Department of Community Affairs and set forth in the New Jersey Administrative Code, N.J.A.C. 5:23-1.1 et seq., the enforcing agency shall collect, in addition to the fees indicated above, the requisite surcharge per cubic foot of volume of new construction. Said surcharge fee shall be remitted to the Department of Community Affairs as required in the New Jersey Administrative Code, N.J.A.C. 5:23-1.1 et seq.
D. 
Waiver of certain fees following widespread catastrophic events.
[Added 10-25-2011 by Ord. No. 11-13]
(1) 
Widespread catastrophic events are sudden, natural or man-made situations where damage or destruction occurs which impacts a significant number of Borough residents.
(2) 
All fees for construction imposed by this chapter, except those fees for subcode inspections not performed by Borough employees, for repair, reconstruction, or demolition of buildings or structures damaged during a widespread catastrophic event shall be waived for the owner, tenant, or person responsible for repair, reconstruction or demolition.
(3) 
Declaration of a widespread catastrophic event will be made by resolution of the Borough Council. Such resolution will include the cause of the event; areas impacted by the event and subject to a waiver of fees; and the time frame during which fees will be waived.