Chapter 129: Construction Codes, Uniform

§ 129-1 Enforcing agency established; subcode officials; business office.

There is hereby established in the Borough of Westwood a State Uniform Construction Code enforcing agency, to be known as the "Westwood Enforcement Agency," consisting of a Construction Official, Building Subcode Official, Plumbing Subcode Official, Electrical Subcode Official, Fire Protection Subcode Official, Elevator Subcode Official and such other subcode officials for each additional subcode as the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs, State of New Jersey, will hereafter adopt as part of the State Uniform Construction Code. The Construction Official shall be the chief administrator of the enforcing agency.

[Amended 1-18-2011 by Ord. No. 11-04]

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, as amended,[1] 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.

[1]

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

The public shall have the right to do business with the enforcing agency at one office location, except for emergencies and unforeseen circumstances.[2]

[2]

Editor's Note: Original § 36-2, Construction Board of Appeals, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 1-18-2011 by Ord. No. 11-04. The Construction Board of Appeals is at the Bergen County level, and no local Board is required.

§ 129-2 Schedule of fees.

[Amended 1-6-1991 by Ord. No. 90-28; 12-19-1995 by Ord. No. 95-18; 5-15-2001 by Ord. No. 01-06; 7-11-2006 by Ord. No. 06-06; 9-16-2008 by Ord. No. 08-31; 11-22-2011 by Ord. No. 11-14; 7-17-2012 by Ord. No. 12-19; 12-3-2013 by Ord. No. 13-32; 11-22-2016 by Ord. No. 16-27; 11-21-2017 by Ord. No. 17-28; 4-17-2018 by Ord. No. 18-10[1]; 12-20-2022 by Ord. No. 22-39]

The construction fees payable to the Borough of Westwood pursuant to the Uniform Construction Code shall be amended as follows:

General notes:
1.	The fees pertain to all use groups unless otherwise stated.
2.	All fees shall be calculated to the nearest whole dollar amount.

Type of Service				Fee
Building subcode fees
	Minimum fee
		R3/R5		$80
		All other uses and commercial		$115
	New construction, including additions, per cubic foot of volume			$0.053
		Minimum fee for any new principal structure (R5)		$1,200
		Minimum fee for any new accessory structure (R5)		$150
		Minimum fee for additions (R5)
			120 square feet or less	$285
			Greater than 120 square feet	$385
		Modular structure, per $1,000 of cost		$30
	Renovations, alterations and repairs
		Up to first $50,000 in cost, per $1,000		$30
		From $50,001 to $100,000 and over in cost, per $1,000		$28
		$100,001 and over in cost, per $1,000		$27
	Demolitions
		R5 Use Group, complete		$300
		All other use groups, complete		$700
		Interior demolition, all use groups		$150
		Garage or accessory building demolition, all use groups		$250
	Fuel storage tanks, removal or abandon
		Up to 275 gallons		$75
		276 to 1,000 gallons		$125
		Each additional 500 gallons		$50
	Moving a building, per $1,000 of estimated cost of work			$25
	Asbestos abatement with administrative certificate			$175
	Lead hazard abatement with certificate of clearance			$195
	Swimming pools: building permit only
		Aboveground pools		$150
		In-ground pools, per $1,000 of estimated cost		$30
	Sheds, per $1,000 of estimated cost			$30
	House and construction trailers, each			$150
	Tents over 900 square feet or 30 feet in length in 1 direction			$150
	Retaining walls 4 feet or more in height, per $1,000 of estimated cost			$30
	Signs, per square foot			$7
	Certificate of occupancy, U.C.C.
		Residential (new construction or rehabilitation)		$100
		Nonresidential		10% of permit fee
	Certificate of continued occupancy, U.C.C., applicant-requested
		General visual inspection by all subcode officials, per subcode		$100
	Temporary certificate of occupancy
		Initial issuance		No fee
		Subsequent renewals, each		$30
	Plan review (nonrefundable percentage of permit fee)			20%
	Change of contractor (plus any additional items or cost)			$45
	Withdrawn permit (administrative fee: percentage of permit fee)			30%
	Reinstatement of lapsed permit fee (percentage of original permit fee)			80%
	Permit surcharge			State-mandated; see N.J.A.C. 5:23-4.19(b)
	Variation application as per N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.10
		Class I structures		$550
		Class II and Class III structures		$200
		Resubmission, Class I structures		$200
		Resubmission, Class II and Class III structures		$100
	Special inspection request for a required code inspection, either before or after regular Building Department hours of business or on holidays and weekends			The current contractual hourly compensation rate (1 1/2 times their normal hourly salary) based on the amount of time required for said inspection, with a 2-hour minimum, in addition to any established permit and certificate fees
Electrical subcode fees
	Minimum fee
		R3/R5		$80
		All other uses and commercial		$115
	Electrical devices (lighting outlets, receptacles, switches, smoke and heat detectors, emergency lights, exit lights, communication points and fire alarm devices)
		1 to 20 devices		$80
		Each additional 20 devices		$45
		Dishwasher, disposal unit, instant hot, each		$50
		Temporary trailers, each (plus the service)		$60
	Motors (all except those in plug-in appliances)
		1 to 10 horsepower		$58
		11 to 50 horsepower		$100
		51 to 100 horsepower		$175
		Greater than 100 horsepower		$450
	Transformers/generators/appliance equipment/ovens, ranges, warming trays
		1 to 10 kilowatts		$55
		11 to 45 kilowatts		$80
		46 to 112.5 kilowatts		$120
		Over 112.5 kilowatts		$470
	Service entrance, panel, subpanel or disconnect (each)
		Up to 100 amps		$100
		101 to 200 amps		$120
		201 to 400 amps		$220
		401 to 1,200 amps		$560
		Over 1,201 amps		$810
		Additional meters included in service		$35
	Air-conditioning units (includes disconnect, compressor/condenser, air handler), each			$100
		Replacement of any system part		$65
	Burglar alarm system (complete)			$75
	Swimming pools (includes receptacle, switch, trench, bonding and equippotential bonding mat)			$190
		Hydromassage tub (interior)		$60
		Hot tub/spa, exterior (same as a pool)		$190
		Certificate of compliance; annual inspection for public swimming pools, spas and hot tubs		$135
Photovoltaic systems
	Solar modules
		1 to 20 modules		$85
		Each additional 20 modules		$45
		1 to 10 kilowatts		$80
		11 to 100 kilowatts		$135
		Greater than 100 kilowatts		$600
	Disconnects and inverters
		Up to 100 amps, each		$95
		101 to 200 amps, each		$115
EV Charging Station (Each)				$75
Elevator subcode fees				80% of state fees (subject to change by the state pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:23-12.6), plus 25% administrative fee
	Elevator plan review			In accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:23-4.20(c)6 and 7
Fire subcode fees
	Minimum fee
		R3/R5		$80
		All other uses and commercial		$115
	Photovoltaic systems
		R3/R5		$80
		All other uses commercial		$115
	Sprinkler systems, each
		Pipe schedule		$90
		Hydraulically calculated		$90
		R5 Use Group, 20 or fewer heads		$80
	Sprinkler system heads, all use groups
		1 to 20 heads		$90
		21 to 100 heads		$160
		101 to 200 heads		$297
		201 to 400 heads		$760
		401 to 1,000 heads		$1,060
		Over 1,000 heads		$1,940
	Sprinkler system supervisory devices (i.e., tamper switches low/high), each			$35
	Standpipes, each			$350
		Dry pipe/alarm valves, each		$85
		Preaction valves, each		$165
		Water service for a fire line		$150
	Fire alarm systems
		Control panels, R5 Use Group, each		$80
		Control panels, all other use groups, each		$100
	Fire alarm system devices (i.e., smoke detector heads, heat detector heads, pull stations, water flow alarms)
		1 to 20 devices		$80
		21 to 100 devices		$140
		101 to 200 devices		$300
		201 to 400 devices		$650
		401 to 1,000 devices		$850
		Over 1,000 devices		$1,200
	Fire alarm panel, new installation or replacement			$100
	Fire alarm system security devices (i.e., door locks, electromagnetic releases), each			$45
	Fire alarm system signaling devices (i.e., horns, strobes, bells), each			$15
	Independent preengineered systems, each
		Wet chemical system		$225
		All other systems		$200
	Gas- or oil-fired appliances, each
		R5 Use Group		$80
		All other use groups		$115
		Fireplaces		$85
	Metal chimney liner
		Residential		$85
		Commercial		$120
	Exhaust systems, each
		Commercial kitchen hood		$250
		Smoke control system		$350
	Incinerators or crematoriums, each			$375
	Fuel storage tanks, installation, each
		Up to 275 gallons		$85
		276 to 1,000 gallons		$110
		1,001 gallons to 5,000 gallons		$260
		Over 5,000 gallons		$525
	Fuel storage tanks, removal or abandon
		Up to 275 gallons		$80
		276 to 1,000 gallons		$135
		Each additional 500 gallons		$50
	Fire pump, each			$400
	Water service for fire line
		Up to 2-inch		$100
		2 1/2- to 5-inch		$200
		6-inch or larger		$300
Plumbing subcode fees
	Minimum fee
		R3/R5		$80
		All other uses and commercial		$115
	Fixtures (i.e., lavatories, kitchen sinks, basins, urinals, water closets, bathtubs, shower stalls, sill cocks, laundry tubs, floor drains, drinking fountains, dishwashers, garbage disposals, clothes washers and similar devices), each			$35
	Stacks, each			$60
	Special devices (i.e., grease traps, oil separators, refrigeration units, utility service connections, backflow preventers, gas service interceptors, and fuel oil piping), each			$85
	Utilization equipment (i.e., steam boilers, hot-water boilers, warm-air furnaces), each
		R5 Use Group		$85
		All other use groups		$110
	Air-conditioning units, each
		R5 Use Group		$85
		All other use groups		$95
	Water heaters, each
		R5 Use Group		$85
		All other use groups		$115
	Gas piping, each
		R5 Use Group		$80
		All other use groups		$90
	Vapor recovery systems, each			$100
		Required annual reinspections (i.e., cross-connections, backflow preventers)		$75
	Medical gas piping, per outlet			$40
	Septic tank removal			$110
	Lawn irrigation system (per system)			$85
	Annual testing of backflow preventers
		1 to 4 devices		$75 per device
		5 or more devices		$60 per device
Zoning
	Zoning permit (includes review for use and/or development)
		Initial		$60
		Amended application, each		$35
	Sign applications			$100
	Certificate for resale of residential and commercial property
		With 2 weeks' notice		$100
		With less than 2 weeks' notice		$150
	House resale reinspection			$50
	Application fee for outdoor dining (before April 1)			$100
	Application fee for outdoor dining (after April 1)			$250
	Certificate of use (business)			$225
	Lead paint, visual inspection per unit			$220
	Lead safe certificate (process from a third party)			$50
	Any letter from the Zoning Official for nonconformity, zone clarification, or permitted uses in a particular zone			$100
	Engineer's escrow, minimum to be posted when associated with a building permit			$1,000
Mechanical subcode fees for R-3 and R-5 Uses
		(A) Minimum fee		$85
		(B) Mechanical plan review		$85
		(C) Replacement
			Furnaces, boilers, AC and HVAC units	$85 per unit replaced
			Rooftop HVAC units	$140 per unit replaced
		(D) Installation of aboveground or underground fuel storage tanks
			Up to 275 gallons	$85 per unit
			276 to 1,000 gallons	$110 per unit
		(E) Fuel oil or gas piping connections		$85 per unit
		(F) New installations: fireplaces, solid-fuel stoves, boilers, furnaces, AC, HVAC, generators, chimneys and chimney relinings		$85 per unit
		(G) Each additional unit over the initial (Lines C. D. E, F from above)		$45 per unit
		(H) Duct systems		$85 per system
		(I) Metal chimney liner		$85
		(J) Water heater		$85

[1]

Editor’s Note: This ordinance provided an effective date of 6-1-2018.

§ 129-3 Waiver of fees for promoting accessibility by disabled persons. [1]

[Added 12-15-1998 by Ord. No. 98-24]

No person shall be charged a construction permit surcharge fee or enforcing agency fee for any construction, reconstruction, alteration or improvement designed and undertaken solely to promote accessibility by disabled persons to an existing public or private structure or any of the facilities contained therein.

[1]

Editor's Note: Editor's Note: Original § 36-4, Fire limits, as amended 10-28-1986 by Ord. No. 86-12, which immediately preceded this section, was repealed 1-18-2011 by Ord. No. 11-04.

§ 129-4 Exemption for historic structures; limitations.

[Added 3-16-2010 by Ord. No. 10-02]

Persons or entities who are the owners of homes or structures within the Borough of Westwood which have been designated as an historic landmark pursuant to Chapter 195, Article XXIII, Historic Preservation, shall receive an exemption, not to exceed $500, towards fees which would otherwise be payable to the Westwood Building Department for permits in connection with any construction activity (but not demolition), which includes restoration or preservation of any exterior feature of the structure so designated. This exemption shall be limited to one exemption per project and may not be used with any other exemption or Uniform Construction Code exemption.