Borough of Wallington, NJ Chapter 185 Construction Codes, Uniform

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Wallington 1-2-1977 by Ord. No. 76-12 (Ch. 157 of the 1992 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Certificates of continued occupancy — See Ch. 178.

Fire prevention — See Ch. 212.

Floodplain management — See Ch. 220.

Sewers — See Ch. 296.

Subdivision of land and site plan review — See Ch. 330.

Water — See Ch. 355.

Zoning — See Ch. 365.

§ 185-1 Enforcing agency.

A. There is hereby established in the Borough of Wallington a State Uniform Construction Code enforcing agency to be known as the "Wallington Construction Code 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, as amended and supplemented,[1] and N.J.A.C. 5:23 et seq., 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 the above-cited laws and regulations to hold each such position.

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

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.

§ 185-2 Construction Board of Appeals.

A. There is hereby established a Construction Board of Appeals to hear appeals from decisions by the enforcing agency. Such Board shall consist of five members, at least one of whom shall be a registered architect or licensed professional engineer of building construction experience. At least one member shall be qualified as a plumbing subcode official, and at least one member shall be qualified as an electrical subcode official. No more than two Board members shall be selected from the same business or profession. Each Board member shall have at least three years' experience in construction, design or supervision as a licensed engineer or registered architect or, in the alternative, five years' experience in construction, design or supervision as an architect or engineer, with a bachelor's degree in architecture or engineering, respectively, from an accredited institution of higher education or, as a further alternative, 10 years of experience in construction, design or supervision as a journeyman in a construction trade or as a construction contractor, subcontractor or inspector.

B. The Borough Council shall appoint the Board members and any alternate members. For the members first appointed, the Borough Council shall designate the appointees' terms so that one shall be appointed for a term of one year, one for a term of two years, one for a term of three years and two for terms of four years. At the expiration of such terms and thereafter, appointments shall be made for terms of four years each. All vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term. The Borough Council shall appoint such number of alternates as may be appropriate for terms not to exceed four years or, in the alternative, may appoint alternates on a case-by-case basis. No regular or alternate Board member may be a member of the enforcing agency, the decisions of which are subject to the review of the Board.

C. The members of the Board shall receive no compensation but shall be reimbursed for all expenses incurred as a result of their duties.

D. Until such time as members are appointed to the Board mentioned above, the applicant may appeal directly to the Construction Board of Appeals, County of Bergen.

[Added 12-20-1993 by Ord. No. 93-19]

§ 185-3 Fee Schedule.

[Amended 8-18-1988 by Ord. No. 88-4; 12-20-1993 by Ord. No. 93-19; 2-24-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-04; 7-26-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-7]

The fee for a construction permit shall be the sum of the subcode fees listed in Subsections A through D hereof and shall be paid before the permit is issued.

A. The building subcode fee shall be:

(1) For new construction of buildings and structures:

(a) Per cubic foot of new volume created: $0.38.

(b) The minimum fee for a main building and accessory building shall be $100.

(2) For renovations, alterations, repairs, roofing, siding, signs, decks, etc.:

(a) Per $1,000 estimated cost: $34.

(b) The minimum fee shall be $60.

(3) Swimming pools.

(a) Aboveground: $75.

(b) In-ground: $200.

(c) Public: $200.

(4) Local permits as follows shall be a set fee of $75:

(a) Sheds less than 1200 square feet.

(b) Fences up to six feet.

(c) Driveways.

(d) Retaining walls under four feet.

(5) Temporary structures (tents) in excess of 900 square feet or more than 30 feet in any dimension: $125.

(6) Demolition of structures.

(a) Floor area of 500 square feet or less: $50.

(b) Floor area of 501 to 1,500 square feet: $100.

(c) Floor area of 1,501 to 5,000 square feet: $150.

(d) Over 5,000 square feet: $300.

(7) Demolition of oil tanks.

(a) One to 500 gallons: $100.

(b) 501 to 1,000 gallons: $150.

(c) 1,001 gallons and up: $250.

(8) Asbestos abatement, as per New Jersey Department of Community Affairs: $195.

(a) Certificate: $35.

(9) Lead abatement, as per New Jersey Department of Community Affairs: $195.

(a) Certificate: $35.

(10) Minimum building fee: $60.

B. The plumbing subcode fee shall be:

(1) The plumbing subcode fees for fixtures, devices, plumbing stacks and utility service connections, including sewer connections and water service connections, shall be:

(a) Water closet/bidet/urinals; bathtub/lavatory/sink; shower/floor drain; washing machine/dishwasher; hose bibs/water coolers; garbage disposal indirect connection; vent stacks: $15 for each of the above.

(b) Special devices: grease traps/oil separators; water/cooled air conditioners; refrigeration units; water heaters; water and sewer utility connection; sewer pump/back flow preventers; steam boilers/gas piping/hot-water boilers; active solar systems; interceptors/fuel oil piping; swimming pool heater; lawn sprinklers: $85 for each of the above.

(2) Minimum plumbing fee: $60.

C. The electrical subcode fee shall be:

(1) The electrical subcode fees for electrical fixtures and devices shall be:

(a) Switches/fixtures; receptacles/smoke detectors; carbon monoxide detectors, lightpoles; motors (fraction HP)/emergency lights; communications points/ alarm devices:

[1] One to 50: $50.

[2] Each additional 25: $10.

(b) Devices/generators/transformers; ranges, ovens, surface units; water heater/dryer/dishwasher; central A/C unit/space heater, air handler/baseboard heat; sign/outside light, etc.:

[1] 1.0 kw to 10 kw: $15 each.

[2] 10.1 kw to 50 kw: $65 each.

[3] 50.1 kw to 112.5 kw: $125 each.

[4] Over 112.5 kw: $640 each.

(c) Motors, including garbage disposal, space heaters/air handler, etc.:

[1] 1 hp to 10 hp: $15 each.

[2] 11 hp to 50 hp: $65 each.

[3] 51 hp to 100 hp: $125 each.

[4] Over 100 hp: $640 each.

(d) Service panels/service entrance subpanels, motor control center; all temporary service, etc.:

[1] 0 amps to 225 amps: $65 each.

[2] 226 amps to 1,000 amps: $125 each.

[3] Over 1,000 amps: $640 each.

(e) All pool permits with UW lights; storable pool/spa/hot tub, bonding: $75 each.

(f) Solar photovoltaic system:

[1] 1 kw to 50 kw: $65 each.

[2] 51 kw to 100 kw: $125 each.

[3] Over 100 kw: $640 each.

(2) Minimum electrical fee: $60.

D. The fire subcode fees shall be:

(1) Sprinkler heads:

(a) One to 20: $90.

(b) 21 to 100: $165.

(c) 101 to 200: $320.

(d) 201 to 400: $830.

(e) 401 to 1,000: $1,150.

(f) Over 1,000: $1,450.

(2) Smoke detectors:

(a) 1 to 12: $50.

(b) Each additional 25: $17.

(3) The fee for each standpipe shall be $320.

(4) The fee for each yard hydrant shall be $50.

(5) The fee for each independent preengineered system shall be $125.

(6) The fee for each gas- or oil-fired appliance that is not connected to the plumbing system shall be $65.

(7) The fee for each kitchen exhaust system shall be $65.

(8) The fee for each incinerator shall be $510.

(9) The fee for each crematorium shall be $510.

(10) The fee for fire alarm systems bells, pull boxes, and annunciators shall be:

(a) For one to 10: $50.

(b) Each additional five: $10.

(11) For equipment to burn or store oil or flammable liquids, the fee shall be as follows:

(a) For each tank up to 999 gallons: $75.

(b) For each tank 1,000 to 2,999 gallons: $100.

(c) For each tank 3,000 to 4,999 gallons: $175.

(d) For each tank 5,000 gallons and over: $300.

(12) Minimum fire fee: $60.

E. Variations.

(1) Residential: $165.

(2) Nonresidential: $820.

F. Certificate of occupancy.

(1) The fee for a certificate of occupancy for all new construction or additions shall be 10% of the cost of permit for all zones with a minimum fee of $100.

(2) The fee for a certificate of occupancy for all and change of use shall be $150.

§ 185-4 Recommendations for fee changes.

The Construction Official shall, with the advice of the Subcode Officials, prepare and submit to the Borough Council biannually a report recommending a fee schedule based on the operating expenses of the agency and any other expenses of the municipality fairly attributable to the enforcement of the State Uniform Construction Code Act.[1]

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

§ 185-5 Surcharge.

[Amended 12-20-1993 by Ord. No. 93-19]

In order to provide for the training, certification and technical support programs required by the Uniform Construction Code Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder, the enforcing agency shall collect, in addition to the fees specified above, the current surcharge, as mandated by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs and as published in the New Jersey Register, per cubic foot.

§ 185-6 Fire limits.

The Construction Official shall prepare and submit to the Borough Council biannually a report reevaluating the delineation of the fire limits within the Borough. This report shall indicate the recommendations of the Construction Official, the Building Subcode Official and the Fire Subcode Official regarding those areas which should be designated as within fire limits, with the reasons therefor. Such report and evaluation or reevaluation shall list boundaries of closely built commercial areas as they exist or are developing, and the governing body, by ordinance, may establish such fire limits thereafter.

§ 185-7 Waiver of fees for accessibility construction.

[Added 11-12-1998 by Ord. No. 98-19]

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 private residential structure.