[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough
of Bellmawr 9-26-2013 by Ord. No. 08:16-13. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Unfit buildings — See Ch. 151.
Environmental impact statements — See Ch. 201.
Fire prevention — See Ch. 222.
Floodplain control — See Ch. 228.
Land use and development — See Ch. 260.
Numbering of buildings — See Ch. 301.
Vacant property — See Ch. 347.
Stormwater control — See Ch. 393.
A.
There is hereby established in the Borough of Bellmawr a State Uniform
Construction Code enforcing agency, to be known as the "Bureau of
Code Enforcement," consisting of a Construction Official, Building
Subcode Official, Plumbing Subcode Official, Fire Subcode Official
and Electrical Subcode Official and such other subcode officials for
such additional subcodes as the Construction Commission of the Department
of Community Affairs, State of New Jersey, shall hereinafter 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 N.J.S.A. 52:27D-119 et seq. and the regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, provided that, in lieu of any particular subcode official, an on-site inspection agency may be retained by contract pursuant to the aforementioned regulations. More than one such official position may be held by the same person, provided that such person is qualified pursuant to N.J.S.A. 52:27D-119 et seq. and the regulations promulgated thereunder to hold each such 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.
A.
It shall be the responsibility of the owner, occupier and/or contractor
performing work on any property within the Borough of Bellmawr to
display any permit issued under the authority of the Uniform Construction
Codes of the State of New Jersey and/or this chapter in a manner to
place said permit in plain view and make said permit visible from
the street or part of street from which the principal structure is
designated or will be designated during such period of construction
and/or work.
B.
Except as otherwise provided, any owner, occupier and/or contractor performing work on any property within the Borough of Bellmawr who violates, refuses to comply or neglects to comply with any provision of this chapter or any rule, regulation or directive promulgated pursuant thereto shall be liable for a fine and/or penalty as provided in § 170-6 of this chapter.
The Borough Council of the Borough of Bellmawr establishes the
Camden County Board of Appeals to hear all appeals from decisions
of the enforcing agencies.
The fee for a construction permit shall be the sum of the subcode
fees listed below and shall be paid before the permit is issued.
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 devices and the number of sprinklers, standpipes and
detectors (smoke and heat) at the unit rates provided herein plus
any special fees and shall be paid before the permit is issued.
(1)
Plan review fee. The fee for plan review shall be 25% of the amount
to be charged for a new construction permit. This fee shall be paid
before the plans are reviewed.
(2)
Building Subcode fees shall be as follows:
(a)
The minimum fee shall be $65.
(b)
Fees for new construction shall be based upon the volume of
the structure. Volume shall be computed in the amount of $0.034 per
cubic foot of volume for buildings and structures of all use groups
and types of construction as classified in Articles 3 and 4 of the
Building Subcode.
(c)
Fees for renovations, alterations and repairs and/or site construction
on private property shall be based upon the estimated cost of the
work. The fee shall be in the amount of $30 per $1,000 to and including
$50,001. The additional fee shall be in the amount of $23 per $1,000
of the estimated cost above $50,000. For the purpose of determining
estimated cost, the applicant shall submit to the Construction Official
such cost data as may be available produced by the architect or engineer
of record, or by a recognized estimating 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
estimated cost.
(d)
Fees for additions shall be computed on the same basis for new
construction for the added portion.
(f)
The fee for tents in excess of 900 square feet in any dimension
shall be $116.
(g)
The fee for roofing work on Use Group R-3 and R-5 structures
shall be $58.
(h)
The fee for siding work on Use Group R-3 and R-4 structures
shall be $58.
(i)
The fee for any zoning permits which are for sheds (10 feet
x 10 feet and under only), any flat concrete work, driveways, slabs,
sidewalks, and fences six feet tall and under is a flat fee of $65.
(3)
Plumbing Subcode fees shall be as follows:
(a)
The minimum fee shall be $65.
(b)
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 or oil piping system as indicated in Subsection A(3)(c) below.
(c)
Additional fees shall apply to the following devices: the fee
shall be $82 per special device for the following: grease traps, oil
separators, refrigeration units, utility service connections, backflow
preventors equipped with test ports (double check valve assembly,
reduced pressure zone and pressure vacuum breaker backflow preventors),
steam boilers, hot-water boilers (excluding those for domestic heating),
active solar systems, sewer pumps and interceptors. There shall be
no inspection fee charged for gas service entrances.
(4)
Electrical Subcode fees shall be as follows:
(a)
Minimum fee: $65. For from one to 50 receptacles or fixtures,
the fee shall be $45; for each 25 receptacles or fixtures in addition
to this, the fee shall be in the amount of $8. For the purpose of
computing this fee, receptacles or fixtures shall include lighting
outlets, convenience receptacles, smoke and heat detectors or similar
fixtures and motors or devices of less than or equal to one horsepower
or one kilowatt.
(b)
For each motor or electrical device greater than one horsepower
and less than or equal to 10 horsepower, and for transformers and
generators greater than one kilowatt and less than or equal to 10
kilowatts, the fee shall be $10.
(c)
For each motor or electrical device greater than 10 horsepower
and less than or equal to 50 horsepower; for each service panel, service
entrance or subpanel less than or equal to 200 amperes; for each transformer
and generator greater than 10 kilowatts and less than or equal to
45 kilowatts; and for each utility load management device, the fee
shall be $46.
(d)
For each motor or electrical device greater than 50 horsepower
and less than or equal to 100 horsepower; for each service panel,
service entrance or subpanel greater than 200 amperes and less than
or equal to 1,000 amperes; and for transformers and generators greater
than 45 kilowatts and less than or equal to 112.5 kilowatts, the fee
shall be $92.
(e)
For each motor or electrical device greater than 100 horsepower;
for each service panel, service entrance or subpanel greater than
1,000 amperes; and for each transformer or generator greater than
112.5 kilowatts, the fee shall be $457.
(f)
For the purpose of computing these fees, all motors except those
in plug-in appliances shall be counted, including control equipment,
generators, transformers and all heating, cooking or other devices
consuming electrical current.
(g)
The fee for heater replacement shall be $20.
(h)
The fee for aboveground swimming pools shall be $65.
(5)
Fire Subcode fees shall be as follows:
(a)
Minimum fee of $65.
(b)
Fire protection and other 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.
[1]
The fee for 20 or fewer heads shall be $82; for 21 to and including
100 heads the fee shall be $151; 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; the fee for over 1,000 heads shall be $1,323.
[2]
The fee for each standpipe shall be $289.
[3]
The fee for one to 12 detectors shall be $45; for each 25 detectors
in addition to this, the fee shall be in the amount of $15.
[4]
The fee for each independent pre-engineered system shall be $116.
[5]
The fee for each gas- or oil-fired appliance that is not connected
to the plumbing system shall be $58.
[6]
The fee for each kitchen exhaust system shall be $58.
[7]
The fee for each incinerator shall be $460.
[8]
The fee for each crematorium shall be $460.
(6)
Fees for certificates and other permits are as follows:
(a)
The fee for a demolition or removal permit shall be $82 for
Use Groups R-3 and R-5; the fee for all other use groups shall be
$151.
(b)
The fee for a permit to construct a sign shall be in the amount
of $1.20 per square foot surface area of the sign, computed on one
side only for double-faced signs. The minimum fee shall be $58.
(c)
The fee for a certificate of occupancy for Use Group R-3 and
R-5 structures shall be $65.
(d)
The fee for a certificate of occupancy for all other use groups
shall be 10% of the total permit fee, with a minimum charge of $65.
(e)
The fee for a certificate of occupancy granted pursuant to a
change of use group shall be $120.
(f)
The fee for a certificate of continued occupancy issued under
N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.23(c) shall be $120.
(g)
The fee for a plan review 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
Group R-3 of the Building Subcode) and for light commercial structures
having the temperature controlled from a single point and $1,369 for
all other structures.
(h)
The fee for an application for a variation in accordance with
N.J.A.C. 5:23-10 shall be $594 for Class I structures and $120 for
Class II and Class III structures. The fee for resubmission of an
application for a variation shall be $229 for Class I structures and
$65 for Class II and Class III structures.
(i)
The fee for lead hazard abatement work is $140. The fee for
a lead abatement clearance certificate shall be $28.
(j)
For cross-connections and backflow preventors that are subject
to testing, requiring reinspection annually, the fee shall be $65.
(k)
Mechanical systems. The fee for a mechanical inspection in a
Use Group R-3 or R-4 structure by a mechanical inspector shall be
$65 for the first device and $25 for each additional device. No separate
fee shall be charged for gas, fuel oil, or water piping connections
associated with the mechanical equipment inspected.
(l)
Tanks, in-ground or aboveground. On-site inspection fee shall
be $50.
(m)
The Building Subcode permit fee for construction and installation
of an aboveground swimming pool shall be $50.
(7)
Minimum fee. In any case, the minimum fee for construction permit
in part or total shall be $65.
(8)
Third-party agencies. In the event that a third-party agency is used
for any one of the subcodes, an administrative surcharge fee of 15%
shall be added per subcode.
(9)
Discontinuance of building project. Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.27,
in case of a discontinuance of a building project, plan review fees
are not refundable.
(10)
Exemptions. The only exemptions to fees are for municipal building
or use of buildings for municipal business and buildings of Group
A-4.
The Construction Official shall, with the advice of the subcode
officials, prepare and submit to the Borough Council of the Borough
of Bellmawr 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.
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter
or any order promulgated hereunder shall, upon conviction, be punished
by a fine not to exceed $2,000 or imprisonment in the county jail
for a period not to exceed 90 days or a period of community service
not to exceed 90 days, or any combination thereof, and each violation
of any of the provisions of this chapter and each day that such violation
shall continue shall be deemed to be a separate and distinct offense.
