[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Branchville 2-2-1977 by Ord. No. 3-77. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A. 
There is hereby established in the Borough of Branchville a State Uniform Construction Code enforcing agency to be known as the "Building Department," consisting of a Construction Official, Building Subcode Official, Plumbing Subcode Official, Electrical 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,[1] and N.J.A.C. 5:23; provided that in lieu of any particular subcode official, an onsite 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.
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.
Appeals from the decisions by the enforcing agency shall be made to the Sussex County Board of Appeals pursuant to Article 15 of the New Jersey Construction Code regulations.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The "regulations" are those adopted by the Commissioner of Community Affairs pursuant to N.J.S.A. 52:27D-119 et seq.
[Amended 3-2-1977 by Ord. No. 4-77; 2-3-1982 by Ord. No. 1-82; 9-2-1987 by Ord. No. 9-87; 12-6-2017 by Ord. No. 09-2017]
A. 
General.
(1) 
The fee for plan review, computed as a percentage of the construction permit, shall be paid at the time of permit issue. The amount of this fee shall then be deducted from the permit fee due for a construction permit. Plan review fees shall not be refundable.
(2) 
The fee to be charged for a construction permit will be the sum of the basic construction fee and all subcode fees and any special fees. This fee shall be paid before the permit is issued.
(3) 
The fee for a certificate of occupancy shall be paid before a certificate is issued.
(4) 
All fees shall be rounded off to the nearest dollar.
B. 
Building subcode fee. Fees for new construction shall be based upon the volume of the structure. Volume shall be computed in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.28. The new construction fee shall be in the amount $0.038 per cubic foot of volume for buildings and structures of all use groups; except that the fee shall be $0.021 per cubic foot of volume for use groups A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4, E, F-1, F-2, S-1 and S-2 and the fee shall be $0.0011 per cubic foot for structures on farms, including commercial farm buildings under N.J.A.C. 5:23-3.2(d), used exclusively for the storage of food or grain, or the sheltering of livestock, with minimum of $60 and a maximum on farms not to exceed $1,602.
(1) 
For the purposes of calculating the volume to determine the fee for large, open-volume, single-story spaces in buildings, such as barns, silos, greenhouses, warehouses, distribution centers and other agricultural and storage-use occupancies, the height shall be limited to 20 feet, notwithstanding the fact that the actual height of the space may be greater than 20 feet.
(2) 
Fees for renovations, alterations, and repairs or site construction associated with preengineered systems of commercial farm buildings, premanufactured construction, and the external utility connection for premanufactured construction shall be based upon the estimated cost of the work. The fee shall be in the amount of $34 per $1,000 estimated cost of work, up to $50,000 estimated cost of work. From $50,001 estimated cost of work to and including $100,000 estimated cost of work, the additional fee shall be in the amount of $26 per $1,000 of estimated cost of work above $50,000 estimated of work. For above $100,000 of estimated cost of work, the additional fee shall be in the amount of $22 per $1,000 of estimated cost of work above $100,000. 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 be 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. The minimum fee shall be $60.
[Amended 10-6-2021 by Ord. No. 07-2021]
(3) 
Fees for additions shall be computed on the same basis as for new construction for the added portion.
(4) 
Fees for combination renovations and additions shall be computed as the sum of the fees computed separately in accordance with Subsections B(1) and (2) above. The minimum fee shall be $60.
(5) 
The fee for an aboveground swimming pool or an in-ground pool, regardless of surface area, shall be $77.
[Amended 10-6-2021 by Ord. No. 07-2021]
(6) 
The fee for tents, in excess of 900 square feet or more than 30 feet in any dimension, shall be $129.
(7) 
(Reserved)[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection B(7), regarding roofing and siding work, was repealed 10-6-2021 by Ord. No. 07-2021.
(8) 
The fee for a demolition or removal permit shall be $92 for a structure less than 5,000 square feet in area and less than 30 feet in height and structures used for farm uses. For all other structures the fee will be $168.
[Amended 10-6-2021 by Ord. No. 07-2021]
(9) 
The fee for a permit to construct a sign shall be as follows:
[Amended 10-6-2021 by Ord. No. 07-2021]
(a) 
Fees for pylon signs shall be $6 per square foot for the first 100 square feet, $4.75 per square foot for the next 400 square feet, and $3.50 per square foot thereafter.
(b) 
Fees for ground signs or wall signs shall be $3 per square foot for the first 100 square feet, $2.10 per square foot for the next 400 square feet, and $1.40 per square foot thereafter.
(c) 
The minimum fee shall be $65.
(10) 
The fee for fences more than six feet high shall be $50.
(11) 
The fee for a retaining wall with a surface area greater than 550 square feet that is associated with a Class 3 residential structure shall be $210.
(12) 
The fee for a retaining wall with a surface area of 550 square feet or less that is associated with a Class 3 residential structure shall be $106.
(13) 
The fee for a newly constructed retaining wall of any size at other than a Class 3 residential structure shall be based on the cost of construction.
C. 
Plumbing subcode fees. The following fees shall be based on the number of plumbing fixtures, devices, plumbing stack and utility connections to be installed. Utility service connections include sewer and water service connections. The fee shall be a unit rate per fixture, stack and utility connection as follows. Minimum fee permit shall be $60.
Type
Fee
Water closet
$15
Bidet/urinal
$15
Bathtub
$15
Lavatory
$15
Shower
$15
Floor drain
$15
Residential A/C
$15
Dishwasher
$15
Drinking fountain
$15
Washing machine
$15
Hose bibb
$15
Hot water boiler
$91
Sewer pump
$91
Interceptor/separator
$91
Commercial backflow preventer
$91
Residential backflow preventer
$15
Grease trap
$91
Fuel oil piping
$91
Sewer connection
$91
Water service connection
$91
Stacks
$15
Water heater
$15
Steam boiler
$91
Gas piping
$91
D. 
Electrical subcode fees. The electrical subcode fee shall be based upon the number of electrical fixtures and devices to be installed. The fee shall be a unit rate per fixture and device as described below. Minimum permit fee shall be $60.
[Amended 10-6-2021 by Ord. No. 07-2021]
Fixtures/Devices
Fee
1 to 50 receptacles, fixtures, switches
$50
Increments of 25
$9
NOTE: For the purpose of calculating this fee, the term "receptacles" shall include:
Lighting outlets, smoke detectors, heat detectors, fluorescent fixtures, pool bonding, burglar alarm devices, intercom devices, thermostats, telephone outlets, CRT outlets, light standards, exit lights, motors of equipment rated less than one HP.
Motors
Fee
Greater than 1 HP or less than or equal to 10 HP
$15
Greater than 10 HP of less than or equal to 50 HP
$65
Greater than 50 HP or less than or equal to 100 HP
$129
Greater than 100 HP
$640
Electrical devices including transformers and generators
Fee
Greater than 1 KW or less than or equal to 10 KW
$15
Greater than 10 KW or less than or equal to 45 KW
$65
Greater than 45 KW or less than or equal to 112.5 KW
$129
Greater than 112.5 KW
$640
NOTE: For the purpose of computing this fee, typical electric devices are listed below.
Device
Kilowatts
(kw)
Fee
Electric dryer
5.0
$15
Electric range
8.0
$15
Electric oven
5.7
$15
Surface units
7.1
$15
Hot water heaters
4.5
$15
Central air conditioner
10.8
$65
Dishwasher
1.2
$15
Service equipment including service entrance, service panels and sub-panels
Fee
Greater than 0 amp, less than or equal to 225 amp
$65
Greater than 226 amp or equal to 1,000 amp
$129
Greater than 1,000 amp
$640
Photovoltaic
Fee
0 to 50 KW
$65
51 to 100 KW
$129
Above 100 KW
$640
E. 
Fire protection subcode fees. These shall be fees for 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. The minimum fee for the fire subcode shall be $60.
(1) 
The fee for 20 or fewer heads or detectors shall be $91.
(2) 
Twenty-one to and including 100 heads or detectors, the fee shall be $168.
(3) 
One-hundred-one to and including 200 heads or detectors, the fee shall be $321.
(4) 
Two-hundred-one to and including 400 heads or detectors, the fee shall be $831.
(5) 
Four-hundred-one to and including 1,000 heads or detectors, the fee shall be $1,150.
(6) 
Over 1,000 heads or detectors, the fee shall be $1,469.
(7) 
The fee for each standpipe shall be $321.
(8) 
The fee for each independent pre-engineered system shall be $129.
(9) 
The fee for each gas- or oil-fired appliance which is not connected to the plumbing system shall be $65.
(10) 
The fee for each kitchen exhaust system shall be $65.
(11) 
The fee for each incinerator shall be $511.
(12) 
The fee for each crematorium shall be $511.
(13) 
The fee for each solid fuel heating device shall be $60.
(14) 
The fee for metal chimney or liner shall be $60.
(15) 
The fee for a storage tank (underground or aboveground) up to 1,000 gallons shall be $60.
(16) 
The fee for a storage tank (underground or aboveground) for 1,001 to 4,000 gallons shall be $80.
(17) 
The fee for a storage tank (underground or aboveground) over 4,000 gallons shall be $120.
F. 
Elevator subcode fee. The elevator subcode fees shall be established by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:23-4.20.
G. 
Certificates and other fees.
(1) 
The fee for a certificate of occupancy shall be $90.
(2) 
Certificate fee for buildings of use group U shall be $35.
(3) 
Multiple certificates of occupancy fee shall be $90 per unit.
(4) 
The fee for a continued certificate of occupancy shall be $90 per unit.
(5) 
The fee for a certificate of occupancy pursuant to change of use shall be $250.
(6) 
The certificate fee for asbestos hazard abatement shall be $25.
(7) 
The fee for asbestos hazard abatement shall be $70.
(8) 
The fee for lead hazard abatement shall be $196.
(9) 
The fee for a certificate of clearance shall be $28.
(10) 
The fee for change of contractor shall be $20 per subcode.
(11) 
Periodic inspections. Fees for the periodic reinspection of equipment and facilities granted a certificate of approval for a specified duration in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.23 shall be as follows:
(a) 
For elevators, escalators and moving walks requiring reinspections every six months, the fee shall be as per N.J.A.C. 5:23-4.208.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: See N.J.A.C. 5:23-4.20.
(b) 
The fees for cross connections and backflow preventers that are subject to testing, requiring reinspection annually the fee shall be $50 for each device.
(12) 
The fee for a mechanical inspection in a structure of use group R-3 or R-5 by a mechanical inspector shall be $60 for the first device and $15 for each additional device. No separate fee shall be charged for gas, fuel oil, or water piping connections, including the bonding conductor (jumper) associated with the mechanical equipment inspected.
H. 
Annual permits. The fee to be charged for an annual construction permit shall be charged annually. This fee shall be a flat fee based upon the number of maintenance workers who are employed by the facility, and who are primarily engaged in work that is governed by a subcode. Managers, engineers and clerical shall not be considered maintenance workers for the purpose of establishing the annual construction permit fee. Annual permits may be issued for building/fire protection, electrical and plumbing.
I. 
Variation application. The fee for an application for variation in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.10 shall be $423 for Class I structures and $85 for Class II and Class III structures. The fees for resubmission of an application for a variation shall be $163 for Class I structures and $46 for Class II and Class III structures.