[1980 Code § 90-1; Ord. No. O-28-12]
a. 
There is hereby established in the Town of Morristown a State Uniform Construction Code Enforcing Agency to be known as the Division of Building and Enforcement of Uniform Construction Code, consisting of a Construction Official, Building Subcode Official, Plumbing 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 or his designee.
b. 
Each official position created in Paragraph a shall be filled by a person qualified for such position pursuant to N.J.S.A. 52:27D-119 et seq., as amended, and N.J.A.C. 5:23-1 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 et seq., 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.
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.
[1980 Code § 90-2]
Any appeals from decisions of the enforcing agency shall be to the County Construction Board of Appeals.
[1980 Code §§ 90-3, 98-90; Ord. No. O-21-87; Ord. No. O-44-95; Ord. No. O-18-96; Ord. No. O-22-96; Ord. No. O-31-98; Ord. No. O-41-98; Ord. No. O-13-01 § I; Ord. No. O-44-06; Ord. No. O-2-07; Ord. No. O-4-08; Ord. No. O-47-2016; 3-12-2024 by Ord. No. O-7-2024]
a. 
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:
DETERMINATION OF FEES.
Basic construction fees shall be the sum of the parts computed on the basis of volume or cost of construction, the number of plumbing fixtures and pieces of equipment, the number of electrical fixtures, standpipes, and detectors (smoke and heat) at the unit rates provided herein plus any special fees.
The base fee for a basic construction permit covering any or all Building, Plumbing, Electrical, or Fire Prevention work shall be $30.
For the purposes of determining the estimated cost of construction the applicant shall submit to the construction official such costs data as may be available by the professional of record, or by a recognized estimating firm, or by the contractor. A bona fide contractors bid if available shall be submitted. The Construction Official shall make the final decision regarding estimated costs.
Fee for combined renovation and addition shall be the sum of the fees computed separately as indicated in the fee schedule.
1. 
Building department fee schedule.
General Fees
State surcharge is $0.00265 per cubic foot on new buildings and additions.
For all others, the State surcharge is $1.35 per $1,000
Minimum fee for each subcode is $50
The State of New Jersey permit surcharge fee shall be collected at the rate in effect at the time of permit issuance as per N.J.A.C. 5:23-4.19(b)
Minimum Fee for each sub-code is $50
Replacement of existing Residential (1 and 2 family) heating or air-conditioning system
$125
Contractor Change - per sub-code
$50
Use Group Change
$200
Re-Installment of lapsed or suspended permit
$125
Application for Variation Fee
$175
Annual Permit Fee
1 - 25 workers (per workers)
$700
Additional workers (per worker)
$250
Certificate of Occupancy - All Use Groups
$50
Certificate of Occupancy - Asbestos
$50
Certificate of Continued Occupancy
$250
Certificate of Clearance for Lead
$50
Plan Review Fee = 20% of Total Building Department Fee
New Building Construction - Per cu. ft.
(Residential and Commercial)
$0.030
Except Use S1 and S2
$0.020 per cu. ft.
Additions calculated same as New Construction
Rehabilitation - Alterations, Renovation, Repair and Reconstruction (per $1,000 of construction cost)
Residential
Up to $50,000
$25 per $1,000
Above $50,000
$20 per $1,000
Commercial
Up to $50,000
$30 per $1,000
Above $50,000
$30 per $1,000
Residential Roof and Siding-1 and 2 Family only
$60
Sign
$100 each
Above Ground Swimming Pool
$100
In-Ground Swimming Pool
$250
Asbestos Abatement
Subchapter 8
Administrative Fee for Construction
$100
Lead Hazard
$150
Demolition (Commercial)
$1,500/bldg
Demolition (Residential - less than 5,000 square feet, 30 feet)
$250
Tents (when UCC permits are required)
$125
Commercial Floor Finishes (carpet, wood and sheet goods)
Less than 1,000 square feet (11 cy)
$75
Greater than 1,000 square feet (11 cy)
$150
ELECTRICAL FEE SCHEDULE
Minimum Fee is $50
Electrical Devices (Receptacles and Fixtures)
First 50
$50
For each additional 25
$25
Electrical Devices counts shall also include fractional HP
Equipment/Appliances, smoke, heat, CO detectors, bells, horns/strobes, water flow or tamper switch, low/high air and pull stations. In additional, security items such as security door/window alarm points, card readers, magnetic locks, etc.
Motors and Electrical Devices
1 to 10hp
$20
15hp to 50hp
$50
60hp to 100hp
$100
Greater than 100hp
$457
Electrical Devices (including Transformers and Generators)
Up to 10kw
$20
11kw to 45kw
$50
46kw to 112kw
$100
Greater than 112kw
$457
Service Equipment (including Services, Motor Control Centers, Subpanels and Panels)
Up to 225 amps
$75
300 amp to 400 amps
$150
600 amp to 1,000 amps
$275
Larger than 1,000 amp
$450
Other Electrical Fees
Swimming Pools
Above Ground
$75
In Ground
$125
Spas, hot-tubs, fountains, etc.
$75
Underground Electrical Trench
$75
Annual Swimming Pool Inspections (per UCC)
$200
PLUMBING FEE SCHEDULE
Minimum Fee is $50
Water Closet
$15
Urinal/Bidet
$15
Bath Tub
$15
Lavatory
$15
Shower
$15
Floor Drain
$15
Sink
$15
Dishwasher
$15
Drinking Fountain
$15
Washing Machine
$15
Hose Bibb
$15
Stacks
$15
Water Heater
$45
Fuel Oil Piping
$45
Gas Piping (up to 4 outlets)
$45
$10 (each additional outlet)
LP Gas Tank - piping or oil tank - piping
$100
Residential Hot Water or Steam Boiler
$75
Commercial, Furnace, HVAC, Roof Top Unit Hot Water or Steam Boiler
$250
Steam/Hot water piping (2 and 4 pipe systems)
$75
Sewer Pump
$65
Oil Interceptor/Separator
$75
Backflow Preventer (commercial)
$75
Backflow Preventer (residential)
$15
Grease Trap
$75
Sewer Connection
$75
Water Service or Sewer Connection
$75
Underground Trench
$75
HVAC, Furnace, heat pump, air conditioning or heat exchanger
$75
Medical Gas Stations
$65
Condensate Lines
$45
Geothermal System (closed loop)
$75
Annual Safety Inspections (per UCC)
$100
Air Admittance Valves
$15
FIRE PROTECTION FEE SCHEDULE
Minimum Fee is $50
Storage Tanks
Fuel Storage Tanks
Installation (above ground and underground) 550 gallon and less
$125
Greater than 550 gallons
$250
Storage Tanks Removal or abandonment (above and underground) 550 gallons or less
$125
Greater than 550 gallons
$350
Alarm Systems, Sprinkler Systems/Supervisory/Signaling/Security Systems
Alarm Devices (Smoke, Heat, CO Detectors, bells, horns/strobes, water flow or tamper switch, low/high air and pull stations). Also included are security items such as security door/window alarm points, card readers, etc.
First 10
$100
11 - 50
$200
Each additional 50
$200
Fire Alarm Control Panel
$150
Wet and Dry Sprinkler Heads
1 - 10
$150
11 - 50
$250
Each Additional 100
$100
Stand Pipes
$250/each
Pre-Engineered and Kitchen Hood Suppression Systems
Wet Chemical, Dry Chemical, CO2, Foam or Clean Agent
$200
Miscellaneous
Kitchen Hood Exhaust System
$200
Fire Pump
$500
Pre-Action Fire Systems
$300
Dry Pipe Alarm Valves
$100
New Residential Gas or oil fired equipment
$65
Commercial Gas or Oil Fired Equipment
$125
Chimney Liner or Metal Flue Vent
$100
Smoke Control System
$495
Underground Fire Lines/Mains
$150
Magnetic Locks with Fire Alarm Interface
$65
ELEVATOR FEE SCHEDULE
Minimum Fee is $50
Elevator Plan Review Inspections: All associated fees for elevator devices shall be in accordance with the rate in effect per N.J.A.C. 5:23-40.20(c)(6) and (7) and the awarded contract to EIC Inspections, Jersey City, New Jersey (effective October 1, 2015 to October 1, 2018). EIC Inspections contract states that the final elevator fee is 63% of the State of New Jersey fees for elevator devices, plan review and inspections plus a 40% administrative fee to the Town of Morristown.
Any fees not specifically set forth hereinabove that are contained in Section 98-1(A) Schedule of Fees shall remain unchanged and in full force and effect.
MECHANICAL SUBCODE FEES
Minimum fee
$50
HVAC, furnace, boiler, A/C
$75
Water heater
$45
Generator
$50
LPG or fuel oil tank replacement
550 gallons and less
$125
Greater than 550 gallons
$250
Gas log fireplace insert
$50
Chimney liner
$100
Fuel oil and gas piping
Fuel oil
$45
Gas piping, up to four outlets
$50
Each additional outlet
$20
b. 
The Construction Official shall, with the advice of the subcode officials, prepare and submit to the 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.
c. 
Surcharge fee.
1. 
In order to provide for the training, certification and technical support programs required by the Uniform Construction Code Act and the Regulations,[1] the enforcing agency shall collect, in addition to the fees specified above, a surcharge fee as provided in Paragraph a1(a). The surcharge fee shall be remitted to the Bureau of Housing Inspection, N.J. Department of Community Affairs, on a quarterly basis for the fiscal quarters ending September 30, December 31, March 31 and June 30 and not later than one month next succeeding the end of the quarter for which it is due. In the fiscal year in which the Regulations first become effective, said fee shall be collected and remitted for the third and fourth quarters only.
[1]
Editor's Note: The "Regulations" refers to the regulations established by the Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs.
2. 
The enforcing agency shall report annually at the end of each fiscal year to the State Bureau of Housing Inspection, and not later than July 31, the total amount of the surcharge fee collected in the fiscal year. In the fiscal year in which the Regulations first become effective, said report shall be for the third and fourth quarters only.
d. 
Waiver of fees.
1. 
The Construction Official shall waive Construction Code fees for any corporation which is organized pursuant to the "New Jersey Nonprofit Corporation Act," N.J.S.A. 15A-1-1 et seq., and is actively engaged in constructing or rehabilitation housing units for occupancy by low or moderate income households.
2. 
For purposes of this waiver, "low income household" means a household in which the gross household income is equal to 50% or less of the median gross household income for households of the same size within the region in which the housing is located. "Moderate income household" means a household in which the gross household income is equal to or more than 50% but less than 80% of the median gross household income for households of the same size within the region in which the housing is located.
[Ord. No. O-37-89 § 109-17]
No building permits shall be issued unless the applicant can demonstrate that he has arranged for the legal disposal of construction debris.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 12-4, Demolition of Buildings, was repealed 5-13-2019 by Ord. No. O-12-2019, and 5-28-2019 by Ord. No. O-18-2019. See now Ch. 30, § 30-809.
[Ord. No. O-11-91 § 87-1]
As used in this section:
BUILDING
Any dwelling house, store or other building.
[Ord. No. O-11-91 § 87-2]
The owner of each building which fronts on any of the public streets or public places within the Town of Morristown shall, at his own expense, cause the same to be properly numbered in accordance with the directions and requirements of this section.
[Ord. No. O-11-91 § 7-3]
The numbers shall be in figures, a minimum of three inches in height, placed conspicuously on the front of each building and located below the outside light or more prominent place, if any. Where the front of a building is obscured from the street, either by siting, landscaping or otherwise, numbers may be otherwise located as to be clearly visible from the street. Numbers shall be of a material and color as to provide the greatest contrast with the background to which they are affixed. Numbers shall not be located on any door which may be obscured for part of a year by a storm door, nor on any door which may, from time to time, stand open. Numbers shall not be figured in a style the elements of which might tend to confuse their interpretation.
[Ord. No. O-11-91 § 87-4]
Numbers shall be in accordance with the numbers assigned to properties as shown on the Tax Maps of the Town of Morristown. Where any such property, by virtue of its size, shall have been assigned more than one number and shall contain a lesser quantity of buildings or units than the numbers assigned, the lowest assigned number shall be that displayed.
Additional units added to or within a previously numbered building, where the designations of such additional units are to be displayed, shall take the same number as the original building, followed by "-A," "-B," etc. Additional buildings added to a previously numbered lot shall, when appropriate serial numbers are not available, take the same number as the original building, followed by "-1," "-2," etc.
In case of conflict as to the proper number to be assigned to any building, the Tax Assessor shall determine the number of such building, and this decision shall be final.
[Ord. No. O-11-91 § 87-5]
Any person who is now the record owner of a building is hereby charged with the obligation to change any number or numbers now in use on any such building if inconsistent with the numbering system hereby established and as contained on the Tax Maps. Such obligation shall continue as long as such ownership interest continues to exist; and it is hereby declared unlawful to use any number inconsistent with the system and maps if such use is continued for a period of 60 days following the effective date of this section.
[Ord. No. O-11-91 § 87-6]
The numbering of buildings on future streets shall begin at the base line or origin and allowance made for future extension. These numbers shall be assigned on the basis of one numeral notation per 50 feet of street frontage, the entrance of the building or appropriate building center shall assume the corresponding number closest to the numbered station for the whole building. In general the following basic rules shall apply:
a. 
For all streets running in a northerly or southerly direction, even numbers shall be assigned to the west side of the street and odd numbers to the east side.
b. 
For all streets running in a westerly or easterly direction, even numbers shall be assigned to the north side of the street and odd numbers to the south side.
c. 
After issuance of a number, that number shall be used hereafter for the building on that location and no other number shall apply.
[Ord. No. O-11-91 § 87-7]
Any owner who fails to comply with the provisions of this section within three months after notice of the number assigned to the building shall, upon conviction thereof, be liable to the penalty stated in Chapter 1, § 1-5.
[Ord. No. O-11-91 § 87-8]
The enforcing agency(ies) for this section shall be any and all enforcing agencies of the Town of Morristown, as determined by the Mayor.
[Ord. No. O-25-03 § 88-1]
As used in this section:
CONFINED POWER SANDING
Removal of paint using electric or hydraulic powered sanding tools that have attachments that while sanding paint simultaneously vacuums dust and chips into a HEPA filtered vacuum device or otherwise contain and control chips and dust from being released into the environment.
HEPA VACUUM
A high efficient filter that filters out fine particles of dust at 99.7% of fine particles at 0.3 microns in size.
LEAD BASE PAINT
Paint that contains more than 0.5% by dry weight of lead, or that contains more than one milligram of lead per square centimeter of paint surface when measured by an x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer.
PERSON
Any individual, corporation, employee, company, association, firm or partnership.
UNCONFINED POWER SANDING
The removal of paint using electric or hydraulic powered tools that do not have attachments that while sanding paint simultaneously vacuums dust and chips into a HEPA filter vacuum device or otherwise contain and control chips and dust from being released into the environment.
[Ord. No. O-25-03 § 88-2]
a. 
Buildings or structures built prior to 1978 shall be presumed to have been painted with lead base paint. No person shall remove paint from the exterior of any building or structure built prior to 1978 by the method of Unconfined Power Sanding, unless he can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Construction Official or Health Officer that there is no lead base paint on the exterior surface of the building or structure.
b. 
When exterior lead base paint is removed from a building or structure built prior to 1978 using Confined Power Sanding or other methods such as scraping, manual sanding or power washing, drop cloths or other ground cover shall be used as much as possible to catch chips and dust from those methods of paint removal. Chips and dust that fall onto the ground shall be cleaned to sight or visual inspection.
c. 
Prior to the removal of exterior lead base paint, windows of buildings or structures that are normally occupied shall be closed and sealed with tape or other barrier to prevent entry of chips and dust into the interior of the house.
d. 
Following paint removal, clean up of dust and chips on window surfaces, driveways, sidewalks and other ground surfaces shall be done. Paint dust and chips shall not be dispersed by blowers or hose water. Paint chips and dust collected shall be placed in double plastic bags of not less than three mils each of thickness, and not weighing more than 20 pounds.
e. 
The contractor shall be responsible for the proper disposal of the dust and paint chips.
[Ord. No. O-25-03 § 88-3]
This section shall be enforceable by the Health Officer and the Construction Official or other official designated by the Mayor.
[Ord. No. O-25-03 § 88-4]
a. 
Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be liable, upon conviction, to the penalty stated in Chapter 1, § 1-5. Each day that the violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.
b. 
In lieu of issuing a summons or complaint in Municipal Court, an order to immediately cease unconfined power sanding or to clean and remove leaded paint chips and dust within a reasonable time period may be issued by the enforcement official.
[Ord. No. O-30-2010]
No person shall occupy or use any portion of a commercial or industrial building after such building or portion thereof has been vacated or sold, or in which there has been a change in occupancy, until the owner/landlord shall have applied for and secured a certificate of continuing occupancy therefor from the enforcement officer of the Town of Morristown.
[Ord. No. O-30-2010]
Upon receipt by the enforcement officer of an application for a certificate of continuing occupancy and payment of the requisite fee, the enforcement officer shall conduct a visual inspection of the premises in question to ensure compliance with applicable building, health, safety and fire codes, regulations, ordinances and statutes of the Town of Morristown and State of New Jersey.
[Ord. No. O-30-2010]
The enforcement officer shall issue a certificate of continuing occupancy upon his inspection and satisfaction that no violations of the aforementioned codes, regulations, ordinances and statutes exist.
[Ord. No. O-30-2010]
There shall be no new occupancy or use of the premises until compliance with this section has been obtained. If compliance with this section is not obtained or violations are found and not remedied within a reasonable time after inspection and notice, the enforcement officer is authorized to take appropriate legal action including imposing appropriate fines and penalties.
[Ord. No. O-30-2010]
The enforcement officer shall provide a form to be completed by each applicant. A certificate of continuing occupancy fee, in accordance with Town Code Subsection 12-1.3a1, "Fees," shall accompany each application; provided, however, that the enforcement officer may waive the inspection and fee if any inspection of the same premises has been made within 180 days.
[Ord. No. O-30-2010]
The Construction Official of the Town of Morristown or his designee shall be the enforcement officer and shall have the authority to make inspections for building, health, fire and safety violations as required by this section and to otherwise carry out the purpose and intent of this chapter.