[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of Belvidere 6-9-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-06.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 228, Construction Codes, Uniform, adopted 3-3-1997 by Ord. No. 97-04, as amended 6-16-1997 by Ord. No. 97-14; 8-2-1999 by Ord. No. 99-06; 5-1-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-07; 4-1-2002 by Ord. No. 2002-02; 3-15-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-01; 12-19-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-16; 9-23-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-08.
A. 
There is hereby established in the Town of Belvidere a State Uniform Construction Code enforcing agency to be known as the "Town of Belvidere Ordinance Enforcement Office," 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. 5:23-1.1 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. 5:23-1.1 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. 5:23-1.1 et seq., 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.
A. 
A fee for a construction permit shall be the sum of the subcode fees listed in Subsection A(1) through (16) hereof and shall be paid before the permit is issued.
(1) 
Plan review fee. The fee for plan review shall be 20% of the amount to be charged for the construction permit fee for the applicable subcodes.
(2) 
The basic construction fee shall be the sum of the parts on the basis of the volume or cost of construction, the number of plumbing fixtures and pieces of equipment, the number of sprinklers, standpipes and detectors (smoke and heat) at the unit rates provided herein, plus special fees. The minimum fee on all permits shall be $90.
(3) 
Building Subcode. The Building Subcode fee shall be:
(a) 
New construction: $0.50 per cubic foot of volume, except that the minimum fee shall be $0.02 for Use Groups A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4, F-1, F-2, S-1 and S-2, provided that the minimum fee shall be $100 and the fee shall be $0.003 per cubic foot of volume 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 the maximum fee for such structures on farms not to exceed $850.
(b) 
Fees for renovation, alterations and repairs shall be $50 per thousand provided that the minimum fee shall be $90.
(c) 
Fees for additions shall be computed on the same basis as for new construction for the added portion in Subsection A(3)(a) above.
(d) 
Fees for combination renovations and additions shall be computed as the sum of the fees computed separately in accordance with Subsection A(3)(a) and (b) above.
(e) 
Fees for demolition shall be $150 for one- and two-family buildings. The fee for Use Groups S, F and H shall be $0.05 per square foot. All remaining use groups shall be $750.
(f) 
Fees for moving a building shall be $150.
(g) 
Fees for aboveground swimming pools shall be $250 and fees for in-ground swimming pools shall be $750.
(h) 
Elevator permit fees shall be in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:23-12.1 et seq.
(i) 
Fees for signs shall be $5 per square foot.
(j) 
Fees for fences as required by the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code shall be $105.
(k) 
Fees for asbestos abatement shall be in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:23, Subchapter 8.
(l) 
Fees for manufactured homes shall be $60 per $1,000 of estimated cost for site preparation of foundation and utilities, provided that the minimum fee shall be $350.
(m) 
The fee for lead hazard abatement work shall be $175.
(n) 
The fee for lead hazard abatement clearance certificate shall be $35.
(4) 
Plumbing Subcode.
(a) 
The Plumbing Subcode fee shall be a minimum of $90 (only if it is a one-trade permit).
(b) 
Plumbing fixtures. A general description are as follows, but not limited to and the fee shall be $25:
Water closets
Bidets
Urinals
Shower stalls
Lavatories
Soaking tubs
Floor drains
Clinic sinks
Laundry sinks
Hand washing sinks
Two- and three-bay sinks
Dental units or cuspidors
Vegetable soaking sinks
Drinking fountains
Hose bibbs
Fuel oil piping
Radon piping
Food waste grinders
Dishwasher (residential or commercial)
Water heater (electric, gas or oil fired)
Washing machines (residential or commercial)
(c) 
Gas piping. A general description are as follows, but not limited to and the fee shall be $25:
Furnaces
Space heaters
Boilers
Clothes dryers
Ranges
Fire place inserts
Water heater
Barbecue grills
Outside sidewalks and drive lamps
Ceiling heaters
(d) 
Special devices. A general description are as follows, but not limited to and the fee shall be $125:
Steam boilers
Active solar systems
Hot water boilers
Sewer pumps (mechanical)
Sewer ejectors (pneumatic)
Oil interceptors
Lawn sprinkling systems
Grease interceptors
Swimming pools
Sand interceptors
Baptistries tanks
Oil tanks
Propane tanks
Water cooled air cond.
Ornamental or lily ponds
Water cooled refrigeration units
Fountain basins
Water softeners
Aquarium tanks
Autopsy tables
Aspirators
Sewer lines (residential and commercial)
Water services (residential and commercial)
Agricultural type water feeders for animals
Backflow preventer (excluding boilers - only those that have test ports) installed between wells and public water supplies
Hospital and clinical fixtures that require protection from contaminating the water supply
(5) 
Electrical Subcode.
(a) 
The Electrical Subcode fee shall be a minimum of $90 (only if it is a one-trade permit).
(b) 
The Electrical Subcode fees shall be as follows:
Service Panels/Service Entrance/Subpanels
0 - 200 amps
$100 each
201 - 400 amps
$150 each
401 - 1,000 amps
$340 each
Over 1,000 amps
$850 each
(c) 
Switches/fixtures/receptacles (this includes motors/devices 1HP or 1KW or less).
15 to 20 amp only
$100 each
Each additional 25
$25 each
Each receptacle (30 to 50 amp only)
$25 each
Greater than 50 amp
$75 each
(d) 
Electrical devices/generators/transformers.
Over 1 KW to 10 KW
$50 each
10.01 to 45 KW
$75 each
45.1 to 112.5 KW
$150 each
Over 112.5 KW
$850 each
(e) 
Motors.
1 HP to 10 HP
$50 each
11 HP to 50 HP
$100 each
51 HP to 100 HP
$150 each
101 and over
$850 each
(f) 
Line items per technical sections.
1 to 10 KW
$50 each
11 KW and over
$75 each
Ranges/ovens/surface units, dishwasher, garbage disposal, A/C unit, whirlpool spa, subpanel, water heaters, central heater, baseboard heat, heat pump, motors, transformer/generator and service/service entrance all listed by size above.
Burgler alarm/intercom systems, smoke detector, signs, light standards, motors-frac. HP all by fixture total.
Motor control center is by amp size.
(g) 
Pools.
Aboveground
$100 each
In-ground
$150 each (subpanels are extra)
(6) 
Fire Protection Subcode. The Fire Protection Subcode fee shall be a minimum of $90 (only if it is a one-trade permit).
(a) 
Water sprinkler suppression system:
[1] 
One to 20 sprinkler heads: $150.
[2] 
Twenty-one to 100 sprinkler heads: $250.
[3] 
One hundred one to 200 sprinkler heads: $350.
[4] 
Over 200 sprinkler heads: $950.
(b) 
The fee for each standpipe shall be $450.
(c) 
The fee for each gas- or oil-fired appliance which is not connected to the plumbing system shall be $100.
(d) 
The fee for each kitchen exhaust system shall be $100.
(e) 
The fee for each incinerator or crematorium shall be $550.
(f) 
Storage tanks (underground, demolition only).
[1] 
One to 550 gallons: $95.
[2] 
Five hundred fifty-one to 1,000 gallons: $115.
[3] 
One thousand one to 2,000 gallons: $195.
(g) 
Storage tanks (underground and above, installation only).
[1] 
One to 250 gallons: $65.
[2] 
Two hundred fifty-one to 1,000 gallons: $115.
[3] 
One thousand one to 4,000 gallons: $300.
[4] 
Over 4,000 gallons: $650.
(h) 
Pre-engineered suppression systems shall be $200 each.
(i) 
Smoke or heat detectors.
[1] 
One to 20 detectors: $100.
[2] 
Twenty-one to 50 detectors: $150.
[3] 
Over 50 detectors: $250.
(j) 
Manual or automatic alarm system: $175.
(k) 
Central control system: $275.
(7) 
Certificate of occupancy. The fee for a certificate of occupancy shall be $65.
(a) 
Minor work (as defined in N.J.A.C. 5:23-1.1 et seq.) shall be $0.
(b) 
Utility buildings and structures less than 10,000 cubic feet in volume shall be 10% of the construction permit fee, provided that the minimum fee shall be $65.
(c) 
Residential buildings shall be 10% of the construction permit fee, provided that the minimum fee shall be $65.
(d) 
All other buildings shall be 10% of the construction permit fee, provided that the minimum fee shall be $65.
(e) 
Multiple certificates of occupancy shall be $65 per tenant or use (optional - may be flat fee or percentage as above).
(8) 
Certificate of occupancy (New Jersey Uniform Construction Codes use group change). The fee for a certificate of occupancy incidental to a use group change shall be $75.
(9) 
Certificate of continued occupancy upon request. The fee for a certificate of continued occupancy upon request shall be $150 for the first and final inspection and $50 for each additional inspection required.
(10) 
Fees for certificate of compliance for elevators shall be as provided in N.J.A.C. 5:23-12.6(a) and (b).
(11) 
Variation request. The fee for a request to vary from technical code requirements shall be:
(a) 
Class III structure: $85; resubmission: $111.
(b) 
Class II structure: $85; resubmission: $111.
(c) 
Class I structure: $423; resubmission: $550.
(12) 
The fee for a change of contractor shall be $65.
(13) 
Fees in any provision of this schedule shall be rounded off to the nearest dollar.
(14) 
The fee for a lapsed permit or renewal shall be 50% of the original fee charged.
(15) 
Training fee. In addition to all other fees specified herein, a training fee shall be assessed and remitted to the Department of Community Affairs in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:23-4.19 and amendments thereto.
(16) 
Requests for a letter stating that no certificate of continued occupancy is required shall be $25.
B. 
In the event of a conflict between the fees set forth in this chapter and the provisions of any other ordinance in effect in the Town, the provisions of this chapter shall govern.
A. 
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.
B. 
A disabled person, or a parent or sibling of a disabled person, shall not be required to pay any municipal fee or charge in order to secure a construction permit for any construction, reconstruction, alteration or improvement which promotes accessibility to his own living unit.
C. 
For the purposes of this section, "disabled person" means a person who has the total and permanent inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment, including blindness, and shall include but not be limited to any resident of this state who is disabled pursuant to the Federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 416), or the Federal Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 (45 U.S.C. § 231 et seq.) or is rated as having a 60% disability or higher pursuant to any federal law administered by the United States Veterans Act. For purposes of this section, "blindness" means central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with the use of a correcting lens. An eye which is accompanied by a limitation in the fields of vision such that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle no greater than 20% shall be considered as having a central visual acuity of 20/200 or less.