Construction Work & Permit Requirments
Below is a list of the most common construction projects for which a permit is required. There may be other situations not listed which may also need a building permit. It is always best to call the Construction Department to check before you begin work.
All plans shall include “BUILDING CODE INFORMATION” on the FRONT COVER PAGE that indicated the following:
- Number of Stories
- Height of Structure
- Area - Largest Floor (Building Footprint)
- Square Feet
- New Building Area - Square Feet
- Volume of New Structure - Cubic Feet
- Construction Classification
- Max. Live Load
- Max. Occupancy Load
- Number of Bedrooms
Category of Work - Permit(s) Needed
| Type of Work | Permits Needed |
|---|---|
Additions | Building, Electric, Plumbing, Fire and prior approvals |
Air Conditioning | Building, Electric & Plumbing for new work (copy of survey needed)
Mechanical for replacement work |
Alarms | Burglar - Electric
Fire/Smoke/Carbon Monoxide - Electric & Fire |
Alterations | Residential or Commercial - All |
Asbestos Removal | Building |
Basement Refinishing/Remodeling | Building, Electrical, Fire and Plumbing |
Bathroom | Direct replacement and or any piping changes – Plumbing, Electric, Building (need licensed plumbing contractor or homeowner) |
Car Port | Building, others as needed |
Chimney Reline | Fire |
| Deck | Building (copy of survey) |
Demolition | Building & verification of utility disconnects |
Doors | Adding, enlarging or eliminating - Building |
Electrical Work | Electric |
Elevator | Elevator permit issued by State - Fire and Electric by municipality |
| Fences / Walls | Zoning approval only.
Pool fences require Building permit
Walls - Over 4 feet in height - Building. May require engineering |
Fireplace | Building, Fire, Plumbing, Chimney Certification |
Garage | Building - (others as needed) |
Gazebo | If over 200 sq ft- Building- copy of survey |
| Generators | Electric and plumbing (copy of survey needed) |
Heating/Vent/AC (HVAC) | Electric (if fuel fired equip. does not need licensed electrician), Fire, Plumbing |
New Building | Building, Electric, Fire, Plumbing and all prior approvals. Soil, engineering, Bd of Health, Highlands if needed |
Hood | Fire & Electric |
Lawn Sprinkler | Electric, Plumbing & Copy of D.E.P. Landscape Irrigation License |
DEMOLITION | Building and all utility sign-offs.
Demolition of Pools - Building |
| Plumbing Work | Plumbing |
| Pool | Building, Electric, Plumbing, Fire (for heater) (copy of survey) |
| Porch | Building |
| Radon | Building, Electric |
| Ramp | Building & copy of survey |
| Roof | Building |
| Shed | Under 200 sq ft and less than 10’ high - Zoning approval only
Over 200 sq ft or over 10' high – Building (copy of survey) |
| Siding | Building |
Signs | Building, Electric (if applicable) |
| Solar | Building, Electrical |
| Sprinkler | Fire |
| Steps | Building & copy of survey |
| Stove - Woodburning | Building, Fire |
Tank | Abandonment or removal - Building, survey with tank must be included
Installation - Plumbing, Fire |
| Telephone/Comm. Points/Voice Data/Computer Wiring | Electric |
| Tenant Fit Out | All |
| Trailer (Construction - Building - Sales) | All |
| Temporary Mobile Home | All *May require a variance and board approval |
| Water Heater | Plumbing
Electric Water Heater – Electric, Plumbing |
| Windows | Adding, enlarging, or eliminating - Building |
Additional Permitting Notes
Codes and Regulations - NJ DCA - Current Codes and Regulations
Required forms to be completed for following work may be downloaded here: NJ DCA - Construction Permit Application Packet & Related Forms