Construction Office

Personnel & Hours

The Construction and Inspection Office provides inspection and enforcement of all Construction Codes relating to the construction, maintenance, use and occupancy of buildings and structures. The administrative code used throughout New Jersey is known as the Uniform Construction Code (UCC). The UCC adopts other National Code Books as the technical text for each discipline. Subcodes include building, plumbing, fire and electric.

Construction and Inspection Office Forms

• Construction / Commercial Certificate of Occupancy Application (Word Doc)
• Road Opening Permit (Word Doc) Cost of permit $250.00, payable to Oldmans Township
• Construction Inspection Request Form
• Construction Inspection Request Online Form (opens in new window)

Construction Plans/Layout Drawings

A NJ Licensed Architect is recommended for the preparation of plans for major projects. Major projects may need to include floor plans drawn to scale, sections, elevations and details. Minor projects such as decks and small additions may be drawn by the homeowner. The Construction Office has standard specifications that can be followed within certain limitations for routine projects such as decks and retaining walls. These specs, along with a plot plan/survey depicting your project are accepted as the required plans. There are some plans that require a NJ Licensed Engineer to prepare plans. Examples are in-ground pools, grading plans and retaining walls more than four feet in height. Every application for a construction permit shall be accompanied by a set of plans showing the actual shape and dimensions of the lot to be built upon, the exact location, size and height of all existing and proposed structures, and all existing easements.

NJ Uniform Commercial Code 5:23.02.18 (c)

Notice for inspection: 1. The owner or other responsible person in charge of work shall notify the enforcing agency, in writing, when the work is ready for any required inspection specified herein or required by the construction official or appropriate subcode official. This notice shall be given at least 24 hours prior to the time the inspection is desired. This notice shall represent an attestation on the part of the owner, other than single-family owner-occupants performing their own work, or other responsible person in charge of work, that the work has been completed in conformance with the code and is ready for inspection. The request shall be considered received on the next business day after it was sent if the request was sent outside of normal business hours.

Business Certificate of Occupancy

All commercial occupancies require approval to operate. This approval is granted, after Zoning Officer approval, and after a fee has been paid and all inspections have been satisfied. A Certificate of Continuing Occupancy (CCO) is also required for every non-residential property whenever a change in occupancy occurs; which involves re-inspection of all areas of life safety. Construction permits must be obtained for all proposed modifications.

• Certificate of Occupancy – $39.00
• Certificate of Occupancy with Change of Use Group – $168.00
• Certificate of Continued Occupancy – $168.00

Building Permit Requirements

Building permits are required for a multitude of projects including but not limited to:

• Repairs
• Renovations
• Additions
• Roofs (for all commercial buildings and residential if replacing more than shingles)* see more details below
• Pools (above ground or in-ground)* see more details below
• Decks * see more details below
• Lawn Sprinkler Systems
• Sheds (required if shed is 201 sq. ft or more; a shed of 200 sq. ft. or less does not require a permit)

If you are planning renovations or repairs, please call 856-299-0780 to see if a permit is required.

Re-Roofing

No permit is required for existing detached one or two family dwellings for the roof covering materials. This include all buildings such as garages, sheds, pool houses and the like that are accessory to a detached one or two family home. Stripping the roof down to existing sheathing or putting on a second layer of roof covering does NOT require a permit. Replacing sheathing will always require a permit.

Siding

No permit is required for existing one or two family dwellings for siding materials; this includes accessory buildings such as garages, sheds, pool houses. Siding material that do no require a permit are wood, vinyl, aluminum, etc. and replacing one for another would also be allowed without a permit. However, the installation of any amount of polypropylene siding will require a permit because it is tested to a different ASTM standard than vinyl. Although stucco, stone, cultured stone, brick, etc. are materials listed as ordinary maintenance, and permits ARE required for their replacement or installation. In the case where a property owner would like to cover over old asbestos-type siding materials with siding materials, this would not require a permit.

Decks

In all occupancies, no permit is required for the replacement of any part of a deck, porch or stoop that does not provide support to a building or structure. Replacement of the structural portions of a deck, such as support posts or columns, headers or girders, floor joists, stair stringers, etc. would require a permit. Replacement of decking, railings, stair treads/risers would not require a permit.

Pool Permit Procedure

Zoning Approval needed for all pool types.

The complete construction permit application consists of: Signed & Completed Construction Permit Application Jacket, Building Subcode Tech Sheet, Electrical Tech Sheet, Plumbing Tech Sheet if drains or pool heater installed and Fire Tech Sheet if pool heater installed. Homeowner may do own electrical or plumbing work if he/she is the primary resident. If an electrical contractor is doing the work, they must sign and seal the permit application.
Plans Required: Above Ground Pool plans consist of pool brochure, filter brochure and ladder enclosure brochure. If pool has heater, include heater brochure and 2 gas piping diagrams.
Plans Required: In-Ground Pool consists of 2 sets of architecturally or engineered sealed plans and filter brochure. If pool has heater, include heater brochure and 2 gas piping diagrams.
Note: You must schedule and pass ALL Final Inspections prior to pool usage.

Required Inspections for Above Ground Pools:

• Building – Final inspection
• Electrical – Trench/Bonding inspection and Final Inspection
• Plumbing (if pool heater installed) – Gas piping and Final inspection. For pools with heaters, a vapor resistant cover must be on site for final inspection.
• Fire (if pool heater installed) – Final inspection

Required Inspections for In-Ground Pools:

• Building – Footing inspection and Final inspection.
• Electrical – Trench/Bonding inspection and Final inspection.
• Plumbing – Rough Bottom Drain inspection (must be 3 feet apart) and Final inspection
• Plumbing (if pool heater installed) – Gas piping (25 psi) and Final inspection. For pools with heaters, a vapor resistant cover must be on site for final inspection.
• Fire (If pool heater installed) – Final inspection

Requirements for Soft Sided & Inflatable Pools:

Zoning and Construction Permits are required ANNUALLY for the soft sided and inflatable pools that are capable of holding 24 inches or more of water. These are the types of pools that are installed at the beginning of the season and removed at the end of each season.

• Zoning Approval
• Signed and completed Construction Permit Application Jacket signed by whoever is installing pool
• Building Tech Sheet
• Electrical Tech Sheet – The filter must be within 25 feet of an existing GFCI receptacle, if there is not an existing GFCI receptacle then you must install one. Extension cords are NOT permitted. Homeowner may do the electrical work only if the property is their primary residence. If NJ Licensed Electrician is doing the work, the Electric Tech Sheet must be signed and sealed by the Electrician.
• Plans – Copy of pool brochure, ladder brochure, pump brochure and filter brochure
• Inspections – Building (Final Inspection) and Electric (Trench/Bonding Inspection if running underground electric) and Final Inspection

You must schedule and pass ALL final inspections prior to pool usage.

Street Opening Permits

A permit from the Municipal Clerk’s Office is necessary to perform any of the excavation works as follows: dig up, break, excavate, tunnel, undermine, or in any manner break up any street of to make or cause to be made any excavation in or under the surface of any street for any purpose or to place. Also required for any deposit or leave upon any street any earth or other excavated material, obstructing or tending to interfere with the free use of the street. Or dig up, break, excavate or undermine or in any way affect any other public improvement with a public right of way. This includes work such as driveway widening, curb replacement or driveway apron replacement.