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All of Branchburg, NJ

Construction Permit

 

What is a construction permit? 

A construction permit represents legal permission to begin a construction project. The issuance of a permit indicates that plans for a project have been approved by Township of Branchburg officials and have complied with the Uniform Construction Code and Township Zoning Ordinance. 

 

When is a permit required?

A permit is generally required if an individual wishes to construct, enlarge, alter or demolish a structure. Included in this category are those projects that change any existing structure or add to that structure.  Including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Deck or pool 

  • Addition to a house 

  • Garage or fence (over 6 feet in height or any fence around a pool) 

  • Replace siding or roofing 

  • Rearrange plumbing system 

  • Install a new water heater, furnace or fireplace 

  • Install new electrical receptacles or outlets 

  • Repair or replace any structural member, such as increasing the size of a window 

 

How do I apply for a permit?

The required documentation for a construction permit includes: 

  • Permit Application 

  • Construction Plans 

  • Plot Plan 

  • Zoning Department Release and all other required prior approvals

  • Grading Plan (if required) 

 

What is the Permit Process?

  • Step 1: The Township Zoning Officer completes the zoning review. 

  • Step 2: The required documents are submitted to the Construction Department, Grading Plan (if required) is to be submitted directly to the Engineering Department by the applicant. 

  • Step 3: After the Zoning and Engineering approval, the documents are reviewed by the building, electrical, plumbing, and fire subcode officials for completeness and code conformance. This process may take up to twenty working days. If the documents do not comply with the Uniform Construction Code, the applicant will be notified of the violations and required to correct and resubmit the documents for further review. Applicant must contact Engineering Department directly for any comments to the Grading Plan (if required). 

  • Step 4: The permit is issued indicating that legal 

***State law mandates that the Construction Official issue a fine up to $2,000 to any person who performs work without a permit.

What are some of the items inspected during a building inspection?

Note: No building inspection will be made prior to any required plumbing or electrical inspection approval.

  • Bottom of footings prior to placement of concrete 

  • Reinforcement prior to placement of concrete 

  • Foundations and all walls prior to backfilling

  • Floor slab(s) prior to placement of concrete 

  • All exterior sheathing including all flashing, except step flashing 

  • Rough inspection which includes all structural walls, floors and roofs prior to covering with finish or infill materials. This inspection shall be called for after rough plumbing and electrical approvals have been obtained 

  • Insulation inspection prior to installation of finish materials 

  • Final inspection which includes equipment, final connections and all finish materials 

  • Rated assemblies 


What are some of the items inspected during an electrical inspection?

  • Rough electric under concrete slab prior to backfill and placement of concrete 

  • Rough electric which includes outlet spacing, type of box and size, wire size and grounding prior to covering with finish or infill materials 

  • Service which includes panel(s) wire size, groundings and over current protection 

  • Final inspection which includes devices, fixtures, appliances, GFI requirements after installation of finish materials and utilization equipment 

 

What are some of the items inspected during a plumbing inspection?

  • Rough plumbing under concrete slab prior to backfill and placement of concrete 

  • Rough plumbing which includes sanitary piping, water piping, storm drains and radon piping 

  • Water service from building to property line or curb line 

  • Sewer service from building to property line or curb line or to septic tank 

  • Final plumbing which includes piping, trim, fixtures, cross connections, back flow preventors and radon 

  • Rough gas piping, requires air test 

  • Final gas piping to all appliances requiring gas 

  • Final on hydronic heating systems and hot water heaters

  • Final air conditioning on all units manufactured for domestic and commercial cooling 

  

What are some of the items inspected during a fire inspection?

  • Final inspection which includes a performance test to demonstrate its efficiency of operation and alarms 

  

What obligations are there during construction? 

  • Inspectors must have 24 hours advance notice and must be able to see the part of construction required to be inspected.  Scheduled inspections shall be conducted within 3 business days.

  • Any work which does not conform to the approved plans will require reinspection. If the work continues without resolving the problem the applicant will be fined and the job stopped. 

  • Applicants are required to post the permit prominently on the site and to keep a copy of the approved plans at the site. 

  • When the project is completed, the applicant must call for final building, electrical, plumbing, and fire inspections. The applicant must also apply for a certificate of occupancy. If the work is approved, a certificate will be issued indicating permission to use the area for the intended purpose. 

  • Property must be properly identified with house number conspicuously displayed for viewing from the street and construction placard conspicuously displayed on the building.