Construction Office

Tracy Kilmer, Construction Official,  Building Inspector, Fire Sub-Code Official

The Construction Office provides the administrative and technical support for the enforcement of the State of New Jersey Uniform Construction Code. Under the supervision of the Construction Official, administers and enforces the Uniform Construction Code of the State of New Jersey.

The Construction Official, Building, Electrical, Fire Protection and Plumbing Subcode Officials and sufficient support staff to enable an efficient and professional level of service to the community.

We are located at:

Borough of Palmyra
2nd Floor
20 West Broad St.
Palmyra, NJ 08065

  For information concerning the current construction codes adopted by the State of New Jersey, and application forms for permits, please click here http://www.state.nj.us/dca/codes/

DO YOU NEED  A PERMIT?:

The New Jersey Uniform Construction Code requires that a Construction Permit shall be obtained from the local Construction Official before construction, enlargement, repair, renovation, alteration reconstruction, demolition, or changing the use of any building or structure. The Uniform Construction Code also has provisions to enable building maintenance and ordinary repair without the necessity of applying for and obtaining a permit. Ordinary repairs are listed in the following categories.

BUILDING WORK/REPAIRS NOT REQUIRING A PERMIT

1. Ordinary Building Repairs include:

i. Exterior and interior painting;

ii. Installation, repair, or replacement of any interior finishes of less than 25 percent of the wall area in any given room, in a one or two family dwelling. This shall include plastering and drywall installation:

(1) Vinyl wall covering of any amount is an ordinary repair;

(2) Paneling shall not be considered an ordinary repair;

iii. Wallpapering at any location;

iv. Replacement of glass in any window or door. However, the replacement glass shall be of a type and quality that complies with the minimum requirements of the code;

v. Installation and replacement of any window or door, including garage doors, in the same opening without altering the dimensions or framing of the original opening. This shall include storm windows and storm doors. The installation and replacement of means of egress and emergency escape windows and doors may be made in the same opening without altering the dimensions or framing of the original opening, and shall not reduce the required height, width or net clear opening of the previous window or door assembly;

vi. Repair of any non-structural member such as a partition railing or kitchen cabinet;

vii. Repair or replacement of any interior or exterior trim, decoration or moldings;

viii. Replacement or installation of any flooring material, except carpeting, with a new material. However, installation of carpeting in one and two family dwellings will be permitted under ordinary repairs;

ix. Repair of existing roofing material not exceeding 25 percent of the total roof area within any 12-month period;

x. Repair of existing siding with like material not exceeding 25 percent of the total building exterior wall area within any 12-month period.

xi. Repair or replacement of any part of a porch or stoop which does not structurally support a roof above;

xii. Replacement or installation of screens;

xiii. Installation of any roll or batt insulation when installed adjacent to or not more than one and a half inches from an interior finish; and

14. Replacement of exterior rain water gutters and leaders.

PLUMBING WORK/REPAIRS NOT REQUIRING A PERMIT

1. Ordinary Plumbing Repairs include:

i. Replacement of hose bib valves in single family dwellings. Replacement hose bib valves shall be provided with an approved atmospheric vacuum breaker;

ii. Refinishing of existing fixtures. Relining of fixtures shall not be considered to be an ordinary repair.

iii. Replacement of ball cocks. Replacement ball cocks must be an approved anti-siphon type;

iv. Repair of leaks involving the replacement of piping between two adjacent joints only;

v. Clearance of stoppages;

vi. Replacements of faucets or working parts of faucets;

vii. Replacement of valves (other than shower or combination bath/shower valves);

viii. Replacement of working parts of valves, including, but not limited to, shower or combination bath/shower valves;

ix. Replacement of traps except for traps on culinary sinks in food handling establishments;

x. Replacement of a water closet (toilet), lavatory, or kitchen sink in a single family dwelling with an approved similar fixture provided that no change in the piping arrangement is made. Replacement water closets bearing a date stamp of July 1, 1991 or later must use an average of 1.6 gallons or less of water per flushing cycle; and

xi. Replacement of domestic clothes washers and dishwashers.

ELECTRICAL WORK/REPAIRS NOT REQUIRING A PERMIT

1. Ordinary Electrical Repairs include:

i. Replacement of any receptacle, switch, or lighting fixture rated at 20 amps or less and operating at less than 150 volts to ground with a like or similar item. Replacement of receptacles in locations where ground-fault circuit interrupter protection is required in the electrical subcode, shall not be considered ordinary electrical repairs;

ii. Repairs to any installed electrically operated equipment such as doorbells, communication systems, and any motor operated device. Provided, however, that if fire protection systems are interrupted for repairs the fire official shall be notified in accordance with the building subcode;

iii. Installation of communications wiring as covered by article 800 of the electrical subcode in one and two family dwellings, or the alteration/rearrangement of existing communications wiring in other occupancies provided, however, that the rearrangement does not involve penetration of a fire rated assembly and is not in a hazardous location as defined in chapter 5 of the electrical subcode; and

iv. Replacement of domestic dishwashers; and

v. Replacement of kitchen range hoods in single family dwellings.

EQUIPMENT REPAIR/REPLACEMENT NOT REQUIRING A PERMIT

1. Ordinary Fire Protection Repairs include:

i. The replacement of any sprinkler or smoke detector or heat detector head with a like device; and

ii. The repair or replacement of any component of a fire alarm or smoke and heat detection equipment (other than the replacement of a fire alarm control panel).

2. Ordinary Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Repairs shall include:

i. Replacement of motors, pumps and fans of the same capacity;

ii. Repair and replacement of heating, supply and return piping and radiation elements, which does not require rearrangement of the piping system;

iii. Repair of air conditioning equipment and systems; and

iv. Repair or replacement of control devices for heating and air conditioning equipment; and

v. Replacement of kitchen range hoods in single family dwellings.

vi. Replacement of clothes dryers serving and located within dwelling units, provided that no change in fuel type or location or electrical characteristics is required.

vii. Replacement of stoves and ovens in dwelling units, provided no change in fuel type or location or electrical characteristics is required.