The Building Department is located in the Borough Hall, 2nd Floor. Office hours are Monday - Wednesday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm and Thursday & Friday 8:30 am - 1:00 pm. UCC permits are issued during office hours. Building and Fire Inspections are conducted Monday - Friday 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Electrical and Plumbing Inspections are conducted Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm. To schedule an inspection, call the Building Department at (973) 962-7880.
The Building Department includes administration and enforcement of zoning, building and other codes as well as property maintenance. Within the Building Department, the Ringwood Construction Official enforces the New Jersey State Uniform Construction Code (UCC).
| Construction Official/Building Subcode/Zoning Officer |
Michael Hafner (mhafner@ringwoodnj.net) |
| Code Enforcement Officer |
Michael Hafner |
| Plumbing Inspector |
Leonard Herman |
| Electrical Inspector |
Ed Brauner |
| Fire Official (973) 475-7132 |
Don Devlin |
| Secretary to the Construction Official |
Maureen Joyce |
Land development and construction in Ringwood are regulated by various state, county and local laws (codes), chief among these are the New Jersey State Uniform Construction Code (UCC) and the Borough of Ringwood Revised General Ordinances (the Borough Code). Relative to land use and construction, the Borough Code regulates zoning, property maintenance, tree removals, and various aspects of construction operations, including noise, pollution and when work can be performed.
Based on intended use, the UCC regulates how structures must be constructed to insure the health, safety and welfare of the public. It provides the means for state-licenses code officials to review plans, issue permits and inspect construction to insure that minimum code standards are met and appropriate building materials are used, thereby reducing potential hazards due to unsafe construction.
The type, location and extent of the work to be performed for any given project will determine what type(s) of permit(s) will be required to perform the intended work, including any or all of the following: zoning permit, UCC demolition and/or construction permit, tree removal permit, soil movement permit and sign permit. Certain projects and types of work may also require the prior approval of the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment before any permit applications can be made.
Permits must be obtained before the start of work except that emergency replacement of furnaces, boilers and water heaters will be allowed as long as the Building Department is notified of the replacement at the time of installation and permits are obtained within three (3) days thereafter.
DO I NEED A PERMIT?
You do not need a permit for the following ordinance maintenance:
Ordinary building maintenance includes interior and exterior painting, wall papering, paneling, replacement of windows or doors provided no alteration to the framing of the original opening, replacement of trim or moldings, replacement of kitchen cabinets, replacement of flooring or carpet, repair of an uncovered porch or stoop, replacement of screens, and replacement of leaders or gutters.
Ordinary plumbing maintenance includes faucet repair or replacement, trap repair or replacement, replacement of shower valves, replacement of hose bibs, the repair of leaks involving the replacement of piping between existing joints, clearance of stoppages, and the replacement of clothes washers and dryers.
Ordinary electrical maintenance includes 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, including receptacles in locations in locations where ground-fault circuit interrupter protection, damp/wet or tamper-resistant are required. Repairs to doorbells, replacement of thermostats, repairs or installations of telephone or cable lines, replacement of dishwasher and kitchen range hoods in single family homes.
Ordinary fire protection maintenance includes repair or replacement of smoke or heat detectors, installation of battery operated or plug in smoke detectors or carbon monoxide detectors, and the replacement of stoves and ovens provided that no change in fuel type or location or electrical characteristics is required.
You do need a permit if you are contemplating doing any of the following work. Please call or visit the Building Department at Borough Hall:
• Installation of a pool in-ground, above ground and inflatable.
• Installation of spas or hot tubs
• Build or replace a deck
• Put on an addition
• Interior renovations or alterations
1. Kitchen or bathroom remodel
2. Finishing a basement or attic
3. Install or replacement of sheetrock and insulation
• Build or replace a retaining wall over 4’ in height
• Install or replace a shed or detached garage
• Install or replace a woodstove
• Installation or replacement of hot water heaters, furnaces and boilers.
• Installation of gazebos and cabanas
• Replacement of roof and siding
• Removal of any tree
• Removal/abandonment of oil tanks
• Installation or replacement of central air conditioning
• Upgrade of electrical service
• Enlarge windows or doors
The following is regulated by Ordinance and requires certain reviews prior to approval:
• Soil movement
• Fencing
• Dog runs and kennels
• Animal shelters – including hutches, chicken coops, barns and corrals.
If you are unsure if your project requires a permit just call us at (973) 962-7880.
WHY GET A PERMIT?
- Obtaining permits protect you, the homeowner, from substandard work. Periodic inspections while the work is commencing ensures that the job is done correctly and avoids costly remedies by catching code mistakes early.
- Obtaining permits allow for smoother executions of future real estate transactions.
- Obtaining permits is the law.
If you need a permit for the work to be performed, the permit process and fees will be explained to you by the Building Department personnel at the time of your visit or telephone call. You may download any of the following packets and bring the completed packet to the Building Department. If you do not see the packet you need, please contact the Building Department at (973) 962-7880.
ZONING
New construction, building additions, projects that involve a change of use or new commercial tenancy and projects which involve changes to the exterior of a property, such as pools, decks, tennis courts, additions, driveways, shed etc., typically require application for and issuance of a Zoning Permit. You will be required to complete an application form, submit a copy of a current survey of your property and submit sufficient information to demonstrate to the Zoning Officer that the proposed work complies with Ringwood's Zoning Regulations, which can be found in Chapter XL - Zoning of the Borough Code. To determine the requirements and limitations that apply to your particular zone district, see Area, Bulk and Yard Requirements. You may also contact the Zoning Officer at the Building Department (973) 962-7880.
Upon receipt of an application, the Zoning Officer will review the application and determine if it complies with the Borough's Zoning Regulations. If so, a Zoning Permit will be issued. If you are unable to comply with the Zoning Regulations for any reason, you must obtain a variance from the Board of Adjustment before you can proceed with your project. The Zoning Officer is charged with the responsibility of enforcing the Zoning Regulations and may not waive its requirements. That power is granted by law to the Board of Adjustment. If your project requires a variance, the Zoning Officer will explain the application process to you.
Zoning Board of Adjustment Variance Application & Instructions
PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE
The local Building Department is also the office that enforces the Property Maintenance Code – Chapter XIII of the Borough Code, which is the law enacted to ensure that an existing structure and its exteriors are maintained in a safe and blight-free manner. Property maintenance violations may include uncontrolled growth of grass or weeds, garbage, litter, unsightly buildings, unregistered or “junk” vehicles. You may report any property maintenance code violations to the Building Department.
TREE REMOVAL
Chapter 24 – Tree Preservation and Protection of the Revised Ordinances of the Borough of Ringwood regulates the removal of trees on private property in certain cases. If you are contemplating removing a tree on your property, you should contact the Building Department to find out if a permit is required. If a permit is required, you must complete and submit a Tree Removal Permit Application to the Building Department to obtain a permit before removing any tree(s).
Tree Removal Permit Application
CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION
The State of New Jersey requires all contractors to be licensed. Click here to obtain information on becoming registered, check the status of your registration, reinstate registration, search for a contractor, or file a complaint.