BOROUGH OF MENDHAM

973-543-7152 • 2 West Main Street • Mendham, NJ 07945

PROJECT TYPE	ZONING COMPLIANCE PERMIT	CONSTRUCTION PERMIT
*Additions	Yes	Yes
Air Conditioner (Central): Install or Replace	Yes	Yes
Asbestos Abatement	No	Yes
Basement: Refinishing or Remodeling	Yes	Yes
Bathroom Fixtures Direct Replacement	No	No
Piping Changes	No	Yes
Boiler Replace or Install	No	Yes
Burglar Alarm Install	No	Yes
Carpeting	No	No
Chimney Repairs	No	Yes
*Commercial Signs (Exterior)	Yes	Yes
*Deck Add or Replace	Yes	Yes
*Demolition	No	Yes
Dishwasher Install	No	Yes
Door Exterior Replace Existing with Same Size and Type	No	No
Door Exterior Adding, Enlarging or Eliminating	No	Yes
Driveway Repair or Repave	No	No
Duct Work InstallNew	No	Yes
Duct Work Repair or Replace	No	No
Electrical Any Modifications or Improvements	No	Yes
*Fence Add or Replace	Yes	Yes If Pool or Spa Fence or Over 6ft Height
Fence Repair 50% or Less of Existing Fence	No	No
Fireplace Add	No	Yes
Furnace Replace	No	Yes
Generator Stand-Alone	Yes	Yes
Gutters Replace or Repair	No	No
Landscaping Work	No	No
Lawn Sprinkler System	No	Yes
Lead Paint Abatement	No	No
Ordinary Repairs	No	No
*Outdoor Kitchen	Yes	Yes
*Painting Exterior or Interior	No	No
*Patio, Brick or Pavers	Yes	No
Plumbing Any Modifications or Improvements	No	Yes
Remodeling or Alterations Interior	No	Yes
*Retaining Walls over 4 Feet in Height	Yes	Yes
Roof Repairs Involving Less Than 25% of Existing Roof	No	No
*Roof Replace Commercial	No	Yes
Roof Top Unit	No	Yes
Satellite Dish Commercial	No	Yes
Satellite Dish Residential	No	No
Septic System Construct or Abandon	No	No Requires BOH Issued Permit
Sewer System Service Connection	No	Yes Permit issued by Engineer Dept
*Sheds or utility buildings under 200 sq. ft.	Yes	No
*Shed or Utility Building over 200 Sq. Ft Construction	Yes	Yes
Siding Add , Repair or Replace Existing	No	Yes
Smoke Detectors Add	No	Yes
*Solar Panels Ground or Roof Mounted	Yes	Yes
Spa/Hot Tub	Yes	Yes
Storm Windows/Doors	No	No
Stove Replace Electric with Gas	No	Yes
Swimming Pool Add or Replace	Yes	Yes
Tennis Court Installation	Yes	Yes
Underground Fuel or Septic Tank Removal	No	Yes
Water Heater Replace	No	Yes
Wall Repairs Remove & Replace Drywall or Plaster less than 25% of wall area of dwelling.	No	Yes
Windows Replace Existing with Same Size and Type	No	No
*Windows Adding, Enlarging, or Eliminating	No	Yes

• Remember all ordinary maintenance work must meet the Uniform Construction Code requirements.
• No permit is required and there are no inspections for Ordinary Maintenance work.

• Building Finishes
  • 1 & 2 Family Dwellings ONLY.
    • Installation, repair or replacement of interior finishes of less than 25 percent of the wall area of the dwelling.
      • Includes plastering and drywall installation.
      • Vinyl wall covering of any amount.
    • Paneling is not ordinary maintenance.
  • 1 & 2 Family Dwellings, Commerical & Multi-Family
    • Painting (interior/exterior)
    • Wall papering
    • Trim/molding (interior/exterior)
    • Flooring material repair
• Non‐Structural Components
  • 1 & 2 Family Dwellings ONLY
    • The repair or replacement of any non‐structural component, such as a partition.
• Siding Existing
  • 1 & 2 Family Dwellings ONLY
    • The repair or replacement of any amount of existing siding.
  •  Commerical & Multi-Familly Residential require a permit. 
    • May be repaired or replacement with like material. 
    • May not exceed 25 percent of the total building exterior wall.
  • All Polypropylene Siding requires a permit.
    • Installation of any amount requires a permit.
    • The repair or replacement of polypropylene siding is not ordinary maintenance.
• Windows/Doors/Garage Door Replacement
  • Glass replacement in any window or door.
    • Replacement glass must be of a type and quality that complies with the code.
  • May be replaced in the same rough opening without altering the dimensions or framing.
  • Includes means of egress elements (such as emergency escape openings) when dimensions and framing are not altered, and the height, width or net clear opening is maintained.
  • Screens may be repaired, replaced or installed.
• Cabinets
  • Non‐structural elements such as a cabinet may be repaired, replaced or installed.
• Deck/Porch/Stoop
  • Any part may be replaced or repaired that does not provide structural support for any roof or portion of a building.
• Insulation
  • Non-Foam Plastic
    • When installed adjacent to or not more than one and a half inches from an interior finish
    • Previously, ordinary maintenance was limited to roll or batt insulation, now any insulation other than foam plastic is allowed as ordinary maintenance.
  • Foam Plastic
    • All installation of foam plastic insulation requires a permit.
• Gutters
  • Exterior gutters and leaders may be repaired, replaced or installed.
• Landscape Irrigation Systems
  • Plug‐in landscape irrigation unit under 30 volts may be installed.
• Spas/Hot Tubs
  • Storable spas and hot tubs may be installed when provided with a lockable safety cover that complies with ASTM F1346.
• Plumbing
  • Fixtures and Fixture Parts
    • Fixtures may be replaced with a similar fixture only if there is no change in the piping arrangement.
      • Note: the replacement of fixtures was previously limited to single family dwellings, now fixtures may be replaced in all uses as ordinary maintenance.
    • Faucets and working parts of faucets may be replaced; existing fixtures may be refinished.
      • Relining fixtures is not ordinary maintenance.
  • Valves & Hose Bibs
    • May be replaced provided that an approved atmospheric vacuum breaker is provided.
      • Note: hose bibs replacement used to be limited to single family dwellings and now may be replaced in all buildings as ordinary maintenance.
    • Valves and work parts of valves may be replaced including shower or combination bath/shower valves.
      • Note: shower valves replacement used to be limited to single family dwellings and now may be replaced in all buildings as ordinary maintenance.
  • Ball Cocks
    • May be replaced provided that an approved anti‐siphon type is used.
  • Piping Repair/Replacement
    • Piping may be replaced to repair a leak.
      • Note: the repair of leaks was preciously limited to replacement of piping between any two adjacent joints, this is no longer the case.
  • Trap Replacement
    • Including culinary sink traps.
  • Drain Cleaning
    • Stoppages may be removed.
• Appliance Replacement Domestic Use Only
  • Washing Machines
  • Dishwashers.
  • Kitchen Range Hoods
    • May be replaced provided that the replacement hood exhaust rate does not exceed the exhaust rate of the existing hood
    • or the exhaust rate of the replacement hood does not exceed 400 cfm.
  • Clothes Dryers
    • May be replaced provided that no change in fuel type, pipe size, or location or electrical characteristics is required.
  • Stoves & Ovens
    • May be replaced provided no change in fuel type, pipe size, or location or electrical characteristics is required.
  • Bathroom Exhaust Fans
    • May be replaced.
• Electrical
  • Receptacles, Switches, Lighting Fixtures & Outlets
    • Receptacles, Switches, or Lighting Fixtures that do not contain emergency battery packs, may be replaced with a similar item.
    • Receptacles in locations with ground‐fault circuit interrupter, damp/wet, or tamper‐resistant protection must comply with Section 406.4(D) of the Electrical Subcode
      • Note: The limitation on 20 amps or less has been removed.
• Electrical Operated Equipment
  • May be installed, repaired or replaced.
    • Doorbell
    • Communication Systems
    • Burglar Alarm or Security Systems.
    • Any other exisitng electrical equipment or motor‐operated device.
• Communications Wiring
  • Communications wiring may be installed (i.e. Ch. 8 and data circuits between computers/information technology equipment from Article 725 of the electrical subcode) in a Class 3 structure (see N.J.A.C. 5:23‐4.3A), provided that the rearrangement does not involve penetration of a fire‐rated assembly and is not in a hazardous location (see Ch. 5 of the electrical subcode).
• Fire Safety
  • Sprinkler, Smoke Detector, Smoke Alarm, & Heat Detector Heads
    • Repair of components and/or replacement with a like device.
    • Excludes the replacement of a Fire Alarm Control Panel.
  • Battery Powered Smoke Alarms & Battery Powered or Plug in Carbon Monoxide Alarms.
    • Installation
  • Fire Protection System
    • If interrupted for repairs, the fire official must be notified in accordance with Building Subcode regulations.
• Mechanical
  • Motors, Pumps & Fans
    • Motors pumps and fans of the same capacity may be replaced.
  • Heating Supply & Return Piping & Radiation Elements
    • The repair or replacement of heating supply and return piping and radiation elements where there is no rearrangement of the piping system.
  • HVAC
    • Repair of air conditioning equipment and systems
    • Repair or replacement of control devices for heating and air conditioning equipment.
    • Duct Work may be repaired or replaced.
• Chimney Lining Liquid Applied
  • The application of liquid applied lining material inside an existing chimney.
• Roofing
  • 1 & 2 Family Dwellings ONLY
    • The repair or replacement, including total replacement, of any amount of existing roof covering on detached one‐or two‐family dwellings.
  • All Commerical Roofs & Multi-Familly Residential (excludes 1 & 2 family dwellings) require a permit.

 3.  Why should I get a permit?

• Work that requires a permit and is done without the proper permit is illegal.
• Penalities for failure to obtain a permit prior to construction are up to $2,00 per each offense [N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.31 (e)].
• Illegal work completed without a permit can cause serious complicaitons when you want to sell your house.
• Through the permitting process the Construction Department's inspectors approves each phase of the construction process while checking to see the work is done safely and properly.

• Work without a permit is illegal and can pose serious complications for you when you sell your house. Penalties for failure to obtain a permit prior to construction are up to $2,000 for each offense [N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.31 (e)].
• Work done by the homeowner requiring a permit must be inspected to ensure the work has been done according to code.
• There are also legal and financial liabilities if you don't obtain a permit.
• Any fire and homeowner's insurance you have will be invalidated if you do work without a permit.
• If there is a fire in your house, the insurance company may use the illegal work as an excuse not to pay on your claim.

• The size and scope of your project will determine the length of time for the review process. ie roof vs new home.
• Permitting can take several weeks or a couple of months.
• The completeness of the information submitted with your permit can greatly assist with the review and approval process.

 6.  How much will by permit cost?

• The cost of permit is determined by the size and scope of your project.
• Two fees are determined for the permit.
  • The first fee is determined by local ordinances.
  • The second fee is determined by the New Jersey State Department of Community Affairs
• Permit fees are based on either the dollar amount of the work to be done and, if applicable, the total cubic volume of the new space to be built.

• A reputable contractor should detemine whether a permit is needed before the work is performed and inform the homeowner.
• Your contractactor should always check with the Borough of Mendham Construction Department to determine permit requirements.
  • Different munciipalities have differnt requirements.

• Either the homeowner or the contractor can schedule inspections.
• If you are using a contractor, be sure to establish who will be calling in for inspections before the work begins.

 9.  My contractor said that the work was finished and I paid him, why do I need a final inspection?

• Final inspections should be completed before the final payment.
• A contractor who has not received final payment is more likely to come back and correct a failed inspection versus one who has received full payment.
• The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs Rule: N.J.A.C. 13:45A-16.2(a)10.ii states:

"FOR INSPECTIONS ON CONSTRUCTION PERMITS FOR BUILDING, ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, FIRE PROTECTION OR ELEVATOR, FINAL PAYMENT TO THE CONTRACTOR IS NOT REQUIRED TO BE MADE BEFORE A FINAL INSPECTION IS PERFORMED."

• Please contact the Construction Department as soon as possible so this can be remedied and the permiting processes started.
• A "Retroactive" Permit can be generated.
  • It requires the same fees and inspections as a regular permit.
• Please note the permit may take several weeks to process.

• When all final inspections required are completed and passed, you will receive the appropriate certificate.
• If you have had work done on your home with a permit but did not receive a Certificate of Approval or Certificate of Occupancy, please call the Construction Department to check the inspection status of the permit.
• If needed, the necessary inspections to close the permit will be scheduled and the required certificate issued.
• Remember not all open pemits are closed at the same time.

12.  Do I need a CCO on the resale or refinancing of an existing single-family dwelling?

• The Borough of Mendham does not require the issuance of a Certificate of Continued Occupancy on the resale or refinancing of an existing single-family dwelling or commercially zoned building.
• There is a required inspection from the Fire Prevention Bureau on the resale of any residential dwelling or change of occupancy of any residential rental unit.
• If you are in the sewer area you must also obtain a sewer connection inspection.