Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 18, September 16, 2024
(a) Preliminary inspection: Before issuing a
permit, the construction official and appropriate subcode official shall, where
necessary, examine or cause to be examined all buildings, structures and sites
for which an application has been filed for a construction permit.
(b) Inspections during the progress of work:
The construction official and appropriate subcode officials shall carry out
periodic inspections during the progress of work to ensure that work inspected
conforms to the requirements of the code.
1.
Inspections of one- and two-family dwellings for which construction must cease
until the inspection is made shall be limited to the following:
i. The bottom of footing trenches before
placement of footings;
(1) In the case of
pile foundations, a pile log and certification prepared by a licensed design
professional shall take the place of the inspection required by (b)1i above.
Such certification shall include, but not be limited to, verification that the
size, type, and location of the piles conforms to the released plans and that
the piles are properly set to support the design loads. Such certification
shall be based upon personal observations made by the design professional at
the site;
ii. Foundations
and all walls up to grade level prior to covering or back filling;
(1) For new construction, a foundation
location survey showing all building corners of the foundation and the
elevation of the top of the foundation wall shall be submitted to the
construction official as soon as possible after the installation of the
foundation wall. It is not necessary for work to cease for the preparation and
submission of this survey. A land surveyor licensed in the State of New Jersey
shall prepare the survey. The proposed foundation location and elevation as
shown on the original plot plan shall also be shown on the foundation location
survey.
(A) Exception: A foundation location
survey shall not be required for additions, decks, swimming pools, sheds or
similar structures.
(2)
For new construction, additions, and work that is determined to be a
substantial improvement pursuant to
N.J.A.C.
5:23-6.3A, the foundation location survey,
including the lowest floor elevation and as-built elevation documentation, for
a building that is located in a flood hazard area shall be submitted to the
construction official and to the local floodplain administrator and shall
include elevation certificates as required by section 1612.4 of the building
subcode or section R322.1.10 of the one- and two-family dwelling subcode; the
documentation and certificates shall be submitted prior to further vertical
construction;
iii.
Utility services, including septic;
iv. Mid-point inspections shall include the
following:
(1) Building Subcode: All
structural framing, connections, wall and roof sheathing, and insulation.
(A) The framing inspection shall take place
after the rough electrical and plumbing inspections and after the installation
of the heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning duct system.
(B) For buildings containing roof or other
truss systems, a truss system and permanent truss bracing inspection shall be
performed prior to the installation of any interior roof truss covering
material. Where the truss design utilizes the interior finish as bracing for
the bottom cord, that portion of the bracing shall be part of the final
inspection and shall be in addition to the components of the final inspection
in (d) below.
(C) The insulation
inspection shall be performed after all other subcode rough inspections and
prior to the installation of any interior finish material.
(D) Prior to inspection, the responsible
person in charge of work shall provide to the building inspector a signed
framing checklist (Form F390) to be verified and initialed by the inspector and
then made part of the permit file for buildings of Type V
construction.
(2)
Electrical Subcode: Rough wiring, panel and service installation.
(3) Plumbing Subcode: Rough piping.
2. Inspections for all
subcodes of construction, other than one- and two-family dwellings, shall be
limited to those required for one- and two-family dwellings and the following:
fire suppression and detection/alarm systems; heat producing devices; and any
special inspections required by any subcode of the regulations;
i. The mid-point inspection shall include a
review for compliance with N.J.A.C. 5:23-7, the Barrier Free Subcode, for
buildings required by
N.J.A.C.
5:23-7.1 to be accessible.
ii. The requirement for a framing checklist,
established at (b)1iv(D) above, shall apply to buildings of Type V construction
of Groups R-2, R-3 and R-4 only.
3. Any additional inspections, as permitted
by this chapter and as may be required by the municipality, shall be of the
type and nature that construction may continue without interruption;
4. Additional inspection schedule: Where
buildings proposed for construction exceed two stories in height or by their
nature pose complex or unusual inspection problems, the construction official
or appropriate subcode official may specify additional inspections to the
applicant in writing prior to the issuance of a permit and during construction
in the case of unforeseeable circumstances.
(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.
2.
Inspections shall be performed within three business days, or other such time
within 30 days, as agreed upon by the enforcing agency and the owner, agent, or
other responsible person in charge of work, of the time for which it was
requested. The enforcing agency shall notify the owner, agent, or other
responsible person in charge of work when the inspection will be performed
within 24 hours of official receipt of the notice. The agreed upon time shall
be confirmed, in writing, and sent within normal business hours. The work shall
not proceed in a manner which will preclude the inspection until it has been
made.
(d) Final
inspection: Upon completion of the building or structure, and before the
issuance of a certificate of use and occupancy required herein, a final
inspection shall be made, and any violations of the code shall be noted and the
holder of the permit shall be notified of any discrepancies by the construction
official. The final inspection shall include:
1. Building and Fire Subcode: Installation of
all interior and exterior finish materials, sealing of exterior joints,
mechanical system and any other required equipment.
2. Electrical Subcode: Wiring, devices and
fixtures.
3. Plumbing Subcode:
Piping, trim and fixtures.
4. Tests
required by any provision of the adopted subcodes.
5. A review for compliance with N.J.A.C.
5:23-7, the Barrier Free Subcode, for all buildings required by
N.J.A.C.
5:23-7.1 to be accessible.
6. Verification of compliance with
N.J.A.C.
5:23-3.5, Posting
structures.
(e)
Inspections records: The enforcing agency shall make a written record of all
inspections, including any discrepancies or violations noted and shall maintain
those reports as a public record which shall be available for public inspection
during normal business hours.
(f)
Department inspections: At the request of an enforcing agency, the Department
may assist the enforcing agency in the inspection of any construction, provided
that the enforcing agency has submitted the plans and specifications for such
construction to the Department.
(g)
The construction official shall serve as an agent of the Bureau of Housing
Inspection of the Department of Community Affairs for the purpose of inspecting
newly constructed and altered hotels and multiple dwellings in order to enforce
the provisions of the regulations for the maintenance of hotels and multiple
dwellings (N.J.A.C. 5:10). Responsibility for inspection may be delegated to
the appropriate sub-code official(s).
(h) Periodic inspections: The building
subcode official or fire protection subcode official may periodically inspect
all existing buildings and structures, except one and two family dwellings, for
compliance with the rules with respect to posting. Such inspection shall
specify any violation of the rules with respect to the posting of floor load,
occupancy load and use group of the building.
(i) If the owner or occupant improperly
denies entry to the construction official, the construction official, or his or
her authorized representative, shall obtain an administrative warrant or other
legal remedy to secure entry issued by a court of competent
jurisdiction.
