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Code enforcement faces new 3-day inspection rule and waits on electronic permitting rollout
Summary
Code Enforcement Director Jason Harris said 2024 was the department's busiest year and warned that a new state rule giving municipalities one chance to perform requested inspections within three days creates risk; he also described delays in implementing statewide electronic permit submission (SDL).
Jason Harris, director of code enforcement and local enforcing agency chief, told the council the department handled its busiest year on record in 2024 and warned council members about two major statewide changes that affect permitting and inspections.
Harris said the Department of Community Affairs has not completed implementation of an electronic permitting standard and that software providers are still waiting for state guidance. "The state is in the process of mandating...electronic processing'. The DCA is having issues with the Department of Consumer Affairs, and that ...will not let professionals such as electricians and plumbers sign and seal electronically...the implementation of electronic permitting submission is stymied," he said. He told the council the township intends to use SDL if and when the state permits fully electronic submittals and e-signatures but that the software is not ready yet.
Harris also highlighted a new inspection requirement the department started following in 2024: written inspection requests must be honored within a three-day window. If the township misses that opportunity, the contractor may hire a third-party inspector and the DCA can require the township to refund permit-inspection fees, even if those fees exceed the permit value. "We have 1 strike," Harris said. "If we miss that inspection or we miss the 3 day window, the contractor has to petition the DCA for the allowance to go to the third party. ... We have not missed the 3 day window in over a year," he added, crediting staff and per-diem inspectors for meeting the requirement.
Harris said the township has added per-diem staff and uses overtime to meet inspection demand. He said the department's operating budget remains largely flat except for a separate line added to cover SDL software costs once the system is adopted.
Harris asked for council awareness about the litigation and policy risk from inspection and permitting changes and said staff will continue to push for training and staffing as needed to avoid losing inspections to private agencies.
