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Committee advances bill to allow certified architects, engineers to self‑certify construction code compliance
Summary
A4360, as amended, was released after industry testimony arguing self-certification would speed permitting and address plan-review staffing shortages. The bill authorizes the Commissioner of Community Affairs to certify architects and engineers as qualified design professionals for many projects while excluding certain project categories unless the Commissioner extends authorization.
The State Legislature’s committee advanced A4360, a bill amended to let the Commissioner of Community Affairs establish a certification program for architects and engineers to be designated "qualified design professionals" who may self-certify that construction permit applications and plans comply with the State Uniform Construction Code.
Industry witnesses told the committee the measure responds to chronic shortages of plan reviewers and long project timelines. Tony Pizzotillo of NAIOP and Ray Cantor of the New Jersey Business and Industry Association said projects in New Jersey can take years to move from conception to construction compared with shorter timelines in other states, and that enabling qualified professionals to self-certify would speed construction while preserving DCA oversight for higher-risk project categories.
Jeff Kolkowsky, CEO of the New Jersey Builders Association, said the change would help reduce costs and support housing and commercial renovations. The committee adopted amendments that preserve certain project categories and submittal types as generally ineligible for self-certification, while authorizing the commissioner by regulation to extend self-certification to specified categories.
On roll call the committee recorded votes and the clerk announced the bill was released as amended; one member was recorded as opposed. The committee did not record a floor-level enactment; the bill now proceeds to the next step in the legislative process.
Next steps: released by committee; would require further legislative action and administrative regulations by the Department of Community Affairs to implement certification and any permitted expansions.
