Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Building And Permits topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
West Amwell introduces broad rewrite of construction permit and certificate fees
Summary
Ordinance 01, 2026 would replace §68-3 (Fees) of the township code with a detailed schedule setting permit, plan-review and certificate fees across building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and fire subcodes; the ordinance was introduced on first reading and set for public hearing Feb. 18, 2026.
At the Jan. 21 meeting the West Amwell Township Committee introduced Ordinance 01, 2026, which would delete and replace §68-3 of the township code to implement a comprehensive update to construction permit fees, plan-review charges and certificate fees.
The ordinance text in the minutes specifies multiple fee schedules: a general administrative minimum fee ($150 for unspecified items; minimums of $85 for certain subcodes), a 25% non-refundable plan-review portion of total permit fees, and volume- or cost-based building permit rates (for example, $0.04 per cubic foot for new construction with minimums). It includes explicit itemized fees for pools, decks, tents, demolition, signs, generators, solar systems, and fixture counts for electrical permits. The fire subcode schedule lists tiered sprinkler-head fees, fire service line and hydrant charges, and suppression-system fees. Plumbing, mechanical and other subcode fees are similarly enumerated.
The ordinance also references the State of New Jersey surcharge (N.J. regulations) and remittance procedures for the Bureau of Housing Inspections, includes refund limitations (no refunds after 90 days of issuance except at the Construction Official's discretion), a severability clause and adoption language. A motion to introduce the ordinance on first reading passed unanimously; the public hearing was scheduled for the committee’s Feb. 18 meeting.
If adopted after the public hearing, the ordinance would change the township’s fee structure for construction permits and certificates; exact revenue impacts were not estimated in the minutes.
