STATE OF NEW JERSEY
217th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2016 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman VINCENT PRIETO
District 32 (Bergen and Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Requires costs of contract for construction be revealed to municipal construction office for construction permit.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning construction permits and supplementing P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-119 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Whenever an owner submits an application for a construction permit as required pursuant to the "State Uniform Construction Code Act," P.L.1975, c.217 (C.52:27D-119 et seq.), the applicant shall provide to the code enforcement agency a good faith estimate of the value of the work to be performed and a certified construction plan. If a certified construction plan is not available, the owner shall submit a certification of the value of the work to be performed, or a copy of any contract between the owner and the contractor performing the work. For the purposes of this section "certification of the value of the work to be performed" means a writing signed by all parties which states that value.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires a property owner applying for a construction permit to submit to the code enforcement agency a good faith estimate of the value of the work to be performed and a certified construction plan. If a certified construction plan is not available, the owner must submit a certification of the value of the work to be performed, or a copy of the contract between the owner and the contractor performing the work.
Municipal construction offices base the fees for the construction permit on the size and cost of the project. Often, contractors will understate the costs of the project in order to pay a reduced permit fee. The bill is aimed at curbing this type of behavior on the part of contractors. The bill will not change the construction permit fee structure allowing for discounts for such items as fixtures or volume discounts.