Whether you are looking to make repairs to your home after Superstorm Sandy, undertake a home renovation project, or simply upgrade your current dwelling, figuring out which township permits are needed and when can be a project in itself. And the official who can help has a job title that makes some people cringe: director of code enforcement. But Thomas Boyd, who holds that title in Plainsboro, is eager to let people know his office is ready to help.
Boyd walked residents through the construction permit process at a seminar in January. He will host a similar seminar Monday, March 11, at 7 p.m. in the Recreation Center. The subjects: Finished basements and patios. Boyd will explain when a permit is needed, how to apply, and what to expect from the permit request and inspection processes.
Boyd is well-versed in the safety rationale for New Jersey’s residential building codes. A native of Burlington County, Boyd began working as a carpenter for a friend’s father while obtaining his bachelor’s degree in mathematics. He continued to work in construction until he was hired as a firefighter and inspector for the Evesham Fire Department and obtained a plethora of inspection licenses, including building, electrical, fire, and plumbing before coming to Plainsboro in 2005.
“I realized I needed to be prepared for life after the fire department, so I obtained all the licensing I could in the code enforcement field,” he said.
While many homeowners may consider code enforcement a nuisance, Boyd stresses that verifying home improvement projects meet the state’s safety standards is in everyone’s best interest. For Boyd, his interest in code enforcements was a result of his firefighting career. Evesham Township had a low percentage of fires under his watch, which Boyd credits to an aggressive public education and inspection program.
His plan to launch a similar program in Plainsboro is well underway. “I knew I would enjoy the challenge of continuing this trend. One of the most difficult areas of this field is you don’t know what potential dangers you have averted or money you may have saved people,” said Boyd. “That is one reasons why we are conducting these seminars: to get the word out about how important it is to follow the regulations in order to save [homeowners] money and heartache in the future.”
While most work done to a residential structure requires a permit, common exceptions include changes to small fences, sheds, and temporary structures, and replacing less than 25 percent of siding or roofing, such as to repair a hole. Window replacements do not require a permit if the size of the opening is unchanged. Patios are considered a structure, he says, and their location may be subject to zoning restrictions.
There are also exceptions for after-hours emergencies. “If your water heater explodes at 4:45 on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, by all means, replace it,” said Boyd. But he stressed that it’s critical for the homeowner to request a permit within 72 hours to avoid complications.
The rule of thumb is that if a pipe must be disconnected, such as to replace a hot water heater, a permit is required; however, if only a cord or plug needs to be disconnected, such as to replace a refrigerator, no permit is required.
The penalties for failing to obtain a permit can be severe: residents face a fine of up to $2,000 for noncompliance. And should a fire or other emergency occur, insurance companies typically will not cover losses on projects that were performed without the proper permits. The bottom line is that it simply is not worth ignoring the permit process in the long run.
Often unlicensed contractors will tell their client that it is cheaper for them to apply than it is for a contractor. This is not the case, Boyd said. A homeowner should apply for a permit directly only if he or she is doing the work with their own hands; otherwise, the contractor should be apply and submit the application with their signature.
When it is time for the township’s inspection of a project, it is important for residents to know that building codes are uniform throughout every local government in the state. In the event their project fails inspection, homeowners should be sure to ask for the specific code that was not met. “We hear the horror stories of building inspectors demanding things they shouldn’t demand,” said Boyd, who reiterated Plainsboro’s commitment to providing its residents with transparency. “If you ever hear ‘because I said so’ from one of my inspectors, you get on the phone with me.”
Homeowners can also expect a tax assessment following the award of their certificate to reflect their property’s increased value in some instances.
The Building Division can be reached at 609-799-0909, ext. 2545, or by E-email: buildingdivision@plainsboronj.com.
