Bureau of Construction Project Review

• In What Instances is Bureau Review and Release Required?
• How long will the review of submitted plans take?
• What constitutes a complete submittal?
• Are the Plan Review Application and the Plan Review Fee Schedule available on the Internet?
• How will I be notified when the review is completed?
• What is the next step after DCA has released my plans?
• Related Forms and Publications
• Laws, Rules, Regulations

• In What Instances is Bureau Review and Release Required?
  
  The Bureau of Construction Project Review is required to perform plan review in municipalities where the subcode officials and construction official do not possess code enforcement licenses of the appropriate class. The construction class of the particular municipality can be obtained through either the municipality's construction office, administrative offices, or by calling the Office of Regulatory Affairs at (609) 984-7672.

  In accordance with the UCC, submission to the Bureau for plan review must be made if the proposed project is:

  • Class I: A Bureau plan review and release is required prior to the issuance of a construction permit unless the construction official and each appropriate subcode official in the municipal enforcing agency is certified as a HHS construction official or subcode officials;
  • Class II: A Bureau plan review and release is required prior to the issuance of a construction permit unless the construction official and each appropriate subcode official in the municipal enforcing agency is certified as a HHS or ICS construction official or subcode official;
  • Class III: A Bureau plan review shall not be required except when the Department acts as the enforcing agency. Application should be made to the local construction office, not the Department/
    In addition to the above categories, all plans for the following structures must be submitted to the Department for review and release:
  • Electrical generating stations and substations, including nuclear;
  • Incineration plants;
  • Solid waste disposal plans;
  • Class I and Class II structures where required in accordance with NJAC 5:23-4.3A and NJAC 5:23-4.24(b)2;
  • Casino hotels;
  • Public mausoleums, vaults, crypts and other structures intended to hold or contain human remains;
  • All premanufactured systems for Class I and Class II structures, other than those authorized to be approved by an inplant inspection agency licensed to perform Class I and Class II plan review as provided in NJAC 5:23-4A.10, and all on-site installation of Class I and Class II premanufactured construction within the jurisdiction of a local enforcing agency that is not a Class I or Class II agency, as the case may be;
  • Health care facilities as defined in NJAC 5:23-1.4;
  • Prototype plans intended for use in more than one municipality;
  • High level alarm systems in terminals, as defined in NJSA 52:27D-214;
  • Billboards located on land owned or controlled by any state, county or local department, agency, board, commission, authority, or instrumentality; and
  • State-owned structures, unless delegated to other agencies by memoranda of understanding.
  • Stadiums,arenas and theaters with an occupant load of 5000 or greater.
    Once a release, either partial or complete, is obtained from the Bureau, the municipalities will issue the appropriate permit(s) and perform inspections so that construction may ensue.
    

   Revised: 3/31/11

  
• How long will the review of submitted plans take?
  
   

  The first review of a "complete submittal" will be done in twenty business days from the date received. Subsequent reviews for corrections to the plans and or plan amendments will be done in seven business days from the date received.

  
• What constitutes a complete submittal?
  
  A complete submittal will include all of the following: A completed Project Review Application, a completed Plan Review Fee Schedule and the accompanying check covering the computed fee, one complete set of Building, Mechanical, Plumbing, Electrical and Fire Protection plans and specifications with all information as noted in the DCA Instructions for Plan Review Application.
  
• Are the Plan Review Application and the Plan Review Fee Schedule available on the Internet?
  
  Yes. These forms can be accessed by the links below.
  
• How will I be notified when the review is completed?
  
  When the review of a project is completed, one of the following will take place:

  If the submittal for the proposed project does not meet the requirements of the NJUCC, a written list of comments citing areas of non-compliance is sent by mail or e-mail message to the owner of the proposed project or to the owner's designated representative. These comments must be addressed in a follow-up submission before the project can be released for permitting.

  or

  If the submittal for the proposed project meets all of the requirements of the NJUCC, a letter is sent by mail or e-mail message to the owner of the proposed project or to the owner's designated representative requesting two additional sets of drawings and specifications for processing of the release. These additional sets of drawings and specifications are marked with a DCA release stamp and then returned to the owner or to the owner's designated representative.
  
• What is the next step after DCA has released my plans?
  
  The released plans must be taken to the building department in the municipality where the project is being constructed. The municipality will issue the permits needed for the work to begin and will perform all of the inspections required under the NJUCC during the course of construction.
  
• Related Forms and Publications
  
  Plan Review -General
    Project Review Instructions (w/Application)
    Project Review Application Only 
    Project Review Application, Atlantic City
    Plan Review Fee Schedule
    Plan Review Variation, Application for
    Certification of Final Plan
  Specific to Health Care Facilities
    Health Care Facilities Plan Review Procedures
    Health Care Plan Review Record
  Specific to State Buildings
    Construction Permit Application Packet and Related Forms
    State Buildings Permit Fee Schedule
    State Buildings Annual Permit Application
  Specific to Public School Construction
    Construction Permit Application Packet and Related Forms
    State Buildings Permit Fee Schedule 
            (Use the State Buildings Permit Fee Schedule for public school 
              construction permitting where the DCA is issuing the Permit.)
    Bulletin 00-3 Public Schools -Plan Review Procedure, Facility 
                         Planning Standards
  
  
• Laws, Rules, Regulations
  
    NJAC 5:23   The Uniform Construction Code