Fees to go to affordable housing trust fund.

NOTE: On July 27, 2009, Governor Corzine suspended the collection of nonresidential development fees through passage of the New Jersey Economic Stimulus Act of 2009. Payment of the fee is no longer required for a final certificate of occupancy to be issued. Developers that have paid a nonresidential development fee since July 17, 2008 may claim a refund from the Township pursuant to the guidelines issued by the State Division of Codes and Standards.

The Township has increased the fees it charges for new residential and commercial construction in response to State legislation effective immediately. The residential development fee is now 1.5% of the equalized assessed value of the property, and the commercial development fee is now 2.5% of the equalized assessed value of the property.

The fees are deposited into a housing trust fund used for the creation of affordable housing in the community. The fees apply to the construction of new buildings and additions to existing buildings.

Exceptions include schools, nonprofit hospitals, nursing homes and houses of worship, additions to one and two-family houses, and developments which include affordable housing. Fees are collected before a certificate of occupancy is issued.

For questions, please contact the Department of Planning, Building and Zoning at 973-509-4954.

A statewide Permit Extension Act was recently signed into law. Pursuant to this act, all development approvals granted after January 1, 2007 are automatically extended to July 1, 2010. Such approvals include building, plumbing, electrical and fire permits, Planning Board, Zoning Board and Historic Preservation Commission approvals including variances, subdivisions and site plans, and certain approvals issued by State agencies including the Departments of Environmental Protection and Transportation.

Normally, development approvals expire after a designated period of time. The law was enacted in response to a downturn in the economy and the tightening of lending practices which have delayed the start of many approved construction projects. A similar law was enacted in 1992 due to an economic slowdown at that time.