N.J. Admin. Code § 5:23-2.17A

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 8, April 15, 2024

Section 5:23-2.17A - Minor work

(a) The issuance of a permit shall not be required before minor work may proceed. The owner, or an architect or contractor acting on behalf of the owner, shall, however, provide notice of the work to the enforcing agency before work begins.

(b) Notice of work; application:

1. Notice of minor work shall be oral or written and submitted in person or electronically to local enforcement agency and shall be given before work commences. Notice shall include a brief summary and the location of the work to be performed. Such notice shall be consent for the enforcing agency to enter and inspect in the same manner a permit application is consent.

2. In addition to the notice, the owner or his or her agent shall be required to file a permit application. The completed permit application shall be delivered in person or by mail to the enforcing agency, within five business days from the date of the notice. The fee shall be paid prior to the issuance of the construction permit.

(c) Minor work:

1. Minor work shall mean and include:

i. The construction or total replacement of any porch or stoop that does not provide structural support for any roof or portion of a building;

ii. Renovation or alteration work in an existing one or two-family dwelling, provided that no primary structural members are altered in any way, and further provided that the work does not constitute reconstruction; and

iii. Repair or replacement with no reconfiguration of space of any non-structural component such as a partition in structures other than one- and two-family dwellings; or

iv. Repair and/or renovation work in a Group B, Group F, Group M, or Group S occupancy performed in accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:23-6, but shall not include work categorized as ordinary maintenance pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.7.

2. Minor work shall also mean and include the replacement of any existing plumbing piping work with new and approved material of like capacity; the installation of drinking fountains and condensate drains in existing structures; the replacement of existing water heaters with new ones of like capacity; and the new installation of fixtures in existing space of dwellings where the new installation of additional fixtures can be accommodated with no increase in the size of the water distribution system, water service, or house drain.

3. Minor work shall also mean and shall include the replacement of existing low-pressure boilers, warm air furnaces, air conditioning units, and air conditioning condensing units with new appliances of like capacity.

4. Minor work shall also mean and include new electrical work incidental to the installation of air conditioning, equipment, clothes dryers, and ranges or ovens in one and two-family dwellings; the installation of five or fewer outlets where existing circuits and/or available space for circuits and service are adequate to support the load in one and two-family dwellings (fishing shall be considered minor work regardless of the number of fixtures/receptacles); the replacement of existing wiring with new wiring of the same capacity in one- and two-family dwellings provided that the new wiring shall be of a type approved for the use by the code.

5. Minor work shall also mean and include the following:

i. The installation of any fire detection or suppression device in any one-or two-family dwelling;

ii. The installation of a radon mitigation system provided no new electrical work is required and provided the installation does not involve the penetration of a fire-resistance rated assembly;

iii. The installation of a burglar alarm, security system, or doorbell in structures other than one- and two-family dwellings.

(1) Exception: Controlled, delayed, or sensor released egress doors;

iv. The installation of communications wiring in any Class 1 or Class 2 structure or any Class 3 structure involving the penetration of a fire-resistance rated assembly.

(1) For the purposes of applying this provision, communications wiring shall mean any wiring covered by Chapter 8 of the electrical subcode. Communications wiring shall also include data circuits between computers/information technology equipment, which may be classified as "communications circuits," in accordance with Article 725 of the electrical subcode; and

v. Any change of an existing transmission means from a digital alarm communicator transmitter to a fire alarm supervising station.

(1) For the purposes of applying this provision, transmission means shall mean the existing phone line(s) that transmit fire alarm signals from a digital alarm communicator transmitter to the supervising station. A certified fire alarm service company, licensed fire alarm company or licensed electrical contractor shall submit Form F-391 signed by the contractor to provide a verification statement in writing to the fire subcode official within 24 hours that all required signals remain operational after the new transmission means is installed.

6. Minor work shall not include lead abatement.

7. Minor work on elevator devices shall also mean and include work as outlined in 5:23-12.8(b) and not involving any structural modification to a building.

(d) Inspection of minor work:

1. Inspections shall be required for minor work and the enforcing agency shall inspect any such work within three business days of the request for inspection, or other such time within 30 days, as agreed upon by the enforcing agency and the owner, agent, or other responsible person in charge of work;

i. Exception: The replacement of an existing transmission means shall not require an onsite inspection by the fire subcode official as long as the verification form required by (c)5v(1) above is received within 24 hours of installation; and

2. The construction official shall issue a certificate of approval stating that the work performed under a Minor Work Permit substantially complies with the UCC. The inspection shall be based upon what is visible at the time of said inspection and the certificate of approval shall so indicate.

N.J. Admin. Code § 5:23-2.17A

Amended by 50 N.J.R. 955(a), effective 3/5/2018

Amended by 53 N.J.R. 242(a), effective 2/16/2021

Amended by 56 N.J.R. 469(a) effective 4/1/2024