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1. Do residential contractors have to be licensed?

Yes. Residential general contractors must be registered with the Division of Consumer Affairs in Trenton. You can also find licensing/registration information for other New Jersey-regulated trades at the NJ Consumer Affairs website. (See § 13:45A-16.2 for home improvement contractor registration rules)

Be advised that written contracts are required for all construction projects costing more than five hundred dollars. Always have written contracts for work in your home, including changes made from original contracts.

2. Can I perform my own work?

Yes, in homeowner-occupied single-family dwellings only. Work in all other types of buildings must be done by NJ state-licensed or registered contractors.

3. Can I draw my own plans?

Yes, for work performed in single-family homeowner-occupied dwellings. All other use groups' plans and specs must be drawn by NJ-licensed architects and/or engineers. Even when drawing your own plans, however, you might also be asked to consult architects or engineers for structural calculations.

4. What type of work requires permits?

New buildings and additions to existing buildings require permits. Sometimes, but not always, interior work in one and two-family dwellings will require permits such as new plumbing and electrical work. Creating habitable space in basements or attics, adding bathrooms or laundry rooms where none exist, and rearranging the configuration of existing spaces require permits. Boilers, furnaces, and water heater replacement require permits. Other projects include exterior decks, air conditioning, generators, and accessory structures such as pool houses and gazebos.

Be mindful that the above-mentioned exterior work and other things such as pools and spas, patios, driveways, sheds, and fences, will require zoning certificates to determine compliance with the village's zoning ordinance. If building permits are also required for these items, prior zoning approval must first be obtained before permits can be released.

5. How do I know if a project complies with the zoning ordinance?

The Code of The Village of Ridgewood contains, amongst other things, the zoning ordinance that regulates exterior construction such as new buildings and additions, and other projects that have an impact on the use of land within the village. Building and other structures are regulated as to use, land coverage, and setbacks to adjacent property lines.

These are but a few of the requirements that are checked to ensure compliance with the zoning ordinance, so if there are specific questions regarding any of the bulk requirements, it's best to email the zoning officer directly. Contact information for all department employees can be found on the building department page.

6. What other approvals are required before a permit can be issued?

Prior approvals such as the aforementioned zoning certificate, might also include a Planning or Zoning Board approval, a review by the village's engineering division, the Site Plan Exemption committee, and maybe the Historic Preservation Commission.

In certain instances, outside agencies such as Bergen County Soil Conservation District, the Department of Environmental Protection, and even at times, the Department of Transportation will be considered for prior approvals.

7. Are there things that I can do that do not need permits?

• Work such as painting and wallpapering do not require permits.
• Flooring material can be installed without permits, as can trim and moldings.
• The replacement of any window or door, including garage doors, in the same opening without altering the dimensions or framing of the original opening does not require permits.
• The repair or replacement of any part of a deck, porch, or stoop that does not provide structural support of any roof or portion of a building can be done without permits. (This does not include the new construction of or the total replacement of any porch or stoop).
• Domestic stoves, dishwashers, and clothes dryers can be replaced without obtaining permits.

8. Are permit forms available to download?

Forms are available to download from the village web page, and also from the Department of Community Affairs website, where there are fillable versions for your convenience. Look for the Division of Codes and Standards page where the link to "Additional Resources" can be found.

Forms are also available in the office of the Department of Buildings and Inspections in Village Hall at 131 N Maple Avenue or may be found on the Building Forms page.

9. Do permits expire?

Work must commence within 12 months of the date of issue of permits after which the permit expires. Once work commences a permit will expire if the work is abandoned after a period of 6 months. Special circumstances can permit extensions granted to extend the life of a permit.

10. Do I need to CO to sell my house?

The Building Department does not issue a CO for the resale of a one or two-family dwelling, however, a smoke detector/carbon monoxide detector certification is required from the village's fire prevention bureau before you close the title. Call 201-444-7898 to schedule an inspection.

11. If I convert to natural gas to heat my house do I have to remove my underground storage tank?

New Jersey permits you to abandon in place, your residential fuel oil tank. A permit is required, and after being drained of any remaining oil and residual sludge, an inspection is made to ensure the tank does not have holes and is clean. After the tank is declared clean it is then filled with an approved inert material and the hole is backfilled. The filler neck, vent line, and fuel lines to the heating appliance must all be removed and properly disposed of. Documentation as to where the oil and sludge was deposited must be submitted to the building department before the final certificate of approval is issued.

The removal of a tank follows the same guidelines as noted above, with additional documentation showing where the tank was scrapped after it is removed from the ground. Please be advised that, even though abandonment in place is permitted in New Jersey, more and more we find that lenders and insurance companies want tanks removed regardless of the codes, and that can become an issue at the time of the sale of a property with a tank in the ground. It will be harder to remove a tank filled with gravel than one that is empty.

12. Do I need a permit to cut down trees in the village?

Permits are required to cut down trees. The ordinance is posted on the village web page along with an application (PDF) on the forms page. Applications must be submitted to the Public Works Department in Village Hall for trees on private property, and for questions or concerns about trees in the public right-of-way, calls should be made to the Parks/Shade Tree department at 201-670-5565.

13. Are there rules pertaining to landscaping in front yards?

Live plantings in front yards on interior lots must be set back a minimum of three feet behind the front property line. Be mindful that the sidewalk is usually not the property line, so it should not be used to determine the permitted location of live plantings. There are separate rules for corner lots that regulate plantings and fences for the purpose of maintaining site distance for automobiles approaching intersections. Fences on interior lots can be installed up to the property in front, side, and rear yards.

The application for a zoning review for planting and fences is available in the forms section on the village site. That should be submitted along with a copy of the property survey to the zoning Officer in the building department in Village Hall.

14. Is the use of power tools and leaf blowers regulated in the Village?

The village code, specifically in Chapter 222 at §222-1, regulates the use of power tools, manual tools, and motorized construction equipment. The code is available to read on the Village's website. A link to the village code can be found on the home page.