Jersey City, NJ Accessory Structures: ADU Impact Fees (2026)

New Jersey law authorizes municipalities to collect a 'development fee' on residential construction under N.J.S.A. 52:27D-329.2 and N.J.A.C. 5:97-8, dedicated to affordable-housing trust funds rather than general infrastructure. Jersey City's Residential Development Fee (RDF) was adopted by Ordinance 23-0481 with an effective date of April 1, 2024 and applies to qualifying new residential development including potentially ADUs depending on the unit's equalized assessed value and exemption thresholds in the ordinance. ADU costs typically include: (1) NJ UCC subcode permit fees - separate building, electrical, plumbing, and fire-protection subcode fees calculated under the Jersey City fee schedule per N.J.A.C. 5:23-4.20; (2) Plan-review and zoning-determination fees from the Division of Zoning; (3) Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority (JCMUA) connection charges for new water/sewer services - if the ADU shares the existing service, connection fees are typically minimal; (4) Residential Development Fee under Ord. 23-0481 if applicable; (5) Construction Code Communicator surcharges and DCA training fee. Jersey City does not impose a separate transportation or school impact fee; the state's Fair Housing Act framework substitutes the development fee mechanism for general impact-fee authority. Historic district permits add Certificate of Appropriateness review fees.