Bayonne, NJ Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

Bayonne enforces the state's Uniform Construction Code locally through the Construction Agency established by Section 15-1.1, staffed by a Construction Official as chief administrator plus Building, Plumbing, Electrical, and Fire Protection Subcode Officials and inspectors, all appointed pursuant to N.J.S.A. 52:27D-119 and N.J.A.C. 5:23. Section 15-3.1 fixes the construction permit fee as the total of the subcode fees, which scale by project type: new construction runs $0.04 per cubic foot of building volume plus a state surcharge, while renovations and alterations run $28 per $1,000 of estimated cost up to $50,000, dropping to $24 per $1,000 above $100,001.

The full fee is due before the City issues the permit, and Section 15-3.1 warns that a fine applies under the Uniform Construction Code when work needing a permit starts before one is issued. Once issued, Section 15-3.3 requires the permit to be posted in a place plainly visible from the public right-of-way for the entire time work is underway. A separate plan review fee, set at 20% of the construction permit fee under Section 15-3.2, is due at application and is credited back against the final permit fee, though a 10% surcharge applies to any resubmitted or revised plans. The Construction Official reports the current fee schedule to the Municipal Council annually under Section 15-3.4.