Stafford Township, NJ Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

Chapter 12 of the Township Code organizes building permits in Stafford. Section 12-1 creates the Department of Building Inspection, made up of a Construction Official and subcode officials appointed by the Township Council to administer and enforce the State Uniform Construction Code. Under § 12-2, the Construction Official is the chief administrator of the department and sets its day-to-day routines. Under § 12-3, each subcode official has exclusive decision-making authority over the technical provisions of the subcode he or she administers.

The counter is defined in § 12-6(A). The central permit office sits at the Stafford Township Municipal Building, 260 East Bay Avenue, Manahawkin, stays open during normal business hours, and receives applications for construction permits and plan review. Section 12-6(B) gives the public the right to do business with the department at that office, except in emergencies or unforeseen or unavoidable circumstances. Fees come from a schedule that the Township Council adopts by ordinance under § 12-8; the latest copy is on file at the Department of Building Inspection.

Zoning review runs beside the building permit. Under § 213-1(A) of the Zoning Permits chapter, a zoning permit is secured from the Zoning Officer before construction, erection or alteration of any building or structure, with a $25 processing fee. Section 213-1(D) says a zoning permit is not required before the Construction Official issues a building permit for reroofing, residing, window changes, fireplaces, wood/coal stoves or interior renovations of a residential dwelling where the footprint is not altered and there is no increase in living area or cubic content. If a change of structure or use would result in a building permit, the zoning permit comes first. A zoning permit issued with a building permit expires one year after issuance if the work has not commenced, and is void if the work is abandoned for six months. Before a certificate of occupancy issues, the Zoning Officer completes a final zoning review under § 213-1(E).