Plainfield, NJ Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)

The Plainfield City Council established the local State Uniform Construction Code Enforcing Agency in § 2:10-6A and named it the Department of Economic Development. The agency consists of a Director, a Construction Official, and separate Building, Plumbing, Electrical and Fire Protection Subcode Officials. The code requires that the public have the right to do business with the enforcing agency at one office location except for emergencies and unforeseen or unavoidable circumstances. Section 2:10-6C, amended 4-8-2024 by Ord. No. MC 2024-15, sets what each subcode costs.

The Electrical Subcode schedule is built on counts and ratings. One to 50 receptacles or fixtures cost $75, and each additional 25 cost $20. A motor or electrical device above one horsepower and up to 10 horsepower costs $75, and so do transformers and generators above one kilowatt and up to 10 kilowatts. Devices above 10 horsepower and up to 50 horsepower are $75 as well, as is each service panel, service entrance or subpanel of 100 amperes or less. Between 50 and 100 horsepower the fee is $125, and service panels above 125 amperes and up to 1000 amperes also cost $125. Anything above 100 horsepower, any service entrance or subpanel above 1,000 amperes, and any transformer or generator above 112.5 kilowatts costs $500. For counting, all motors except those in plug-in appliances are counted, including control equipment, generators, transformers and all heating, cooking or other devices consuming or generating electrical current.

Specific installations carry flat fees. An HVAC system installation or replacement is $75 for each system, an energy management lighting or motor control panel is $100 each, and electric vehicle charging stations are $100 per charger for residential systems and $150 per charger for commercial systems. An annual public pool inspection is $250. Plan review is 25% of the amount charged for the construction permit, paid before the plans are reviewed, credited toward the permit total and non-refundable. A permit renewal is 10% of the original construction permit fee with a minimum of $75.