Perth Amboy, NJ Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)

Section 4-99 of the Perth Amboy City Code gives the Department of Code Enforcement the job of conducting and administering the inspections and enforcement proceedings authorized by the ordinances and laws under its administration. To the extent practicable, it consolidates and coordinates all regulatory inspections relating to the construction, maintenance, use and occupancy of buildings and structures that are not vested in another department, and it provides for cooperative inspection with other city departments or public agencies.

The department is organized by function. Under § 4-95, the Office of Construction and Fire Prevention, headed by the Construction Official/Fire Official, administers and enforces Chapter 184, Uniform Construction Codes, and the fire prevention ordinances. Under § 4-96, the Office of Housing Inspections, led by the Chief Housing Inspector, administers and enforces the Property Maintenance Ordinance in Chapter 335. Under § 4-97, the Office of Zoning and Planning, led by the Zoning Officer, enforces the Certificate of Code Compliance ordinance and the Zoning and Land Development Ordinance.

Under § 184-1, the City of Perth Amboy accepted responsibility for administering the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code and set up its local enforcing agency. The Construction Official is the chief administrator, joined by a Building Subcode Official, a Plumbing Subcode Official, an Electrical Subcode Official, an Elevator Subcode Official and a Fire Protection Subcode Official. An on-site third-party inspection agency can be retained by contract in place of a particular subcode official, and the public has the right to do business with the enforcing agency at one office location, except in emergencies and unforeseen or unavoidable circumstances. Section 185-2 requires all permits, approvals and notices from the Department of Code Enforcement before any demolition or construction project starts.

Section 4-98 requires a master file of each building and structure that records each inspection, the inspector's observations on code violations, the state of repair, the nature of the occupancy and each action taken.

Sales are inspected too. Under § 181-1, no one can transfer, convey or sell a residential dwelling or commercial or industrial building without first obtaining a certificate of code compliance from the Department of Code Enforcement, which certifies conformity with zoning and the Fire Safety Code and substantial conformity with the Property Maintenance Code. The Director can issue a conditional certificate for forty-five (45) days and a second forty-five (45) day certificate on request.