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

Chapter 12 of the Stafford Township Code, adopted 3-5-1985 by Ord. No. 85-33, sets up who inspects construction in the township. Section 12-1 says the Department of Building Inspection consists of a Construction Official and the subcode officials, assistants and other personnel appointed by the Township Council to administer and enforce the State Uniform Construction Code. The Township can also accept inspections made by an inspection authority approved by the State of New Jersey.

The Construction Official is the chief administrator of the department (§ 12-2A) and sets its day-to-day operating routines, coordinating subcode officials and other staff. Under § 12-3, subcode officials enforce the subcodes they are responsible for. The Construction Code Official can overrule a subcode official's interpretation of a substantive provision of the subcode, but each subcode official keeps exclusive decision-making authority over the technical provisions of the subcode he or she was appointed to administer. Section 12-4 lets the Township Council appoint other assistants, who work under the Construction Official or the appropriate subcode official.

Where to go: § 12-6A requires a central permit office at the Stafford Township Municipal Building, 260 East Bay Avenue, Manahawkin, open during normal business hours. It receives applications for construction permits and plan review, issues construction permits and certificates of occupancy, collects fees, penalties and fines, and issues notices and orders under the State act. Section 12-6B gives the public the right to do business with the department at that office, except in emergencies or unforeseen or unavoidable circumstances.

Fees: § 12-8 says the Township Council adopts the fee schedule by ordinance, with the latest copy on file at the Department of Building Inspection. Under § 12-7 the Building Administrator, advised by the subcode officials, submits a fee schedule recommendation report to the Council biannually.

Chapter 12 does not list inspection stages itself. The stages follow the Uniform Construction Code, N.J.A.C. 5:23. One stage is printed locally in the flood hazard chapter: § 114-40 requires an elevation certificate when the lowest floor is placed and before further vertical construction, and again before the final inspection.