Camden County, New Jersey Building Permit Guide

Camden County has 36 municipalities, and building permits come from the construction office of the town where the work is. The county runs the Construction Board of Appeals, the Planning Board, road opening permits on county roads and the Septic and Wells Unit.

This guide covers the county offices a Camden County project can run into. The construction permit itself is filed with the town.

What requires a building permit in Camden County?

Camden County does not write its own construction rules. Whether work needs a permit, counts as minor work or is ordinary maintenance is set by the statewide Uniform Construction Code, which is the same in every New Jersey town; the town adds its fee ordinance and zoning.

New Jersey has one Uniform Construction Code for every municipality; the town supplies the enforcing agency, the fee ordinance and the zoning approvals. New Jersey rules

Who handles permitting in Camden County?

Each of the 36 municipalities issues its own construction permits. In the City of Camden, for example:

Camden County offices on the way to a permit

Construction Board of Appeals

The board hears appeals of construction and fire code decisions by local enforcing agencies. File within 15 days of receiving written notice of the decision, with the application, a copy of the notice of violation or order, and a $50.00 filing fee ($100.00 for an escrow appeal); the town must be copied on all correspondence. Send it to the Board c/o County Counsel, 6th Floor, City Hall, 520 Market Street, Camden, NJ 08102, (856) 225-5543. Hearings are quasi-judicial with a court reporter, and failing to appear means automatic dismissal.

County Planning Board

The seven-member Planning Board reviews proposed development projects. Applications are printed and mailed to the Camden County Division of Planning, Charles J. DePalma Public Works Complex, 2311 Egg Harbor Road, Lindenwold, NJ 08021 (Director of Planning and Permits, 856-225-5380). Meetings start at 6 PM and are held virtually until further notice.

Soil erosion and sediment control

Camden County is served by the DelAtlantic Soil Conservation District, which absorbed the former Camden County district. Its West Berlin office is at 408 Commerce Lane, W. Berlin, NJ 08091, 856-767-6299, Monday to Friday 8am to 3:30pm. A certified soil erosion and sediment control plan is needed for construction activities that disturb more than 5,000 square feet.

Septic systems and wells

The Camden County Septic and Wells Unit handles septic plan review, installation, repair and compliance certificates, and reviews private well test results: (856) 374-6064.

Work in a county road

Road opening permits come from the Department of Public Works Office of Permits, 2311 Egg Harbor Road, Lindenwold, NJ 08021 (856-782-3448). Apply on the county website or in person between 7:00AM and 4:30PM. A permit expires if work does not start within 90 calendar days; a repaved county road is under a seven-year moratorium, with permit fees doubled for approved openings, and steel plates must be off county roads by December 1 each year.

Camden County permit costs and fees

Each town in Camden County sets its construction fees by its own ordinance, so the same job can cost different amounts in neighbouring towns. Ask the town’s construction office for its fee schedule before you price a job.

Fees are set by each town’s ordinance; the plan review fee is paid at submission and deducted at issuance, and the state adds a surcharge on every permit. New Jersey rules

How to get a building permit in Camden County

The construction office must act on a complete application within 20 business days, and the permit cannot issue before the zoning and other prior approvals. New Jersey rules

Inspections in Camden County

Inspections are done by the town that issued the permit. In the City of Camden, inspection requests are sent by email to the Building Bureau.

Inspections are requested in writing at least 24 hours ahead, and no building may be used before the certificate of occupancy or approval. New Jersey rules

Official Camden County permitting resources

These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.

• Camden County Construction Board of Appeals
• Camden County Division of Planning
• Camden County Septic and Wells Unit
• Camden County road opening permit book
• DelAtlantic Soil Conservation District
• City of Camden Building Bureau

Frequently asked questions

Does Camden County issue building permits?

No. Each of its 36 municipalities issues construction permits through its own construction office.

What does a Camden County construction appeal cost?

The filing fee is $50.00, or $100.00 for an escrow appeal, and the appeal must be filed within 15 days of the written notice.

Which soil district covers Camden County?

The DelAtlantic Soil Conservation District, through its West Berlin office; the old Camden County district merged into it.

Simplify Camden County permitting with Alliance Permitting

• Find the right town construction office for the parcel and file the UCC permit package with it
• Track county planning board and soil district approvals that must come before the permit
• Coordinate subcode inspections and the certificate of occupancy through closeout

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in New Jersey. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Camden County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.