Hudson County, New Jersey Building Permit Guide

Hudson County has 12 municipalities, and building permits come from the construction office of the town where the work is. The county’s part is the Construction Board of Appeals, Planning Board review of site plans that affect county roads, and street opening permits.

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

What requires a building permit in Hudson County?

Hudson 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 Hudson County?

Each of the 12 municipalities issues its own construction permits. In Jersey City:

Hudson County offices on the way to a permit

County Planning Board

The Planning Board has jurisdiction over site plans that affect traffic and drainage along county roads. Apply online through the county’s GovPilot portal; the application becomes active only once the fees arrive (bank checks payable to the County of Hudson, no personal checks), and a hard copy with a full plan set is also mailed to the Division of Planning, 830 Bergen Avenue Floor 6A, Jersey City, NJ 07306. The Board meets on the third Tuesday of every month via Zoom. Corporations and LLCs must be represented by an attorney. Questions: (201) 217-5137 Ext. 4445.

Construction Board of Appeals

The Division of Engineering, 830 Bergen Ave, Suite 6B, Jersey City, NJ 07306, serves as secretary to the board; the application form gives 595 County Avenue, Secaucus, NJ 07094, (201) 369-4340. File by the 15th day after written notice of the decision, with the original and nine (9) copies. Municipal ordinances cannot be appealed to this board, and the fee is waived when the appeal is about an agency’s failure to act in time.

Work in a county road

County street opening and excavation permits are applied for online through the Division of Engineering page (201-369-4340).

Soil erosion and sediment control

Hudson County is covered by the Hudson-Essex & Passaic Soil Conservation District, 80 Orchard Street, Bloomfield, NJ 07003, 862-333-4505. A certified soil erosion and sediment control plan is needed for construction activities that disturb more than 5,000 square feet. Jersey City notes that a written district determination that work stays under 5,000 square feet now costs $95.

Hudson County permit costs and fees

Each town in Hudson 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 Hudson 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 Hudson County

Inspections are done by the town that issued the permit. Jersey City takes inspection requests through its online permit portal.

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 Hudson County permitting resources

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

• Hudson County Planning: how to apply
• Hudson County Division of Engineering
• Hudson County planning FAQs
• Jersey City Construction Code Official
• Jersey City online permitting

Frequently asked questions

Does Hudson County issue building permits?

No. Each of its 12 municipalities issues construction permits through its own construction office.

When does the Hudson County Planning Board review a project?

When the site plan affects traffic or drainage along a county road. Apply through the county’s GovPilot portal and mail a hard copy.

Do I need an attorney before the county Planning Board?

Corporations and LLCs do; individuals do not.

Simplify Hudson 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 Hudson County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.