Morris County, New Jersey Building Permit Guide

Morris County has 39 municipalities, and Morristown is the county seat. Building permits come from the construction office of the town where the work is. The county runs a Construction Board of Appeals, reviews subdivisions and larger site plans, and issues road opening permits on county roads.

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

What requires a building permit in Morris County?

Morris 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 Morris County?

Each of the 39 municipalities issues its own construction permits. In Morristown:

Morris County offices on the way to a permit

Construction Board of Appeals

The board hears appeals by Morris County property owners from decisions, actions or inaction of a municipal official. File by the 15th day after written notice, with a $100.00 check and a copy of the notice or order; the fee is waived when the appeal is about an agency’s failure to act in time. Secretary: 973-829-8126; Administration and Records Building, 10 Court St., 5th Floor, Morristown.

Land development review

All subdivisions go to the Morris County Planning Board, though minor subdivisions not fronting county roads are exempt from formal review. Site plans fronting county roads, or with one acre or more of impervious area, need county review and approval. Applications are filed online; questions go to 973-829-8120. Office of Planning & Preservation: Schuyler Annex Building, 30 Schuyler Place, 4th floor, Morristown.

Work in a county road

Any excavation in a county road or right-of-way needs a written road opening or right-of-way occupancy permit from the County Engineer, as do driveway construction, test pits and borings. Applicants carry general liability insurance of $1,000,000 per claim and $3,000,000 aggregate. Engineering & Transportation: 30 Schuyler Place, 3rd Floor, Morristown, (973) 285-6750.

Soil erosion and sediment control

The Morris County Soil Conservation District, 30 Schuyler Place, 4th Floor, Morristown (973-285-2953, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.), regulates projects disturbing over 5000 square feet, excluding exempt municipalities. A single-family home is regulated if it involves demolition of a structure or is on a lot created after 1976.

Health departments

Health services are split among local health departments. The Morris County Division of Public Health serves Boonton Township, Denville, Hanover, Harding, Mendham Township and Morris Plains (973-631-5484); Morristown has its own Division of Health at 200 South Street.

Morris County permit costs and fees

Each town in Morris 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 Morris 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 Morris County

Inspections are done by the town that issued the permit. Morristown takes requests through its online portal or the Inspection Scheduling Form.

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 Morris County permitting resources

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

• Morris County Construction Board of Appeals
• Morris County land development review
• Morris County health departments by town
• Morris County Soil Conservation District
• Morristown Building & Construction

Frequently asked questions

Does Morris County issue building permits?

No. Each of its 39 municipalities issues construction permits through its own construction office.

When does Morris County review a site plan?

When it fronts a county road or has one acre or more of impervious area. All subdivisions go to the county, but minor subdivisions not fronting county roads are exempt from formal review.

Does a new single-family home need a soil plan in Morris County?

The district regulates it if it involves demolition of a structure or is on a lot created after 1976, in towns that are not exempt.

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