In the Village of Ridgewood, construction permits are issued by the Building Department in Village Hall, 131 North Maple Avenue (201-670-5500 ext. 5506), open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Raymond Keeley is Director of the Building Department and Construction Official. Exterior projects need a $50 zoning review before any permit is released, and inspections are booked by phone at least 24 hours ahead or on the SDL Permit and Inspection Portal. The village does not issue a resale certificate of occupancy; sellers need a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Fire Prevention Bureau instead.
What requires a building permit in Ridgewood?
Ridgewood’s Building Department answers the question in its own FAQs, within the limits the state Uniform Construction Code sets. Ordinary maintenance under the UCC needs no permit or inspection; minor work needs a permit but can begin after the office is notified.
Permit required (village FAQs)
- New buildings and additions
- Creating living space in a basement or attic, adding a bathroom or laundry room where none existed, or rearranging rooms
- New plumbing and electrical work inside one- and two-family homes, in many cases
- Replacing a boiler, furnace or water heater
- Decks, air conditioning, generators, pool houses and gazebos
- Abandoning or removing a residential underground oil tank
No permit (village FAQs)
- Painting, wallpapering, flooring, trim and moldings
- Replacing a window, door or garage door in the same opening without changing the framing
- Repairing or replacing parts of a deck, porch or stoop that do not hold up a roof (not a full replacement)
- Swapping a household stove, dishwasher or clothes dryer
Exterior work is the trap. Pools and spas, patios, driveways, sheds and fences need a zoning certificate even when no construction permit is involved, and where both are needed the village releases the construction permit only after zoning approval. Removing a tree also needs a permit under the village tree ordinance.
What Ridgewood decides and what the state holds
The building code is the state’s. Ridgewood controls its land use and development code (Chapter 190), its floodplain management regulations (Chapter 154), its fee chapter (Chapter 145), the historic districts, tree removal, soil moving, stormwater and street opening permits, and the hours when construction noise is allowed (Chapter 222).
Ridgewood building department: who handles permitting
The Building Department is the village’s UCC enforcing agency and also enforces the zoning regulations. DCA’s Local Construction Contacts roster (September 2, 2026) lists Raymond S. Keeley as construction official, local subcode officials for building, electrical, fire protection and plumbing, and Top Floor Elevated Solutions, a private inspection agency, in the elevator subcode post. Fire subcode inspections have their own extension.
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Get a free quote →| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Construction office | Building Department, Village Hall, 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 |
| Phone / fax | 201-670-5500 ext. 5506 / 201-670-5549 |
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Construction Official | Raymond Keeley, Director of the Building Department, ext. 2281 |
| Fire inspections (construction) | Ext. 5480, fax 201-689-3279 |
| Zoning | Ext. 2212 or 2211 |
| Portal | SDL Permit and Inspection Portal |
| Elevators | Top Floor Elevated Solutions (private agency) |
Ridgewood permit types
The village posts the full set of state UCC forms on its Building Forms page: the F100 permit application, the building, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, mechanical and elevator sections, the variation application, the certificate application, the chimney verification for fuel-burning equipment, the sprinkler data plate form, the alarm communicator verification and the air barrier and insulation checklist. Fillable versions are also on DCA’s site.
Residential permits
- Additions, attics and basements. Building section with plans after a zoning review; projects in the R-1 and R-110 zones must show the height of the structure on the zoning request.
- Plans. An owner may draw his or her own plans for work on an owner-occupied single-family home; all other plans must be drawn by New Jersey licensed architects or engineers, and the office may still ask for structural calculations.
- Fences. The fence application (not for pool fences) needs a property survey, and the finished side must face the street or neighbors. On interior lots fences may run to the property line; corner lots have sight-line limits.
- Oil tanks. Abandoning a tank in place or removing it needs a permit, an inspection of the cleaned tank, and paperwork showing where the oil, sludge or tank went before the certificate of approval issues.
- Dumpsters and storage pods. A separate village permit.
Building or remodeling a home here? Alliance handles residential permit expediting, so the crew isn't waiting on the counter.
Commercial permits
A business needs a zoning certificate for its use: a $50 application listing the previous and proposed use, which is approved only after every open construction permit at the space has been inspected and closed. Commercial plans must be prepared by licensed design professionals. Sidewalk displays in the central business district have their own application, revised in May 2026. Food and retail health licenses come from the Health Department on Level 5 of Village Hall, and the Fire Prevention Bureau inspects every building other than one- and two-family homes each year.
For tenant improvements and new commercial builds, Alliance handles commercial permit applications through issuance. More on this: commercial building permits explained.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →What comes before the construction permit
- Zoning review. A $50 request for zoning review with a scaled survey, covering additions, garages, dormers, decks, patios, pools, fences, driveways and retaining walls.
- Zoning Board of Adjustment. Variances are heard at 7:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays. The board decides completeness within 45 days, and notice must be published at least 10 days before the hearing.
- Planning Board and site plan exemption. Site plans and subdivisions go to the Planning Board (first and third Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m.); smaller changes may go to the Site Plan Exemption committee.
- Historic Preservation Commission. Properties in the village’s historic districts need a historic preservation permit application; the commission meets at 7:30 p.m. on the second Monday.
- Engineering. Soil moving, stormwater, street opening and curb and sidewalk permits, each with a 2026 application form.
- Outside agencies. Depending on the site, the Bergen County Soil Conservation District, NJDEP and the state Department of Transportation.
Ridgewood permit costs and fees
Ridgewood’s fee chapter is Chapter 145 of the village code, “Fees”, which the Village Council amends by ordinance; the Building Department pages do not print the construction permit amounts, so ask ext. 5506 for a quote. The fees the village does publish on its forms and pages:
| Item | Fee or rule |
|---|---|
| Request for zoning review | $50 |
| Zoning certificate for a business use | $50 |
| Variance: prohibited use, expanding a nonconforming use, or density | $1,000 per variance |
| Variance: building area, or height over the limit by 10% or 10 feet | $500 per variance |
| Other variances | $200 each, no more than $1,000 |
| Property owner notice list | $10 |
| Variance escrow deposit | Four times the application fees or $2,000, whichever is greater; paid separately |
| Smoke / CO certificate booked more than 10 days before closing, or before a tenant moves in | $120 |
| Smoke / CO certificate booked less than 10 days before closing | $150 |
| Smoke / CO certificate within 3 days of closing | $200 |
| Smoke / CO inspection after closing | $200 plus a $500 penalty |
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Variance fees are not refundable; unused escrow is returned. The Fire Prevention Bureau takes cards in person only, with a 3% technology fee, or cash and checks payable to the Village of Ridgewood. On its November 4, 2026 work session agenda the Village Council listed a Chapter 145 change rescinding the annual sidewalk contractor permit fee and an update of the street and sidewalk construction rules in Chapter 249.
Trade permits and who may pull them
Each trade is a technical section of the one UCC application, reviewed and inspected by its own subcode official. Ridgewood’s FAQ is direct about who may do the work: an owner may perform his or her own work only in an owner-occupied single-family home, and work in every other kind of building must be done by New Jersey licensed or registered contractors.
- Electrical: licensed electrical contractor; inspections Monday and Wednesday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Plumbing: licensed master plumber; inspections Monday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Fire protection: sprinkler and alarm work on the fire section, with the sprinkler data plate and alarm communicator forms; fire inspections weekdays through ext. 5480.
- Mechanical: boilers, furnaces and water heaters, with the chimney verification form for fuel-burning equipment.
- Elevators: Top Floor Elevated Solutions.
The village reminds homeowners that residential general contractors must be registered with the Division of Consumer Affairs and that a written contract is required for any construction project over $500. Builders of new homes register with DCA instead.
How to apply for a Ridgewood building permit
For exterior work, file the $50 request for zoning review with a scaled survey; email the Zoning Officer with bulk or setback questions.
Variances go to the Zoning Board of Adjustment, site plans to the Planning Board or Site Plan Exemption committee, and historic district work to the Historic Preservation Commission.
Download the F100 and the subcode sections from the Building Forms page or DCA’s site and attach the plans.
Soil moving, stormwater or street opening permits from Engineering, county soil certification and any DEP or DOT approval the site needs.
Submit at the Building Department in Village Hall, 131 North Maple Avenue, and ask ext. 5506 whether your application type can go through the SDL portal.
Once issued, work must begin within 12 months, and the permit lapses if work stops for six months.
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →Review, corrections and what causes delay
The office has 20 business days under state rules to act on a complete application. Ridgewood’s own FAQ explains the most common wait: building permits are not released until zoning approval is in hand, and a variance means a board hearing with published notice. The survey filed with a variance must be no more than 24 months old, with an owner’s affidavit that nothing has changed. Extensions of a permit’s life are possible in special circumstances. A construction code decision can be appealed to the Bergen County Construction Board of Appeals within 15 days.
Inspections and certificates in Ridgewood
Call ext. 5506 at least 24 hours ahead, giving the permit number, type of inspection, address and a callback number, or book on the SDL portal; requests left on voicemail are not accepted. Building inspections run Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and you may ask for a morning or afternoon slot. The approved plans must be on the job site, or the inspector will not do the inspection.
The village lists the inspections it requires: footings, foundation before backfill, slab, sheathing, rough plumbing and wiring, framing (only after rough plumbing and electrical pass), insulation before covering, and finals for every subcode with a permit, plus fire alarm and sprinkler systems. Finals lead to a certificate of occupancy or approval.
Ridgewood does not issue a certificate of occupancy for the resale of a one- or two-family home. Before the title closes, or before a tenant moves in, the seller or landlord needs a smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm certificate from the Fire Prevention Bureau at 201 East Glen Avenue; schedule it at 201-444-7898 ext. 5480 more than 10 days before closing to pay the lowest fee.
New Jersey building code in Ridgewood
Ridgewood applies the statewide UCC adopted by DCA. Its floodplain rules sit in Chapter 154, Floodplain Management Regulations, adopted by Ordinance 3865, which also designated a floodplain administrator; the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook, Saddle River, Goffle Brook, Diamond Brook and Sprout Brook all carry mapped floodplains. FEMA’s Community Status Book lists Ridgewood (community 340067) as participating in the National Flood Insurance Program with maps effective August 28, 2019, and in the Community Rating System at class 6, a 20% discount on flood insurance premiums.
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
Ridgewood permit search and official resources
The SDL Permit and Inspection Portal is the village’s online channel for permits and inspection requests. For older permits, plans or certificates, file a written Open Public Records Act request with the village records custodian; the village must answer within seven business days, may ask for a deposit on larger copy orders and accepts anonymous requests.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →- Ridgewood Building Department
- SDL Permit and Inspection Portal
- Inspection scheduling and required inspections
- Building forms (UCC and village)
- Building Department FAQs
- Request for zoning review
- Zoning certificate application
- Fence application
- Zoning documents
- Variance application instructions
- Zoning Board of Adjustment
- Planning Board
- Historic Preservation Commission
- Engineering permit forms
- Floodplain management
- Fire Prevention: smoke and CO certificates
- Health Department
- File an OPRA request
- NJ DCA adopted construction codes
- NJ DCA UCC application and technical forms
- DCA Local Construction Contacts roster
- FEMA Community Status Book, New Jersey
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Ridgewood building permit FAQs
Do I need a certificate of occupancy to sell my house in Ridgewood?
No. The Building Department does not issue resale certificates for one- and two-family homes, but you need a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Fire Prevention Bureau before closing.
How much is the smoke detector certificate in Ridgewood?
$120 if you schedule more than 10 days before closing or before a tenant moves in, $150 inside 10 days and $200 within three days. An inspection after closing adds a $500 penalty.
Can I draw my own plans in Ridgewood?
Yes, for work on a single-family home you own and live in. Any other building needs plans from a New Jersey licensed architect or engineer.
Does a fence or patio need a permit?
It needs a zoning certificate. File the fence application or the $50 zoning review request with a property survey; pool fences are not filed on the fence form.
How long is a Ridgewood permit good for?
Work must start within 12 months of issue, and the permit expires if work is abandoned for six months, unless the office grants an extension.
How do I book an inspection?
Call 201-670-5500 ext. 5506 at least 24 hours ahead, without leaving the request on voicemail, or book on the SDL portal.
What does a variance cost in Ridgewood?
$200 for most residential bulk variances (capped at $1,000 in total), $500 for building area or height variances and $1,000 for use variances, plus a $10 owner list and an escrow of at least $2,000.
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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.
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Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your Ridgewood Village permits while your crew stays on the job.
More New Jersey permitting guides
Bergen County
Read guide →River Edge Borough
Read guide →Rutherford Borough
Read guide →Rockaway Township Building Permit Guide
Read guide →Roselle Borough Building Permit Guide
Read guide →Roselle Park Borough Building Permit Guide
Read guide →This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Ridgewood Village permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.