Cape May Proposes Raising Construction Fees

CAPE MAY — Construction fees may be raised slightly here to bring the city into compliance with fees established by the state.
At an April 7 City Council meeting, Mayor Edward J. Mahaney Jr. said the construction office is required by the state to be self sufficient with fees covering the cost of operation. Council introduced an ordinance to raise fees at the meeting.
Cape May Construction Official Bill Callahan said fees have not been increased since 2002. He said the volume of construction statewide has decreased.
Callahan said plumbing, electrical and fire inspection fees are being increased. He provided council with fees charged by Wildwood and Lower Township for comparison.
City permit fees for driveways, pavers and certificates of occupancy inspections will not change. He said the city’s Construction Office was very busy compared to other towns due to renovations taking place such as roofs and siding replacements.
State surcharge on building permit fees for new construction will increase for $1.35 to $1.70 per square foot.
Callahan said a minimum building permit fee would increase from $46 to $48 and the minimum plumbing fee from $48 to $50.
“I tried to keep it fairly reasonable for contractors here because of the bad times and yet still keep the office running on par,” he said.
Fees for tents, roofs and siding are increasing just a few dollars, said Callahan.
Mahaney said code enforcement has increased to make sure contractors have the proper licenses and approvals and permits from the city. He said seven stop work orders were issued in the past month for projects that were in not in compliance.
“Those particular properties have to pay fines and obtain, in the proper order, the necessary contractor licenses, zoning/planning approvals, construction office approvals and constriction permits,” said the mayor.
He said the fee increases would be sufficient to keep the construction office budget balanced in “excellent times” but in the current downturn, people are renovating or putting small addition on their homes which brings in smaller fees than new construction.
Enforcing construction ordinances has made some of that loss up, he said.
Callahan said minimum permit fees went up $4 while minimum fees for plumbing and electric rose $2.
Some sample increases:
• Fees for tents in excess of 900-square feet shall be $250, up from $92.
• Fees for lawn sprinkler systems with backflow preventers shall be $82, up from $65.
• Fees charged for electrical work for swimming pool for pumps, motors, heaters, etc shall be $50, up from $46.
• Solar panel systems, one to 50 kilowatts shall be $50, up from $46.
• Fees for wood-burning stoves, fireplaces and solid fuel burning appliances shall be $50 for one and two family dwellings and $25 per $1,000 of estimated cost of work with a minimum fee of $50.