Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are inspections required during the course of construction? Answer: This information is intended for public information purposes only. It summarizes and omits some provisions. It is not intended to be construed or used as an official Development Ordinance interpretation in any legal proceedings. The State of New Jersey requires the building department to conduct the following minimum field inspections; footing, foundation, electrical rough, plumbing rough, framing, insulation, plumbing final, electrical final, fire final and building final inspections.

Q: Can I do my own work? Answer: You can do your own building, electrical and plumbing work ONLY in your owner occupied, single family, detached dwelling. All permit and inspections are required. Plumbing, Electrical and Fire Alarm contractors are required to have a State License. All Home Improvement Contractors are required to be registered with the State. Ask for proof of the required license or registration.

Q: Can I draw the construction drawings myself or do I need an architect? Answer: This information is intended for public information purposes only. It summarizes and omits some provisions. It is not intended to be construed or used as an official Development Ordinance interpretation in any legal proceedings. The owner of a single-family owner occupied dwelling may draw his or her own plans. The only other person who can provide these documents is an architect licensed in the State of New Jersey.

Q: Can my sump pump be configured to pump directly into the sanitary lines? Answer: This information is intended for public information purposes only. It summarizes and omits some provisions. It is not intended to be construed or used as an official Development Ordinance interpretation in any legal proceedings. Absolutely not. Too much water interrupts the proper operation of the sewer treatment facility.

Q: Can you give us an overview of the building permit process? Answer: Two sets of plans must be submitted to the building department. The plans must meet the following minimum requirements: 1. A plot plan, drawn to scale showing the location of the building in reference to the property lines with all minimum setback requirements met and annotated according to the Borough Ordinance Section 310. Include the zoning review form. 2. The name, address and phone number of the party responsible for the design and the contact person. 3. The plans, drawn to scale, on standard paper. 4. Footing and foundation plans, foundation cross sections for wall and piers to show height, width and depth. 5. A floor plan and structural floor framing plan for each floor. All framing members to be identified to indicate species, grade, size and spacing (example: DF #2; 2X10 @16”O.C.). All girders to be similarly identified, but with the addition of the number of components. Manufactured girders should also be identified. 6. All exterior elevations. 7. Structural roof and ceiling framing plans. All framing members to be identified to indicate species, grade, size and spacing. 8. Engineering for all other design components that are not listed in the code shall be furnished; for example: cantilever floor or balconies; point load imposed by knee wall and non-standard loading for which there are no manufacturer’s span table. 9. The REScheck energy compliance worksheet.

Q: How can someone debating construction work on their home find a good contractor? Answer: This information is intended for public information purposes only. It summarizes and omits some provisions. It is not intended to be construed or used as an official Development Ordinance interpretation in any legal proceedings. Homeowners can find a good contractor by asking friends or neighbors for references from their previous experiences. Ask your contractor for a reference list and check with those on the list. Most legitimate contractors do not go door to door seeking work. Check our list for when a permit is required, if your contractor states that he does not need a permit and it is on the list, do not fall for his line, the penalty for working without the required permits can be as much as $2000.00 per day.

Q: Should I bother to call for final inspections? Answer: This information is intended for public information purposes only. It summarizes and omits some provisions. It is not intended to be construed or used as an official Development Ordinance interpretation in any legal proceedings. The State Department of Consumer Affairs law 13:45A-16.2 requires that final inspections be completed prior to you making final payment to your contractor. Failure to schedule final inspections could result in fines being assessed to the owner. Final inspections complete the project and allow our department to issue the project the appropriate certificate to you. Added assessments are determined at the time the project is completed for its intended use. They do not start when a certificate is issued. The law protects you---use it! Note: Work that has not received final approval may not be covered by your homeowners insurance.

Q: What type of work or repairs can I do on my home that would not require a permit? Answer: You don’t need a permit for ordinary repairs on a one or two-family dwelling. These changes include: 1. Repairing roofing or siding material with like material, if the area doesn’t exceed 25% of the roof within a year. 2. Repairing or replacing ductwork. 3. Installing floor material, including carpeting. 4. Painting the interior or exterior. 5. Replacing glass in any window or door, if the replacement glass conforms to the minimum requirements. 6. Replacing any faucet or valve, if the piping system doesn’t have to be re-arranged.

Q: What type of work requires permits? Answer: Building permits and inspections are required for most types of construction and alterations (residential and commercial) including re-roofing, siding, alterations, sheds, pools, new and replacement furnaces, water heaters, central air conditioning, sprinkler systems (both fire and irrigation), fuel tanks (abandonment and new installations), alarm systems (burglar and fire), porch enclosures, attic conversion, basement renovations, fireplaces, demolitions, sump pumps, plumbing and electrical work.

Q: Where do I apply for a permit? Answer: The Building Department is located on the third floor of the Municipal Center at 360 Elkwood Avenue.

Q: Can I get my dog or cat a free rabies shot? Answer: Yes, there is a free clinic every January. Call the Borough Clerk’s office for date (908) 665-1400.

Q: How can I volunteer for various Boards and Committees in the borough? Answer: Fill out the form which can be found here.

Q: How do I arrange to vote absentee? Answer: Absentee ballots are provided by the Union County Board of Elections. Applications requesting an absentee ballot are available at the Borough Clerk’s office. Applications requesting absentee ballots must be received by the Union County Board of Elections office at least seven (7) days prior to Election Day.

Q: How do I reach the Senior Citizen Recreation Center? Answer: Their phone number is (908) 665-0046. Their address is 15 East Fourth Street, New Providence, NJ 07974.

Q: How do I register to vote? Answer: Registration forms are available in the Borough Clerk’s office, or on line at www.ucnj.org. The deadline to register to vote in the November 4, 2008 General Election is Tuesday, October 14th. The Borough Clerk’s office will be open from 8:30 am until 9:00 pm that evening for your convenience.

Q: What hours is the Municipal Center open and where is it located? Answer: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except from Memorial Day to Labor Day, Borough offices close at 1:00 on Fridays. Municipal Center is located at 360 Elkwood Ave. off Springfield Avenue at Academy Street, one block east of the Adam’s Shopping Center.

Q: Where can I go to get a passport? Answer: Passports are issued at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth, and the Union County Clerk’s Annex office in Westfield. For more information, call (908) 654-9859.

Q: Do I need a permit for a garage sale? Answer: No. However, if you post signs around the Borough, they must be taken down immediately at the close of your garage sale. Additionally, you may not block off any municipal street or roadway to conduct your garage sale.

Q: Do I need a permit to take down a tree? Answer: Yes, please refer to “Forms and Documents – Borough Clerk’s Office – Tree Removal Application” for details or contact the Borough Clerk’s Office.

Q: Do I need to license my dog/cat? Answer: Yes, licenses must be renewed Jan 1st each year.

Q: Do non-profit organizations who wish to conduct a raffle need to apply for a license? Answer: Yes, contact the Borough Clerk’s office for information to apply for a raffle license.

Q: How do I get a permit to park in the train station lots? Are the permits good for either the Murray Hill train station lot on Southgate Road or the New Providence station lot on Springfield Avenue near Willow Street? Answer: To obtain a permit, please go to Forms and Documents\Parking, select either "Resident Parking Permit Application" or "Non-resident Parking Permit Application", print and complete it, and mail in with your check (and proof of residency if required). Permits may also be obtained in person at the Clerk's Office. Resident permits are good for both parking lots. Non-resident permits are good at the Murray Hill lot only.

Q: What permits or inspections do I need to renovate my house? Answer: Contact the Building Department at 665-1098.

Q: Where can I obtain a hunting or fishing license? Answer: Hunting and fishing licenses are sold at the following locations in our area: The Sports Authority Springfield 973-376-3800, Kmart N. Plainfield 908-561-7050, Wal-Mart Union 908-624-0644, Wal-Mart Watchung 908-756-1925, or on-line through the State’s Division of Fish and Wildlife website: http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/als/websalesintro.htm

Q: Where do I go and what do I need to do or bring to apply for a civil union license? Answer: The couple must make an appointment at the Clerk’s office to apply for a civil union license. They apply in the New Jersey municipality where either member of the couple lives, or if neither live in New Jersey but are conducting their civil union in New Jersey, they apply in the New Jersey municipality where the civil union ceremony will take place. When applying for the license, the couple will need to know: the date of the civil union ceremony, their birthplaces, their mother’s and father’s birthplaces, their mother’s maiden names, the name of a previous civil union, marriage or domestic partner, the name and address of the person who will be performing the ceremony, the address where they are going to live after the civil union ceremony takes place. If either of the couple were in a previous civil union, domestic partnership or marriage, they must bring in proof that they are free to enter into the civil union (death certificates, termination of domestic partnership, divorce papers, etc.) A witness at least 18 years of age who knows both individuals must accompany the couple. The couple must bring identification that contains their picture and signature (such as a driver’s license). Credit cards are not acceptable as ID.

Q: Where do I go and what do I need to do or bring to apply for a marriage license? Answer: The bride and groom must make an appointment at the Clerk’s office to apply for a marriage license. They apply in the New Jersey municipality where either the bride or the groom lives, or if neither live in New Jersey but are conducting their marriage in New Jersey, they apply in the New Jersey municipality where the marriage ceremony will take place. When applying for the license, the couple will need to know: the date of the marriage ceremony; their birthplaces; their mother’s and father’s birthplaces; their mother’s maiden names; the name of their most recent previous spouse, if any; the name and address of the person who will be performing the ceremony; and the address where they are going to live after the ceremony takes place. If either the bride or the groom were previously married, they must bring in proof that they are free to marry (death certificate, divorce papers, etc.). A witness at least 18 years of age who knows both individuals must accompany the couple. The couple must bring identification that contains their picture and signature (such as a driver’s license). Credit cards are not acceptable as ID.

Q: Where can I buy a gift certificate for New Providence shops? Answer: Gift Certificates can be purchased at Prudential NJ Realtors on the corner of the Village Shopping Center driveway and Springfield Ave.or at the Chamber of Commerce in Summit. The Chamber of Commerce number is (908) 522-1700.

Q: Where can I get information about the history of New Providence? Answer: Refer to the History Section of the Web site. Also, the New Providence Historical Society holds office hours in the library from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as well as 2 p.m.-5 p.m. on Thursdays only. The Historical Society can be reached at 665-1034.

Q: How can I get Planning Board and/or Board of Adjustment (aka Zoning Board) information? Answer: Planning Board information and applications can be obtained from the Planning Board Secretary (908) 665-1400, and Board of Adjustment information and applications can be obtained from the Board of Adjustment Secretary (908) 665-1129.

Q: Can I get immunizations from the Borough’s Public Health Nurse? What other public health services does the Borough provide? Answer: The Public Health Nurse, along with the Nurse Practitioner, conducts a free well-child clinic that is available for residents of New Providence who currently are not covered by any medical benefits. It provides necessary immunizations for school-age children. The Public Health Nurse also conducts various senior citizen health programs (e.g. cardiovascular, cholesterol, glucose screening, etc.) and the yearly Senior Citizen Health Fair, in conjunction with the Senior Citizen Recreation Center. The Public Health Nurse also performs school audits, conducts the annual Borough Employee Health Fair and arranges for home health visits for home-bound residents.

Q: When are the Well Child Clinics Held? Answer: The first Thursday of every other month.

Q: Who is eligible to come to the Well Child Clinic? Answer: All children residing in New Providence without health coverage or vaccine coverage.

Q: Can I connect my sump pump to my sewer pipe, or pump it into the washbasin? Answer: Connection of sump pumps to the sanitary sewer is illegal. When your sump pump is connected to the sanitary sewer system, that water has to be treated because it combines with sewage. This unnecessarily increasing the flow into the treatment plant and increases the cost of treatment. All sump pumps should be piped to the street, preferably into the storm sewer, to keep treatment plant cost down.

Q: Does the Borough conduct Waste Water Treatment Plant tours for the public and school children? Answer: The Borough’s insurance company does not allow tours of the treatment plant due to safety and health reasons.

Q: How can I avoid paying a plumber or sewer cleaning company if it turns out to be a blockage in the sewer in the street? Answer: Unless you are certain the blockage is in your houses plumbing, you should always call the Borough to have them check the sewer in the street first. If the sewer in the street is not blocked, you will be advised, and then you can call a plumber or sewer cleaning company.

Q: How can I prevent sewage from coming out my shower drain and toilet in my basement when the sewer in the street is backed up? Answer: Sewer systems were designed so that the houses first floor is above ground level, so if there is a blockage in the street, the sewage will come out the manhole and not into the house. Nowadays more people are finishing their basements for additional living space, and installing bathrooms, which are below street level. When there is a blockage in the street, before it is detected by the manhole overflowing, the homeowner ends up with sewage in their basement. Anyone who has a toilet and sink in their basement should have a licensed plumber install a check valve into their sewer pipe to prevent sewer backups from a blockage in the street from entering the basement.

Q: How do I get a street light that is out fixed? Answer: Call the Borough Clerk’s office 665-1400 and report the pole number and exact location of pole. The pole number ends with NPE. Also contact the power company with this information.

Q: How early and late in the day are landscapers allowed to work? Answer: Noise restrictions apply during the following times: Non-commercial or non-industrial power tools and landscaping and yard maintenance equipment shall not be operated between the hours of 8:00 pm and 8:00 am on weekdays, 6:00 pm and 9:00 am on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, unless such activities can meet the applicable limits set forth in the Borough noise ordinance. All motorized equipment used in these activities shall be operated with a muffler. At all other times, the limits set forth in the Borough Noise Ordinance do not apply to non-commercial or non-industrial power tools and landscaping and yard maintenance equipment. Commercial or industrial power tools and landscaping and yard maintenance equipment, excluding emergency work, shall not be operated on a residential property or within 250 feet of a residential property line when operated on commercial or industrial property, between the hours of 6:00 pm and 8:00 am on weekdays, or between the hours of 6:00 pm and 9:00 am on Saturdays, and is prohibited on Sundays and Federal holidays, unless such activities can meet the limits set forth in the Borough’s Noise Ordinance.

Q: My recycling was not picked up, what do I do? Answer: Call the recycling hotline number 888-738-7348.

Q: The cap is broken/missing on my sewer pipe cleanout by the street. What should I do, and who will fix it? Answer: If your sewer line cleanout cap is broken or missing, you should have it fixed immediately. The homeowner is responsible for their cleanout and sewer pipe all the way to the Borough’s sewer. A homeowner can fix it themselves, but it may be better to call a plumber for a more damaged cleanout, and the plumber will be able to retrieve any broken pipe or cap that may have fallen into the pipe itself, which could cause a blockage in the future.

Q: The trash collector didn’t pick up the items I left out. Answer: Call the Garbage Hotline at 800-747-6265

Q: What are the county roads? Answer: South Street, Springfield Ave, Mountain Ave, Passaic Street

Q: What are the leaf drop off hours? Answer: 7:30 am to 3 pm Mon. thru Fri. Saturdays please refer to the leaf schedule.

Q: What causes blockages/backups in the sewer pipes? Answer: Sewer blockages are mostly caused by tree roots that grow into the sewer pipe, and from grease buildup inside the pipe. Residents should never dump grease from cooking down their sink drains. The grease not only hardens inside the plumbing inside your home, but also in the sewer pipes in the street, causing blockages.

Q: What day is my garden debris picked up? Answer: April 6 to December 7 on Mondays, except when Monday is a holiday, garden debris is picked up on Wednesday.

Q: What kinds of items can I put in recycling? Answer: Glass bottles and jars, aluminum and tin cans, plastic bottles from pourable liquids, empty aerosol containers, milk and juice cartons, empty and dried out quart and gallon latex paint cans (lids off). Bundled separately from these items are paper, newspapers, magazines, and cardboard products. Each paper category must be broken down and tied with string.

Q: When are my recycling and bulk pick-up dates? Answer: Details about recycling can be found here.

Q: When is my recycling day? Answer: Every other Friday.

Q: Who do I call if my storm drain in front of my house is clogged? Answer: Call 665-1076. If it's a County Road, call 789-3660.

Q: Who do I call to report a pothole on a Borough or County Road? Answer: Borough Road: 908-665-1076, County Road : 789-3660

Q: Do I have to be a resident to participate in recreation classes/programs? Answer: Non-residents may participate, providing that there are still spaces available after residents have registered.

Q: How do I find out if a game/activity is cancelled? Answer: Call the Recreation Department at 464-4430.

Q: How do I reach the community pool? Answer: By phone, the seasonal phone number is 464-4141. By mail: P.O. Box 744, New Providence, NJ 07974.

Q: Is the Recreation Department part of the Soccer Club/PAL? Answer: No.

Q: May I join the community pool? Answer: Call the seasonal phone number (908) 464-4141 or write New Providence Community Pool, P.O. Box 744, New Providence, NJ 07974.

Q: Are there any property tax discounts for senior citizens/veterans? Answer: Senior citizens, disabled seniors and veterans may be eligible for a deduction. If eligible, this deduction is reflected in the yearly property tax bill. For more detailed information regarding eligibility, call the Tax Assessor (908) 665-7956.

Q: How is an tax assessment determined? Answer: An assessment is determined by the size of the property, square footage, condition, and location of the property, number of baths, and sales.

Q: I can’t find my tax bill/ payment coupon. How do I pay my bill? Answer: Simply call the tax office and we can provide you with the amount that is currently due and instructions.

Q: What are the business hours of the tax department? Answer: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30p.m. Monday – Friday Evening Hours: 1 Monday evening per tax quarter, open until 7p.m. (refer to calendar link for specific days). Summer hours: Fridays closed at 1 p.m. mid June through first week in September (please call for specific start & stop dates as they vary by year).

Q: What are the criteria to be eligible for a senior citizen or veteran deduction? How do I file an appeal? Answer: The Union County Board of Taxation is located at 271 No. Broad Street, Elizabeth NJ 07207, (908) 527-4771. Appeal Forms may be downloaded from website NJACTB.org.

Q: What is the grace period for taxes? Answer: There is a 10-day grace period to pay taxes. Tax payments must be received by the 10th day of the month when taxes are due. If the 10th day falls on a weekend, or Borough holiday, the grace period is then extended to the next Borough business day following the weekend or Borough holiday. This is not subject to change, and property owners will be fined from the original date payment is due if taxes are paid after the grace period.

Q: What is the ratio? Answer: The 2008 ratio is 50.81%.

Q: What is the tax rate? Answer: The 2007 tax rate $3.582 for every $100 of assessed value.

Q: When are taxes due? Answer: Taxes are due quarterly (February 1, May 1, August 1, November 1) of each year.