Paterson building department

Paterson’s construction permits come from the UCC Construction / Buildings bureau of the Division of Community Improvements, at 111 Broadway. Its building, electrical, plumbing and fire inspectors hold licenses from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. They issue permits for construction projects of every size, carry out the required inspections, and issue final approvals, including Certificates of Occupancy (CO) and Continued Certificates of Occupancy (CCO). Passaic County government does not issue construction permits for Paterson properties.

Office hours and reaching an inspector

The bureau’s office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The phone is (973) 321-1549 and the fax is (973) 321-1548.

UCC and housing inspectors are usually out in the field. They are in the office only from 8:30 to 10 a.m. and from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Call or visit in those windows if you need to speak with your inspector.

Applying

Paterson has no online construction permit system yet. The city’s Permits and Licensing page says permitting is “moving online and will launch shortly.” Until it does, you apply with New Jersey’s standardized construction permit forms: the permit jacket plus the subcode technical sections. The UCC page links them from the DCA website.

Zoning: a separate office on Ellison Street

The Division of Planning and Zoning reviews construction plans, permit applications and certificate of occupancy applications for zoning compliance. It is not at 111 Broadway. Its offices are in the City Hall Annex at 125 Ellison Street:

• the Zoning Division on the 2nd floor, (973) 321-1343
• the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment offices on the 4th floor

Its hours are weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The city’s Application for Zoning Permit is used by anyone applying for development approval, a building permit or a certificate of occupancy. It asks for:

• the applicant and owner
• block, lot and street address
• the dimensions of the principal building and any accessory buildings
• a detailed description of every activity on the lot
• whether any use is claimed as non-conforming, and the facts supporting that claim
• any earlier Planning Board or Zoning Board applications

The Zoning Officer notes which ordinance sections apply and whether a variance, and from which board, is needed before a zoning permit can be issued.

Planning and Zoning also posts the zoning map, the Zoning and Land Use Ordinance, bulk and use schedules, a signage schedule, site plan and subdivision applications, and a zoning letter request form.

Historic district review

The Historic Preservation Commission reviews every building permit application filed through Community Improvements for exterior changes to properties in a municipally designated historic district, or to an individual landmark. It also advises the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment on development applications.

The designated districts include:

• Great Falls
• Downtown Commercial
• Eastside Park
• Court House

Each district has its own design guidelines. The commission’s forms are in the city Document Center and start with “HPC.” The commission meets on the third or fourth Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers, City Hall 3rd floor, 155 Market Street. Application deadlines are posted for August 2026 through July 2027.

Rentals and vacant buildings

The Housing Bureau, also part of Community Improvements, (973) 321-1232, enforces the city’s Housing Maintenance Code.

• Rental inspections: required at every change of tenant, before the unit is re-occupied. Owner-occupied two-family homes are exempt.
• Before the rental inspection: the owner must show that a fire inspection and a lead inspection have already been done.
• Vacant and abandoned buildings: these must be registered with Community Improvements. The city says failing to register leads to legal action.

Codes in effect

New Jersey sets its construction codes statewide through the Uniform Construction Code (N.J.A.C. 5:23). The Department of Community Affairs lists the current model codes with an adoption date of August 17, 2026:

• IBC and IRC 2024, NJ editions
• National Standard Plumbing Code 2024
• NEC 2023
• IMC and IFGC 2024
• IECC 2024 and ASHRAE 90.1-2022 for energy