Trenton building department

In Trenton, construction permits come from the Division of Technical Services, which works under the Construction Official. It has:

• building, electrical, plumbing, fire and elevator inspectors
• zoning staff
• the Weights and Measures office

The division enforces both the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code (UCC) and the Uniform Fire Code. It issues every building, plumbing, electrical and fire-protection permit, reviews plans for new construction and alterations, and does the semiannual and annual elevator inspections.

The division sits inside the broader Division of Inspections, which also includes Housing Inspections. All offices are on the 2nd floor of the City Hall Annex, 319 East State Street, unless noted otherwise. Mercer County government does not issue construction permits for Trenton properties.

Applying online through GovPilot

The city’s Apply For page links two GovPilot construction forms:

• Construction Permit Application: an online version of the permit jacket. It has a technical sections step for adding building, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, mechanical and elevator items, plus an attachments step.
• Construction Permit Inspection Request: look up the permit by work-site address or permit number, pick the subcode and inspection type, and give three preferred request dates. The form asks for a valid phone number so the inspector can reach you.

The Forms Center also posts PDF UCC technical sections (building, electrical, elevator, fire protection and plumbing) and the Zoning Board application set:

• application and checklist
• fee schedule
• supplemental forms A and B
• sample public notices
• proof of service

Plan review timelines

All new construction, and many renovations, need architectural or engineering drawings approved before a permit is issued. The building, electric, fire and plumbing staff each review the drawings. The division publishes these turnaround times:

Step	Time
First review of new plans	Minimum 20 working days
Review of revised plans	7 to 10 working days
Single-trade permits (no plan review)	Issued within 48 hours

The division gives these phone lines:

• whether you need plans: (609) 989-3571
• status of plans under review: (609) 989-3545
• whether a permit is ready: (609) 989-3550

For a major renovation or a change of use, the city suggests contacting the Project Application Review Committee (PARC) first. PARC can explain the planning and zoning requirements as well as the building, electric, fire and plumbing code rules.

Subcode and office contacts

Office	Phone
Building subcode	(609) 989-3571
Electrical subcode	(609) 989-3587
Fire subcode	(609) 989-3555
Plumbing subcode	(609) 989-3546
Zoning Officer	(609) 989-3549
Inspections Division (general)	(609) 989-3550
Unsafe structures and equipment	(609) 989-3552
Weights and Measures	(609) 989-3282

Robert Snyder is the Construction Official and also serves as Electrical Subcode Official, (609) 989-3587.

Contractors

Trenton reminds owners that home improvement contractors must be registered with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs. You can check a contractor’s registration by calling (609) 989-3540. Plumbers, electricians and fire-protection installers hold state licenses and should be able to show them.

Zoning

The Zoning Office decides the legal use of every property. Appeals of its decisions go to the Zoning Board of Adjustment. The Technical Services page links a zoning map. Call the Zoning Officer at (609) 989-3549 about the legal use of a property or a board application.

Selling a home: housing code certificate

Trenton requires a certificate of housing code compliance from the Division of Housing before any change in ownership of a dwelling. You apply with the GovPilot Resale form.

• The fee is $200, plus $15 per unit for structures with more than four units.
• If more than one reinspection is needed, a fee applies: $50 for one- and two-unit buildings, or $25 per unit for three or more units.
• A final certificate is valid for six months and carries over if the property is resold within that time.
• The application requires working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
• The Housing number on the form is (609) 989-3563.

This housing certificate is separate from the construction certificate the Technical Services division issues when permitted work passes final inspection.

Codes in effect

The state Department of Community Affairs adopts the UCC model codes for every New Jersey town. Its current list carries 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