State Resources:
Jersey City Ordinance:
A. Chapter 254 (Property Maintenance) is hereby amended as follows:
CHAPTER 254 – PROPERTY MAINTENANCE
ARTICLE IX – MAINTENANCE RESPONSIBILITIES OF OWNERS AND MANAGERS
§ 254-45. – General safety and sanitation.
A. – E. NO CHANGE
F. Structural Inspection Requirement. In order to maintain a building’s structural integrity, the following
requirements shall apply to all existing buildings or buildings constructed hereafter, which are concrete buildings
more than six (6) stories in height:
1. A visual structural inspection shall be conducted every ten (10) years by a licensed architect or engineer.
This inspection must include, but is not limited to, inspection of foundations, balconies, all structural
members, and waterproofing. This inspection shall be in addition to any other building inspections
required by law.
a. The initial inspections shall be completed by December 31, 2022. Thereafter, a structural
inspection must be conducted every ten (10) years.
Page 1 of 6
Ord. 21-054
Ordinance Amending Chapter 254 (Property Maintenance) and Chapter 160 (Fees and Charges) to
Require Routine Structural and Façade Inspections for Certain Buildings within the City of Jersey City
b. The structural inspection shall include, in addition to an inspection, a complete review of the most
recently prepared report.
c. The structural inspection shall be conducted in accordance with applicable rules promulgated by
the Construction Code Official or the Construction Code Official’s designee.
d. The property owner shall be responsible for the cost of such inspection, and for any necessary
repairs or additional inspections.
2. Reporting Requirements. Structural inspections must be December 31 of each year in which an inspection
is mandated. Within thirty (30) days of the inspection, Property Owners must submit a written Structural
Inspection Report, prepared by a licensed architect or engineer, to the Division of the Construction Code
Official. The Structural Inspection Report shall be on a form prescribed by the Division of the
Construction Code Official and shall:
a. Certify the results of such inspection;
b. Clearly document the condition of the building’s structure, noting the conditions as safe or unsafe;
and
c. Provide repair and maintenance recommendations if applicable, including information on which
repairs are emergent and a timeline for which all repairs must be made.
3. Repairs. If the inspection indicates structural repairs are needed, the Property Owner shall be responsible
for such repairs and shall immediately undertake such measures as may be required to secure public safety.
All repairs must be made pursuant to the recommendations and timeline set forth in the Structural
Inspection Report and in conjunction with the recommendations of the Construction Code Official.
a. Following completion of the repairs, the licensed architect or engineer shall inspect the building
and the Property Owner shall file an amended Structural Inspection Report, prepared by the
licensed architect or engineer, setting forth the conditions of the building with the Division of the
Construction Code Official within thirty (30) days of repairs being completed.
b. If repairs are not made in accordance with the recommendations and timeline set forth in the
Structural Inspection Report and with the recommendations of the Construction Code Official, the
Construction Code Official shall have the power to shut down any buildings that pose an imminent
threat to the safety and welfare of the occupants or residents of Jersey City.
c. The structural inspection shall be conducted in accordance with applicable rules promulgated by
the Director of the Construction Code Official or the Construction Code Official’s designee.
4. Fees. The fee for the filing and review of the Structural Inspection Report shall be as provided in Chapter
160, Fees and Charges.
5. Penalties. Any person or corporation convicted of violating any of the provisions of this Chapter shall be
subject to the penalties set forth in § 1-25.
G. Façade Inspection Requirement. In order to maintain a building’s façade in a safe condition, the following
requirements shall apply to all existing buildings or buildings constructed hereafter, which: (1) are more than six
(6) stories in height, or (2) consist of a masonry façade and are four (4) stories or more in height:
1. A façade inspection shall be conducted every five (5) years by a licensed architect or engineer. This
inspection must include, but is not limited to, inspection of all exterior walls and appurtenances. This
inspection shall be in addition to any other building inspections required by law.
a. The initial inspection shall be completed by December 31, 2023. Thereafter, a façade inspection
must be conducted every five (5) years.
b. The façade inspection shall include, in addition to an inspection, a complete review of the most
recently prepared report.
Page 2 of 6
Ord. 21-054
Ordinance Amending Chapter 254 (Property Maintenance) and Chapter 160 (Fees and Charges) to
Require Routine Structural and Façade Inspections for Certain Buildings within the City of Jersey City
c. The façade inspection shall be conducted in accordance with applicable rules promulgated by the
Director of the Construction Code Official or the Construction Code Official’s designee.
d. The property owner shall be responsible for the cost of such inspection, and for any necessary
repairs or additional inspections.
2. Reporting Requirements. Façade inspections must be completed by December 31 of each year in which
an inspection is mandated. Within thirty (30) days of the inspection, Property Owners must submit a
written Façade Inspection Report, prepared by a licensed architect or engineer, to the Division of the
Construction Code Official. The Façade Inspection Report shall be on a form prescribed by the Division
of the Construction Code Official and shall:
a. Certify the results of such inspection;
b. Clearly document the condition of the building’s façade, noting the conditions as safe or unsafe;
and
c. Provide repair and maintenance recommendations if applicable, including information on which
repairs are emergent and a timeline for which all repairs must be made.
3. Repairs. If the inspection indicates repairs are needed to the building’s façade, the property owner be
responsible for such repairs and shall immediately undertake such measures as may be required to secure
public safety. All repairs must be made pursuant to the recommendations and timeline set forth in the
Façade Inspection Report and in conjunction with the recommendations of the Construction Code Official.
a. Following completion of the repairs, the licensed architect or engineer shall inspect the building
and the Property Owner shall file an amended Façade Inspection Report, prepared by the licensed
architect or engineer, setting forth the conditions of the building with the Division of the
Construction Code Official within thirty (30) days of repairs being completed.
b. If repairs are not made in accordance with the recommendations and timeline set forth in the
Façade Inspection Report and with the recommendations of the Construction Code Official, the
Construction Code Official shall have the power to shut down any buildings that pose an imminent
threat to the safety and welfare of the occupants or residents of Jersey City.
4. Fees. The fee for the filing and review of the Façade Inspection Report shall be as provided in Chapter
160, Fees and Charges
5. Penalties. Any person or corporation convicted of violating any of the provisions of this Chapter shall be
subject to the penalties set forth in § 1-25.
B. Chapter 160 (Fees and Charges) is hereby amended as follows:
CHAPTER 160 – FEES AND CHARGES
§ 160-1. - Fee schedule established.
A. – W. NO CHANGE
I. X. Property Maintenance
(1) - (7) NO CHANGE.
(8) Inspections made under § 254-45:
Structural Inspections: $100.00 per Structural Inspection Report
Façade Inspections: $100.00 per Façade Inspection Report
C. All ordinances and parts of ordinances inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.
Page 3 of 6
Ord. 21-054
Ordinance Amending Chapter 254 (Property Maintenance) and Chapter 160 (Fees and Charges) to
Require Routine Structural and Façade Inspections for Certain Buildings within the City of Jersey City
D. The City Clerk and the Corporation Counsel may change any chapter numbers, article numbers and
section numbers if codification of this ordinance reveals a conflict between those numbers and the existing
code, in order to avoid confusion and possible repeals of existing provisions.
E. This ordinance shall take effect at the time and in the manner provided by law.
F. This ordinance shall be a part of the Jersey City Code as though codified and incorporated in the official
copies of the Jersey City Code.