As many New Jersey locals can tell you, there are certain laws that need to be abided by if you want to remodel or add on to your home. If you don’t get approval for additions or improvements such as a fence, a pool, a shed or an extension, you may have to pay dearly for the mistake. Your municipality could even force you to tear down your new construction. Therefore, take the time to apply for permits, wait for inspections and do it right the first time.

• Just about every town you might live in will have laws that require homeowners to have detailed paperwork that shows what kind of construction you want to do. The paperwork, which may include architectural drafts, will need to be approved by a local zoning board or municipal group. The paperwork will also most likely need to be notarized.
• Along with approved paperwork, families who are in the process of remodeling will also need to make a public notice of their construction before it happens. This often will take place in a small newspaper ad, or through the use of certified mail to neighbors.
• Some projects might also need a zoning variance, which means that you may need to have additional paperwork, a municipal hearing and the help of a number of different experts. Often, a zoning variance can be obtained with relative ease, but the fact is that it can be a very in-depth process in and of itself. It’s often best to be represented by an experienced real estate lawyer who has a strong background in NJ municipal zoning laws. It could mean the difference between an approval or lengthy process – or denial.
• It may seem like real estate construction laws only protect neighbors, contractors and municipal groups, but this isn’t the case. Real estate construction laws in New Jersey are established to protect the person requesting the permit for the home improvement. For example, many people are not aware that it’s illegal for a construction or remodeling company to ask for a full payment upfront in the state of New Jersey. This keeps them from being able to bilk buyers out of money, then bailing.

Planning a major or minor remodeling project requires a lot of time and effort. Going through the process without a keen understanding of local zoning laws will likely delay your project significantly. Having a lawyer help you out will make things as efficient as possible, and may also make zoning variances more attainable.

Contact the Law Office of Joel R. Spivack for guidance with your real estate or zoning variance case. He has been helping families, like yours, buy, sell and improve their real estate in the Cherry Hill, NJ area for more than two decades.