Berkeley Township Building Permit: How Many Plan Sets to Print, and at What Size
In Berkeley Township, the grading path sets your copy count. A grading waiver takes two copies of a plot plan or survey; a full grading plan takes two sealed copies plus a sealed Engineer’s Certificate (the township’s “blue sheet”). Both go through the Zoning/Prior Approvals office in Bayville, and the Construction Office then wants two signed and sealed sets of plans for a new home.
Here is what each Berkeley form asks for, in the order you’ll need it, with a link to every document.
Exception, waiver or full grading plan
The current packet says “a grading plan is required for most projects” and lists three paths:
| Grading path | When it applies | Copies the current packet lists |
|---|---|---|
| Grading exception | Accessory structures under 144 sq ft, or any type of ground covering | No plan copies listed; a signed and notarized Grading Exception Certification, which also has a pool section |
| Grading waiver | Additions or accessory structures, if total impervious coverage stays within the zone’s maximum lot coverage and all other zone requirements are met | Two copies of a plot plan or survey showing all existing and proposed structures and all impervious coverage |
| Full grading plan | All other proposals | Two sealed copies of a grading plan, plus a sealed copy of the Engineer’s Certificate (blue sheet) |
Heads up on older forms: some older Berkeley grading forms from 2017 are still online and list four copies instead of two. That includes the pages that open from the Zoning page’s “Pool Grading Exception Certificate” link. The two-copy count above comes from the newer packet, but call the Zoning Office to confirm which count applies before you print.
Sets for the construction permit
The construction office’s New Home Checklist for Initial Submittal asks for, among other items:
- Two signed and sealed sets of plans. If you provide a third unsealed copy, the office can send it to the Tax Assessor’s office at the same time as plan review.
- Two sets of RES checks (energy code compliance reports).
- Two sets of gas and DWV drawings, sealed by your contractor, if they aren’t on the architectural plans.
- Zoning, grading and (if applicable) flood approvals, Ocean County Soils approval or exemption letter, and sewer, water or septic approvals.
For other projects, the construction office lists:
| Project | Drawings the township lists | Source |
|---|---|---|
| New home | Two signed and sealed sets of plans (plus an optional third unsealed copy for the Tax Assessor); two sets of RES checks; two sets of gas and DWV drawings if not on the plans | New Home Checklist |
| In-ground pool | Two sets of electrical bonding diagrams signed and sealed by the electrician; if there’s a gas heater, two sets of gas line drawings signed and sealed by the installer | Pool Checklist |
| Gas piping or a direct-vent gas fireplace | Two copies of gas pipe drawings | Helpful Information on Permitting Some Common Minor Work |
| Addition, deck, shed | Not stated | See the state rule below |
The Pool Checklist adds that zoning and other prior approvals must be done before a construction permit for both above-ground and in-ground pools, and that copies of those approvals go in the construction jacket.
The state’s two-copy minimum
For additions, decks and sheds, Berkeley’s checklists don’t give a count, and that’s where New Jersey’s Uniform Construction Code (N.J.A.C. 5:23-2, NJ Department of Community Affairs) comes in. On paper, a construction permit application needs no fewer than two copies of the plans drawn to scale. Both released sets get the construction official’s stamp; one is kept by the township and one must stay at the building site for inspections. If the application goes in electronically, the site still needs a physical released set, sealed and wet signed by the design professional.
Berkeley’s Construction Inspections page says online permit submittals are “coming soon,” so confirm how to submit with the Construction Office. The township can ask for more than the minimum, so confirm its count before you print.
Inside the zoning packet: fee and documents
According to the “Required Documents/Fees For Zoning Review” page of the current zoning packet:
- The form and fee. A completed zoning permit application and a $30 residential or $60 commercial fee, payable by cash or check.
- HOA approval. A homeowners association approval letter if the property is in a Planned Residential Retirement Community (PRRC) zone.
- Board approvals. The resolution and letter of compliance, if the Planning Board or Board of Adjustment approved the project.
- A plot plan or survey showing the location, setbacks, floor area, elevation and height of the proposed structure, all impervious surfaces and the lot coverage percentage.
- Fences and small sheds. For fences, or sheds under 100 sq ft, a notarized diagram drawn by the owner or applicant may be acceptable, subject to the Zoning Officer’s approval.
- Signs. A diagram showing the sign’s dimensions and placement.
No sheet size named, but it must be to scale
Berkeley’s documents don’t name a sheet size such as 11×17 or 24×36. The township’s zoning ordinance, Section 35-131.2, quoted in the packet, says each application “shall be accompanied by a plan drawn to such scale as required to show exact dimensions and locations of all buildings, yards, lot lines, off-street parking” and other details, based on an actual survey, deed description or approved subdivision plat. The Zoning Officer may also ask for building elevations and cross sections for height-regulated work.
What this means for printing: print your survey, plot plan and grading plan at the size your surveyor or engineer drew them, at 100% scale. A survey reduced to fit letter or tabloid paper stops matching the scale on its title block, so keep it full size. The Zoning Office can tell you if a size won’t work.
Zoning, grading, construction: how long each step takes
The township’s Zoning page says application “shall first be made to the Zoning Officer for issuance of a zoning permit” by anyone who wants to construct a new building or structure, add to or structurally alter an existing building, change a use, or alter the existing condition of a parcel.
The zoning application packet and the construction office’s step-by-step guide lay out three steps:
- Zoning. File for a zoning permit and allow 10 business days.
- Grading and flood. File for a grading and/or flood review, if needed, also through the Zoning/Prior Approvals office, and allow 10 business days.
- Construction. Once everything is approved, submit to the Construction Office with copies of each approval, and allow 20 business days for plan review.
The Zoning page says to mail or deliver zoning forms to the Zoning Office at Berkeley Town Hall, 627 Pinewald-Keswick Rd, P.O. Box B, Bayville, NJ 08721.
Before the certificate of occupancy
Section 35-131.2 says a certified location survey must be submitted to the Zoning Officer before a certificate of occupancy is issued for any new construction. The township’s Construction Plan & Inspection Process sheet (issued in 2018) also lists a final survey, final engineering and as-built plans (where a subcode official requires them) among the conditions for a CO.
When Ocean County reviews it too
A Berkeley house, addition, deck or pool almost never reaches the county: the Ocean County Planning Board‘s page says site plan review “shall not be required for one and two-family dwellings, or for permitted accessory uses incidental to one and two-family dwellings.” Subdivisions are different. For those the county lists:
- Three legal-size, clearly legible copies of the application.
- Three plan sets: the sealed original plat or site plan and two paper copies, plus a digital copy on CD or USB.
- Digital files: per the county’s digital requirements, PDFs must be an exact copy of the signed paper prints, sized “ArchD (24″ x 36″) or ArchE (30″ x 42″) if necessary,” in the county’s words (30×42 is usually called ARCH E1; ARCH E is 36×48), and black and white only.
Berkeley print list
- Get the final PDFs. Ask your surveyor, engineer or architect for the signed and sealed files.
- Know your grading path. Exception, waiver or full grading plan decides how many survey or grading plan copies you need. Confirm the count with the Zoning Office.
- Count your construction sets. For a new home, two signed and sealed sets, plus a third unsealed copy if you want it sent to the Tax Assessor at the same time. For other work, plan on at least the two the state requires.
- Keep it to scale. Print every sheet at its original size, at 100%. Don’t shrink it.
- Plan for the job site. Keep one released set at the building site for inspections, plus any copies you want for your own records.
Send us the signed PDFs and we print them full size: upload here, choose 18×24, 24×36, 30×42, 36×46 or 36×48, and check out ($1.95 per sheet black and white, $3.75 color). Order by 3 PM ET, ships same day, arrives as soon as the next day. Other sizes: email support@printmyplans.com before you order.
Neighboring towns: Toms River, Brick and Manchester. Printing just a survey? See how to print a survey or plot plan for a permit.
FAQ
How many copies of my survey does Berkeley’s zoning office want?
The current zoning packet asks for a plot plan or survey with the application. If you use a grading waiver, it lists two copies of the plot plan or survey. Some older 2017 township forms still online say four, so confirm with the Zoning Office.
How many sealed plan sets do I need for a new home?
The construction office’s New Home Checklist asks for two signed and sealed sets of plans. If you add a third unsealed copy, the office can send it to the Tax Assessor at the same time as plan review.
Do I need a grading plan?
The township says a grading plan is required for most projects. Small accessory structures under 144 sq ft and ground coverings can use a grading exception; additions and accessory structures that meet lot coverage and zone rules may qualify for a grading waiver. Everything else needs sealed grading plan copies and the engineer’s certificate.
What size do my plans have to be?
Berkeley doesn’t name a sheet size. Its ordinance says plans must be drawn to a scale that shows exact dimensions and locations. Print it at the size it was drawn.
How long does the review take?
The township’s guide says to allow 10 business days for zoning, 10 business days for grading or flood review, and 20 business days for construction plan review.
Can Print My Plans print my survey or grading plan?
Checkout sizes are 18×24, 24×36, 30×42, 36×46 and 36×48. For any other size, email support@printmyplans.com before you order.
Phone numbers and office hours
The zoning packet says incomplete applications won’t be approved. Call the Zoning Office at 732-244-7400 (the Zoning page lists ext. 1235 for the Zoning Officer and ext. 1254 for the zoning office) or the Construction Office at 732-244-0660. The Construction Inspections page lists office hours of 8:30 AM to 4 PM. You can also check the current forms on the township’s Zoning page and Construction Inspections page before you print the final count.
This article summarizes public township, county and state documents for convenience and is not legal or code advice.
Have a project elsewhere in the county? Blueprint printing across Ocean County covers it, full-size permit set printing explains sheet sizes, and the permit requirements for other NJ towns are collected in one place.
