Hamilton Township (Mercer) Permits: Land Use Reviews Your Survey First, Then Two Sets of Drawings

By Eli Gewirtzman, Owner · Last checked Oct 19, 2026 against Hamilton Township’s Inspections page, building-permit FAQ, Deck Requirements and Pool Requirements sheets

In Hamilton, the survey goes first. The Township’s building-permit FAQ says that for additions, decks, ramps and hot tubs, “the property survey must be reviewed by the Land Use Office” before you can get a permit, and you call Land Use to book that review. Once the plot plan is signed off, the Deck Requirements sheet asks for “Two (2) sets of construction drawings.”

These are the Township’s own checklists, project by project. They’re for Hamilton Township in Mercer County, whose Division of Inspections is at 2090 Greenwood Avenue, Hamilton, NJ 08609.

Copies by project

Project	Before the construction permit	Construction drawings	Notes
Deck	A detailed plot plan, to scale, showing the deck and its front, rear and side setbacks, approved and signed by Land Use and Engineering (Engineering checks flood plain relief)	Two sets, showing the address and the owner’s signature, or sealed architect’s drawings	The drawings need top and side elevations, a footing plan and guardrail/handrail details
Addition, ramp or hot tub	Land Use reviews your property survey by appointment	Not posted on the pages we read; the state minimum is two copies (see below)	Hot tubs and pools also need an electrical permit
Above-ground pool	A plot plan showing the pool and its equipment, brought to the Land Use Office. Engineering approves the survey for the pool, filter and heater location.	Pool specifications plus a building and electrical technical section. The electrical side needs two copies of a wiring and bonding diagram.	Final inspection once the pool and barrier are in
In-ground pool	A grading plan signed and sealed by a New Jersey Professional Engineer, plus an Engineering-approved survey	Plans that comply with the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code. Electrical and plumbing each need two copies of a diagram.	A final as-built survey from a NJ licensed engineer is needed before the Certificate of Occupancy
Shed over 200 sq ft	Copy of your property survey to the Land Use Office (Room 307)	Construction permit required; the drawing count isn’t posted (state minimum two)	Sheds under 200 sq ft need only an EZ zoning permit
Fence	EZ permit: your survey with the fence marked, at the Land Use Office	No construction permit, unless the fence is a pool barrier	No fee for an EZ permit

Sources: Hamilton’s building-permit FAQ, Deck Requirements, Pool Requirements, shed permit page and fence permit FAQ. All accessed Oct 19, 2026.

The Township doesn’t post a plan-set count for additions, new homes or sheds on the pages we read. When a town doesn’t say, New Jersey’s rule is the floor: a paper application needs “no fewer than two copies” of plans “drawn to scale” (N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.15). Call the Division of Inspections to confirm before you print.

Bring the survey at its original size

Hamilton is specific about the survey copy you hand in for an EZ permit (fences and smaller sheds). The fence FAQ asks for “a copy of your property survey of the original size (surveys that are manipulated cannot be scaled),” with the proposed work marked in highlighter, colored pencil, pen or marker. The shed FAQ says the same.

So print the survey at 100% on a sheet big enough to hold it, not shrunk to fit a letter page. A few other survey points from the FAQ:

The Township doesn’t keep copies of property surveys or plot plans. Check your title insurance papers or deed for the surveyor’s name, or contact a surveyor.
Surveys are needed “to review required setbacks from property lines.”
Setbacks depend on your zone. The FAQ points you to the zoning map and Land Development Ordinance, or the Land Use Coordinator at 609-890-3680.

Decks: what the drawings need to show

The Deck Requirements sheet (a scanned packet that also reprints the deck section of the 2021 IRC, New Jersey Edition) asks for:

The plot plan approved and signed by Land Use and Engineering, plus any approved resolutions or waivers.
Two sets of construction drawings, showing the address and the owner’s signature, or sealed architect’s drawings.
If a contractor does the work, a copy of their New Jersey home improvement license.
A sketch with:
top and side elevations, with material sizes, guardrails, grippable handrails and footings
every footing location, including stair footings. Footings must go at least 36″ below grade.
guardrail and handrail details: rail heights, sizes, materials and spindle spacing

The FAQ adds that a railing is required once a deck is 30 inches or more off the ground.

Pools: Engineering signs off on the survey first

The Pool Requirements sheet starts with Engineering. A copy of your property survey must be approved by Engineering for the location of the pool, filter and heater “before submitting to Construction Office.” After that:

Building: the building subcode technical section, plans that meet the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, and barriers that meet its Section 305.
Electrical: the electrical technical section and two copies of a diagram showing power, branch circuits, wire and conduit sizes, breaker sizes and bonding locations.
Plumbing (in-ground): the plumbing technical section and two copies of a diagram for gas piping and bottom drains.

In-ground pools go through pre-collar, backfill and final building inspections, and a final as-built survey from a New Jersey licensed engineer must be approved before the Certificate of Occupancy. The FAQ says an in-ground pool’s grading plan must be signed and sealed by a New Jersey Professional Engineer and taken to the Land Use Office, Room 307 in the Municipal Building.

Fees

Hamilton’s posted Inspection Fees sheet is dated January 7, 2020 (Ordinance 19-061). For building fees it lists:

Decks: $30 per $1,000 of value, with value figured at $24 per square foot. Minimum $50.
Pools (residential Use Groups R-3, R-4 and R-5): $75 above ground, $250 in-ground.
Sheds over 200 sq ft: $30 per $1,000 of value, minimum $50.
Renovations and alterations: $30 per $1,000 of value, minimum $50.

Electrical, plumbing and fire fees are separate. The sheet is several years old, so confirm the current amount with the office. The EZ zoning permit for a fence or small shed has no fee.

Filing, online permits and inspections

You can get the building permit application from the Division of Inspections, or print the Township’s Building Subcode Permit Application and the other forms on the Inspections page. The FAQ says Hamilton doesn’t issue over-the-counter EZ construction permits at this time.

Hamilton uses the SDL Portal for inspection requests and permit records. The Township’s Online Permits flyer (2020) says “Only homeowners for single family homes can submit or update permit applications” online, and the applicant “must own & reside in the property.” The Township’s current Online Permits page mentions only requesting inspections and viewing permits, so contractors and other applicants should plan on paper and ask the office whether online filing is open to them.

The FAQ says a building permit is good for 5 years from the date it’s issued, but work must start within 6 months. We didn’t find a plan-review timeline on the Township’s pages.

Contacts: Division of Inspections, 2090 Greenwood Avenue, Hamilton, NJ 08609 (mailing address P.O. Box 00150, Hamilton, NJ 08650), 609-890-3666, 8:00 AM to 3:45 PM, closed weekends and holidays. Land Use Office: Room 307 in the Municipal Building, 609-890-3680. The FAQ gives 609-890-3682 for booking a survey review.

Getting the sets printed

For a Hamilton deck, that’s the approved plot plan, two sets of deck drawings for the construction permit and a clean copy for yourself. Line drawings like these print fine in black and white. Upload the PDF to the Print My Plans order form and pick 18×24, 24×36, 30×42, 36×46 or 36×48. Use the size the sheets were drawn at so the scale holds. For the survey, that matters even more, since Hamilton says surveys that are manipulated can’t be scaled. Same price, all sizes (18×24 to 36×48). Every size is $1.95 a sheet in black and white and $3.75 in color, with no minimum. Order by 3 PM ET, ships same day, arrives as soon as the next day. New customers can take 20% off their first order with code WELCOME20, which can’t be combined with other codes.

Nearby guides: Ewing · West Windsor · Princeton · Mercer County plan printing · all NJ town guides

Summarized from Hamilton Township’s published checklists and FAQ, checked Oct 19, 2026. Not legal advice. Some Township sheets are years old, so confirm counts and fees with the office before you print.

Sources (official, accessed Oct 19, 2026)

Inspections – Construction page (forms, contacts, hours): https://www.hamiltonnj.com/259/Inspections—Construction
Building Inspection page: https://www.hamiltonnj.com/261/Building-Inspection
Permits – Building Permits FAQ: https://www.hamiltonnj.com/faq.aspx?TID=58
Shed Permit FAQ: https://www.hamiltonnj.com/faq.aspx?TID=67
Fence Permit FAQ: https://www.hamiltonnj.com/m/faq?cat=61
Apply for a Shed Permit: https://www.hamiltonnj.com/283/Apply-for-a-Shed-Permit
Deck Requirements (scanned PDF): https://www.hamiltonnj.com/DocumentCenter/View/2873/Deck-RequirementsPDF
Pool Requirements (scanned PDF): https://www.hamiltonnj.com/DocumentCenter/View/2875/Pool-RequirementsPDF
Inspection Fees (effective Jan 7, 2020): https://www.hamiltonnj.com/DocumentCenter/View/3302/Inspection-FeesPDF
Online Permits flyer (Jan 2020): https://www.hamiltonnj.com/DocumentCenter/View/1247/Online-Permits-PDF
Building Subcode Permit Application: https://www.hamiltonnj.com/DocumentCenter/View/1250/Building-Subcode-Permit-Application-PDF
Land Use page: https://www.hamiltonnj.com/280/Land-Use
N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.15 (NJ DCA): https://www.nj.gov/dca/codes/codreg/pdf_regs/njac_5_23_2.pdf