Old Bridge Township Permits: Two Surveys, Two Plan Sets, Filed in Person

By Eli Gewirtzman, Owner · Last checked Oct 19, 2026 against Old Bridge Township’s Building Department and Zoning Division pages and their linked checklists

Old Bridge keeps the count simple and the paperwork physical. The Building Department page says “Applications are required to be submitted in person.” Zoning wants two copies of your property survey. The Building Department wants two copies of the construction plans. For a deck, the Township also wants your name, address and original signature on both copies.

These are the Township’s own checklists, project by project. They’re for Old Bridge Township, at 1 Old Bridge Plaza, where the Zoning Division has its office.

Copies by project

Project	Zoning	Building Department	Who can draw the plans
Deck	Zoning application	2 copies of the survey with the deck outlined on it, plus 2 copies of detailed deck drawings, signed on both	Homeowner, if the drawings are detailed enough. Otherwise a licensed architect.
Shed, porch, detached garage or other accessory structure	Zoning permit with 2 copies of the survey	Not stated for sheds. The construction list includes pole barns and “any type of new building,” which need 2 copies of the plans.	Homeowner for their own one-family home, or an NJ-licensed architect or engineer
Addition, add-a-level or dormer	2 copies of the survey, plus FAR calculations or a Zoning Analysis Table	2 copies of the construction plans	Homeowner for their own one-family home, or an NJ-licensed architect or engineer
In-ground pool	Zoning permit	2 copies of the construction plans (pools are on the construction list), plus a pool grading plan sealed by an NJ professional engineer, professional surveyor or licensed architect (for the Engineering Department)	Grading plan: engineer, surveyor or architect
Above-ground pool	Zoning permit	2 copies of the construction plans (pools are on the construction list)	Not stated
New home	2 copies of the survey, plus FAR calculations or a Zoning Analysis Table	2 copies of the construction plans	Homeowner for their own one-family home, or an NJ-licensed architect or engineer

Sources: the Building Department page’s deck, new-construction, pool and FAQ panels, the deck plan checklist, the zoning permit instructions and the pool grading checklist. All accessed Oct 19, 2026.

The two-copy rule is on the Building Department’s “New Construction Requiring Permits” list: “Applicant must submit two copies of the construction plans that can be drawn either by the applicant for his/her own one family dwelling or by a licensed NJ Architect or Engineer.” Some projects also need a copy of the survey, and the page says to call Code Services for which ones.

Zoning: two surveys, true to scale

The Zoning Division’s application instructions (2023) ask for:

the zoning application, signed by the applicant or the homeowner, with a short description of the work
two copies of the property survey, “drawn to scale-not reduced or enlarged or all dimensions are provided.” The survey has to show the property as it is now and all the proposed work, with dimensions.
for additions, sunrooms, enclosed porches and new homes: floor area ratio calculations or a Zoning Analysis Table
payment by check or money order to “Old Bridge Township.” No cash.

Incomplete applications won’t be accepted. The Zoning Division page also asks you to send zoning permits “to the attention of the Building Department for processing,” or processing may be delayed. The Township’s 2022 walk-in sheet says reviews can take up to 10 business days, and that like-for-like replacements of things like sheds, fences, patios and driveways may qualify for a same-day zoning permit during walk-in hours.

Deck drawings: what has to be on the sheet

The Building Department’s deck panel says to file the zoning application, the UCC folder, the building application and, if needed, the electrical application. Add 2 copies of the survey with the deck outlined on it. You can draw the deck on the survey yourself, and the page says you don’t need to hire a surveyor for that. You’ll also need 2 copies of separate, detailed deck drawings. The Township’s deck plan checklist wants these on the drawings:

name, address, block and lot, and original signatures on both copies
the current NJ code edition and the live load designed to (pounds per square foot)
grade, species and type of lumber
overall dimensions and deck height, shown in an overhead view and a side view
a footing detail with depth and diameter (at least 36″ deep, per the web page), and footing locations with distances both ways
how the footings attach to the columns, and the columns to the girder
the ledger board: size, type, flashing and attachment, plus the hanger brand and model
girder sizes, lamination, spans and cantilever, which can be no more than 2 feet
joist spacing, span, size and attachment
decking type, size and direction
a stair detail with treads at least 9″ deep and risers no taller than 8¼”, all the same height. The checklist says risers shall be closed (the deck web page instead allows open risers if the opening is no more than 4″).
every mechanical connector, with manufacturer, model and type
a guard and handrail detail. A round handrail must be 1¼” to 2″ across. Other shapes need a perimeter of 4″ to 6¼”, so a 2×4 won’t qualify.

If you can’t draw plans with that level of detail, the page says you’ll need plans from a licensed architect. Keep your copy of the approved plans on site for all three inspections: footing, framing and final.

Pools: plan early

The Building Department’s FAQ says to apply before January if you want to start a pool in March or April. Several departments review it, which can take 6 to 8 weeks, especially for in-ground pools. Pools must be at least 6 feet from the property line.

In-ground pools also need a grading plan for the Engineering Department, built from its 30-item checklist. The plan must be signed and sealed by an NJ professional engineer, professional surveyor or licensed architect. It needs:

a scale no smaller than 1″ = 50′
existing 1-foot contours and proposed grades within 25 feet of the property
distances from the pool to the house and the property lines
grading around the pool between 1.5% and 3:1

The page lists pool permit fees too. For in-ground pools: building $250, electrical $165, plumbing $100 and the pool fence $50. For above-ground pools: building $150 and electrical $85.

Filing and inspections

Drop off your application in person; that’s the Building Department page’s current notice. The same page’s FAQ also says “Permits applied for online can be paid for online after approval,” so ask the office whether online filing and payment are available for your project. The FAQ says you’ll fill out “a permit request form, a complete set of plans, a copy of your survey (in some instances) and a folder” when you hand it in. Old Bridge takes checks or money orders, not cash. The Township also has an online payment portal for construction permits, which needs your 6-digit control number. The FAQ says state law gives the office 20 working days to review, and that summer reviews take at least that long.

The page says inspection requests go through the Township’s online inspection portal and must be in writing. It also lists Construction@oldbridge.com for scheduling. Approved “Field Copy” plans have to be on site for every inspection, so don’t hand over your only clean set.

Contacts: Building Department 732-607-4802, or 732-721-5600 option 2 (Code Services, ext. 2420). The FAQ says the lobby is open 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday, with phones answered 8 AM to 4 PM. Zoning Division: Room 211, 2nd floor, Thomas J. English Administration Building, 732-721-5600 ext. 2461, open 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM weekdays. The Township’s address is 1 Old Bridge Plaza, Old Bridge, NJ 08857.

Getting the sets printed

For an Old Bridge deck, that’s two surveys with the deck drawn on, two signed sets of deck drawings and a set for you. 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, since Old Bridge’s zoning instructions say the survey must be drawn to scale, not reduced or enlarged, unless all dimensions are provided. 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. 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: Edison · Woodbridge · Piscataway · Middlesex County plan printing · all NJ town guides

Summarized from Old Bridge Township’s published Building Department and Zoning Division pages and checklists, checked Oct 19, 2026. Not legal advice. Confirm counts and the filing method with the office before you print.

Sources (official, accessed Oct 19, 2026)

Building Permit Department page, incl. “Constructing a Deck,” “Frequently Asked Questions,” “New Construction Requiring Permits,” “Swimming Pool Requirements” and “Mission Statement” panels: https://www.oldbridge.com/page/building-permit-department
Deck plan checklist for homeowners (PDF modified Jan 29, 2021; linked from the deck panel as https://5il.co/p3h8): https://files-backend.assets.thrillshare.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/1690/Old_Bridge_Township/037481c5-d990-4d7c-ba0b-b3bb46f09b27/deck_plan_checklist_for_HO_website.pdf?disposition=inline
Engineering Department, Check List for Pool Grading Plan (PDF modified Nov 7, 2018; linked from the pool panel): https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/837693/Pool_Grading_Check_List.pdf
Zoning Division page: https://www.oldbridge.com/page/zoning-division
Zoning Permit Application Requirements, instructions (PDF modified Aug 25, 2023): https://files-backend.assets.thrillshare.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/1690/Old_Bridge_Township/1e717113-0d4e-4de8-97d6-97a3c728ff15/Zoning_Permit_Application_-_Instructions.pdf?disposition=inline
Application for Zoning Permit (PDF modified Apr 25, 2022; linked from the Zoning page as https://aptg.co/tHTN_B): https://files-backend.assets.thrillshare.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/1690/Old_Bridge_Township/17c62148-6276-4d3b-a655-e2e2d895ae4c/Application.pdf?disposition=inline
Walk-In and Same-Day Zoning Permit Information (PDF modified Jun 29, 2022): https://files-backend.assets.thrillshare.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/1690/Old_Bridge_Township/80afae60-eecd-436c-87ac-0472782f8d08/Same-day_Permit_Checklist___Certification__Per.pdf?disposition=inline