Code Status: New Jersey

This page contains information about current energy codes in the state of New Jersey. Information for all 50 States is also available. New Jersey Code News.

Current State Codes
Code Adoption & Change Process
Energy Consumption Estimates
Construction Activity
Web Links
State Energy Code Contacts

Current State Codes

Residential Code: 2006 IECC with state amendments, mandatory statewide; if REScheck is used to show compliance, the 2003 IECC code option should be used rather than the 2006 IECC option, and compliance should exceed the 2003 IECC by two percent or more.
Commercial Code: ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-2004, mandatory statewide; can use COMcheck to show compliance.
Code Change Cycle: Three-year code cycle concurrent with the publication of new editions of the model codes. Most recent code update adopted: February 20, 2007.

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Code Adoption & Change Process

Process Type: Legislative & Regulatory

Code Change Process: The New Jersey Uniform Construction Code Act stipulates that model codes and standards publications not be adopted more frequently than once every three years. The Commissioner of Community Affairs may make an amendment if it is found that an imminent peril exists to the public's health, safety, or welfare, or that the current code is contrary to the intent of the legislation mandating the code. The Department of Community Affairs (DCA) itself does not have the legislative authority to amend the code to include new material from codes not yet adopted.

At present, codes are frozen, by law at the July 1, 1995 level, unless the DCA deems certain provisions of the new codes promulgated since then as essential to carrying out the intent of the law. This means that any efforts to upgrade or amend the codes must proceed through the codes office at the DCA, a codes advisory board, the DCA itself, and finally through the state legislature.

State Code History: The state of New Jersey passed the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code Act on October 7, 1975. The Act became effective on February 3, 1976. All construction codes and their enforcement were controlled by the provisions stated in the act. Uniform Construction Code Regulations (NJAC 5:23-1 et seq.) went into effect on January 1, 1977. The New Jersey Uniform Construction Code is divided into subcodes (model codes and standards) that are adopted individually by the Commissioner of Community Affairs. The energy subcode contains the energy provisions.

On February 20, 2007, New Jersey adopted the 2006 IECC with amendments. As the new commercial code, ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-2004 was adopted with minor amendments. For both residential and commercial code compliance, either the previous code or the new code can be used during a six month interim period.

Enforcement: The Office of Local Code Enforcement provides mandated State Uniform Construction Code coverage to municipalities (listed here) that have requested that DCA handle their administrative and enforcement authority of the code. It also serves as the construction code enforcement agency for municipalities that have requested this service and processes construction applications, reviews plans, performs inspections, issues certificates and orders, and performs other construction code enforcement duties for construction projects occurring within these municipalities.

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Energy Consumption Estimates

The consumption estimates below are derived from the total end use of residential and commercial energy consumption in the United States in 2006, and are not limited to energy consumption based on building code-related factors. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Residential Sector: 570.3 Trillion BTU
Commercial Sector: 600.6 Trillion BTU
Total Energy Consumption: 1,170.9 Trillion BTU

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Construction Activity

Residential:

Population (2000 US Census)¹: 8,414,350
Total Housing Units²: 3,372,571
2004 New Housing Units Authorized by Permit (Privately Owned)³:
- total units: 35,638
- 1 unit: 22,155
- 2 units: 3,250
- 3 and 4 units: 1,562
- 5+ units: 8,671
- structures of 5+ units: 496

References:

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Green Building Initiatives

43 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certified Buildings
ENERGY STAR Qualified New Homes Market Index of 48%
75 ENERGY STAR Labeled Buildings and Plants

Code Funding Opportunities

There are two funding opportunities under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA): Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants and State Energy Program. Please reference the U.S. Department of Energy for New Jersey's allocated amount and updated information.