On Thursday, August 22, Senate President Nick Scutari, in his capacity as Acting Governor, signed A-4360/S3402, known as the “New Jersey Design Professional Self-Certification Act.” The Act requires the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to establish a design professional self-certification program.
Under the design professional self-certification program, the DCA will certify architects and engineers who satisfy certain criteria set by the DCA Commissioner to be "qualified design professionals." Once approved by DCA, these professionals may self-certify that an application for a construction permit and a project's plans and specifications comply with the State Uniform Construction Code (UCC) and other applicable laws.
In addition, the bill requires municipal enforcing agencies to accept and review self-certified permit applications and accompanying documents and issue a permit depending on the scope of the project. DCA must establish a self-certification form and publish the form on its website for qualified design professionals to complete, sign, and deliver to the enforcing agency.
The bill also authorizes DCA to conduct random audits of qualified design professionals to determine whether a construction permit application, as well as plans and other documents submitted in support of the application, comply with the requirements of the UCC and applicable laws.
The new law takes effect December 1, 2024.
Contact: Frank Marshall, Esq., Associate General Counsel, fmarshall@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x137.