Department of Community Services

DEPARTMENT HOURS
General business	Monday-Friday 7:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Financial transactions	Monday-Friday 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM

MAILING ADDRESS	PHONE NUMBERS
512 Springfield Avenue	Phone: (See below)
Summit, NJ 07901	Fax: 908-608-1214

CONTACT INFORMATION
Department Director	Beth Kinney
Code Administration	Gary Lewis
Engineering	Andrew Hipolit , P.E.
Public Works	Paul Cascais

CODE ADMINISTRATION
This division is led by Gary Lewis, who also serves as the city's construction official and building subcode official. Gary is a recognized expert on construction and fire safety codes, and has served on a number of national code development committees. The state's Uniform Construction Code and the city's planning, zoning, and property maintenance codes and ordinances are administered by full-time and part-time officials who are licensed or certified by the State of New Jersey. The division is also responsible for the city's Safe Homes program, helping to assure that all residences are free from code violations that endanger lives.

Uniform Construction Code Permits
Uniform Construction Code Permits

The City follows the state-mandated Uniform Construction Code for all building construction, renovation, alteration, demolition, and similar and related matters. All inspectors on our staff are licensed at the highest level in their disciplines, and continually take educational seminars to stay up-to-date with technology and state regulations.

UCC Staff
UCC Staff

Construction Official/Building   Subcode Official	Gary Lewis	908-273-6408
Building Inspector	Ralph Maritato	same
Building Inspector	Anthony Doyle	same
Electrical Subcode Official and   Inspector	Robert Gingerelli	same
Plumbing Subcode Official and   Inspector	William Olinger	same
Fire Subcode Official	Leon Portine	908-277-1033
Fire Subcode Inspector	Gary Lewis	908-277-6408

UCC Permit Required
UCC Permit Required

New buildings and additions Most renovation and alteration work, such as kitchens, bathrooms, offices, signs, roofing, siding, porches, decks, fences and other similar types of work, both interior and exterior. Electrical work, such as new or updated wiring, additional outlets and switches, and replacement electrical control panels and boxes. Central air conditioners and duct work; furnaces; boilers; water heaters. Swimming pools, both aboveground and in-ground. If you are unsure, contact Community Services at 273-6404

UCC Permit Not Required
UCC Permit Not Required

State regulations also exempt certain types or levels of work from any permit requirement. Referred to as ordinary maintenance, this work typically involves in-kind replacement of certain types of plumbing or electrical fixtures, limited amounts of interior or exterior work that does not include changing framing or other supports. NOTE: Ordinary maintenance does not include cutting away all or part of any wall or partition; removal of any structural beam or support; changes in exits or any modification that affects exiting; any work that increases non-conformity of any existing building; any addition to or alteration of any fire standpipe, water supply, sewer, drainage, gas, waste, vent or similar piping; electrical wiring, other than low voltage wiring for a communication system in a one or two-family dwelling; certain mechanical work that affects health or general safety.

UCC Permit Procedure
UCC Permit Procedure

Improvements such as new or additional building area, lot coverage such as patios and other impervious surfaces, changes of occupancy type, and other activities will require approval by the zoning officer before we can review the construction permits. Click here for a copy of the Zoning Review Form and here for the Schedule of Space Regulations here. Submit the completed form, along with your calculations for each item, and with an exact copy of your survey showing the proposed work (drawn to scale) for the zoning officer's review. A new grading and drainage permit is required for all work that disturbs 600 square feet or more of land, and for any addition over 600 square feet. Submit UCC application forms and two sets of plans and specifications to Community Services. (There are specific situations where three sets are required; most residential work does not require "specifications" provided the plans are sufficiently detailed.) UCC Application forms are multi-part and cannot be downloaded. They are available at the Community Services counter. After zoning review and approval, the building, plumbing, electrical and/or fire subcode officials will circulate the plans and application for a technical review. The number of officials involved depends on the nature of the work proposed. Following subcode reviews, the Construction Official releases the project with appropriate fees. Staff notifies the applicant and/or contractor to come in for the permit. The applicant receives a list of required inspections and must notify staff to schedule inspections. Click here for the list of required inspections. A certificate is issued after the project is completed and all inspections satisfactorily concluded.

Planning and Zoning Development Applications Planning and Zoning Development Applications

Property and land development often requires a prior approval by either the Planning Board or the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Site plans, subdivisions, and variances from zoning regulations will all generate an appearance before one or the other of these two boards. Due to the complex nature of development projects, we are unable to post all of the factors that enter the decision-making process. Please contact the office at 908-273-6407 to speak to an assistant who will be happy to send you the required forms and provide other help.

Zoning Certificates of Occupancy (ZCO) Zoning Certificates of Occupancy (ZCO)

These certificates are required by the Development Regulations (Zoning) Ordinance for the sale or rental, or for change of occupant or occupancy type for all buildings or for individual units within buildings, such as residences, condos, apartments, or other types of dwelling units, and for all other buildings, including stores, offices, industrial, and/or commercial or other business buildings and units. Certificates must be obtained before the new owner or tenant occupies the property. Christa Anderson, our zoning officer, is a certified zoning official and serves on a related education committee at Rutgers, The State University. Click here for the ZCO application.

ZCO Fee Schedule ZCO Fee Schedule

The fee for a Zoning Certificate of Occupancy varies by the type of occupancy and the number of units to be inspected. Click here for the ZCO fee schedule which appears at the end of the department fee schedule.

ZCO Procedure ZCO Procedure

Click here for a residential guide sheet for a Zoning Certificate of Occupancy. The checklist is for one and two family homes. Correct as many items as possible. Apply for certificate at Community Services by bringing a completed application with appropriate fee in to the department before 3 PM. You must include the name of the new owner or tenant. Click here for the ZCO application. For residential properties, make sure you have smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors as required by state law. Click here for information on smoke detectors and here for carbon monoxide detectors. Schedule an inspection appointment - normally done within ten days of request. On the day of the inspection, accompany the inspector through the premises. For many inspections, a report will be presented before the inspector leaves; in others, the report will be prepared and mailed. If there are any violations, a sufficient time period will be given for correction. If there are no violations, the certificate will normally be issued within a few days of the inspection. Temporary Certificates will be issued for "as is" purchases and other similar situations.

ENGINEERING

The Division of Engineering manages city infrastructure projects, including road improvements, curb and sidewalk projects, and city sanitary and storm sewer systems work. The city's engineers provide support to the planning board and zoning board of adjustment by reviewing all land development applications. The engineers also render technical assistance to all other city departments, and give general guidance to property owners, including assistance with the new grading and drainage permit. The engineers keep and update the City's official tax maps; prepare and maintain sanitary and storm sewer maps; and other related files.

City Engineer	Andrew R. Hipolit, P.E.	908-273-6404
Assistant City Engineer	Aaron Schrager, P.E.	Same
Assistant Engineer	Lori Toth, P.E.	Same
Engineering Assistant	Rick Matias	Same

Permits Permits

An engineering permit is required before installation or replacement of any curbing or sidewalks within the public right-of-way. This area is generally referred to as the space between your property line and the property line across the street. The right-of-way includes sidewalks and curbs, which are the property owner's responsibility, and the road itself. The engineering permit is also used for opening streets for utility line installations; for connections from property and buildings to these main utility lines; and for the grading and drainage approval required by the city zoning ordinance. Click here for the engineering permit. A map of the City of Summit is available from the Community Services Counter. Call 273-6404 or email a request using our Contact Us section.

PUBLIC WORKS

The public works division's various units, each led by a supervisor, maintain city streets; shade trees; storm sewers and sanitary sewers; traffic signals; street name signs; traffic regulatory signs; public parks and traffic islands; public buildings and grounds; support vehicles and equipment. Recreation parks and playgrounds are maintained by the Recreation Department. The Superintendent of Public Works is the City's representative to the Union County Solid Waste Advisory Council.

Superintendent of Public Works	Paul Cascais         908-273-6404
Garage Unit	Raymond Cooper
Municipal Disposal Unit	George DeAlvarez
Parks and Trees Unit	Richard Caputo
Maintenance and Sewer Unit	James Caputo
Roads Unit	J. Douglas Rillo

Municipal Disposal Area Municipal Disposal Area

The division also manages the Municipal Disposal Area, where solid wastes and recyclables are collected and marketed, and where leaves are composted. The Area includes a solid waste transfer station, where residents may bring household wastes (garbage and trash) and bulky wastes (large items such as furniture); a leaf composting area; and a recycling center. Click here for a complete list of disposal area regulations. Click here for the disposal area flyer which includes a map and directions. The Municipal Disposal Area is restricted to trash and other solid wastes from Summit only. Use of the area is free to all residents of the City; all other users must pay a per ton fee to dispose of trash, leaves and branches, and other materials. Commerical vehicles must register at the Community Services counter in City Hall where coupons for the Disposal Area are available for purchase. A disposal permit is required for each residential vehicle that uses this facility. To obtain a permit, click here.

Garbage, Trash and Recycling Collection Garbage, Trash and Recycling Collection

Residential garbage is collected once per week. Garbage is taken from the rear of the property, where it is to be kept in weather-tight containers. A total of four, twenty gallon containers will be collected each week. Garbage must be outside early on the collection day - the trucks will be in your neighborhood as early as 7:00 AM. During winter weather, be sure to clear a path to the containers. Call 908-273-6404 to find out which day your garbage will be collected. Click here for the garbage recycling flyer. Recycling is collected from curbside on a bi-weekly schedule. Glass and plastic bottles, aluminum and bi-metal cans, newspaper, office paper and cardboard are all collected by Great Northern Recycling, Inc., a private contractor working for the City. A copy of the recycling schedule and guidelines is available from the right column of this page.

Dial-A-Truck Dial-A-Truck

The Dial-A-Truck program is a service designed to assist residents of Summit with the disposal of large bulky items ONLY; there is no cost to the resident. Dial-A-Truck is not a general clean-up service or a collection of bags or boxes of trash and debris. Items not picked up by Dial-A-Truck may be disposed of at the Transfer Station from Tuesday thru Friday (7:30 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.) and Saturday (7:30 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.). Leaving unauthorized items at the curb is a violation of the City of Summit Property Maintenance Code and will result in a summons and fine. Click here for more details about this program.

Tree Removal Permits Tree Removal Permits

City ordinance requires a permit before certain private trees are removed. There is no fee for this tree permit, which may be submitted by mail. Click here for a copy of the tree removal permit. Generally, the tree removal permit is required for any tree removal in anticipation of, or as a part of a construction project. It also applies to certain Landmark Trees, click here for a list of Landmark Trees. The City Forester is available by appointment on Wednesdays for discussion and consultation on tree-related matters. Call 908-273-6404 for assistance.

Snow and Ice Control
Snow and Ice Control

The Division is responsible for snow and ice control on 66 miles of City streets; this does not include County roads, which are totally maintained by Union County workers. Click here for snow removal guidelines. Click here for a list of Union County roads located in Summit. Road salt and grit are applied to most streets as soon as snow or icing conditions are reported. When snow reaches two to three inches in depth, the trucks begin plowing. This round-the-clock service continues until all roads are plowed from curb-to-curb, and snow has stopped falling. Please do not plow or throw snow out into the street - this is dangerous for traffic and delays full cleanup operations. If you must plow snow out of your driveway, push it across the road and beyond the curbline or gutterline across the street. Do not plow snow onto your neighbor's sidewalk or driveway. You can help your neighbors, friends, and your own family by clearing snow from fire hydrants and from crosswalks. In severe storms, the Division will remove snow from the downtown area, enabling stores, businesses and shoppers to maintain as normal a routine as possible.

Leaf Collection
Leaf Collection

The City collects leaves at curbside twice a year from residential properties, provided they are in paper, biodegradable bags. The leaf collection program occurs in the Spring and in the Fall. We do not permit property owners to rake or blow leaves into piles in the street. Click here for the leaf collection information including the dates of this year's collections and all of the collection guidelines. In addition to the bagged leaf collection, the Roads Unit will vacuum leaves from the gutter during the Fall season. This leaf vacuum service is for leaves that fall in the roadway. We will not take away leaf piles that are blown or raked into the road from private properties.

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