Online Permitting & Licensing

Contact Info

phone(201) 547-5070
One Jackson Square
Jersey City, NJ 07305

Office Hours: 8:30am-4:30pm
Directions
[email protected]

OUR NEW ONLINE PERMITTING AND LICENSING SYSTEM LAUNCHED IN JUNE 2023!

To set up an account, please visit:

jcnj.org/permitportal

Additional instructions on how to create an account can be found below under Frequently Asked Questions.

The Department of Housing, Economic Development and Commerce has made an exciting change that affects how you apply for permits, upload or see documents and make payments – whether you are renovating your home, building a high rise, registering your rental property or applying for a cannabis license. As a homeowner, contractor, developer, taxi driver – anyone who needs a permit or license to do your work through HEDC, your experience is now simpler, with your application and all support materials – even making payments – in one place.

If you have an existing application that needs to be linked to your new customer portal account, please email [email protected] for assistance.

WHAT THE SOFTWARE WILL ACCEPT AND PROCESS

Zoning Determination Letters and plan review applications- including 3rd Unit conversions and signage
City Planning Board applications
Historic Preservation applications
Construction Code applications and inspection requests
Housing Preservation registrations, applications and licenses- including lead paint, landlord registrations, tenant petitions and short-term rentals
Commerce business license applications
JCMUA permit applications
Zoning, Construction Code, and Quality of Life violations

All the applications above, which you would formerly find in different locations, are now housed in one place.

CREATING AN ACCOUNT

Create an account on the customer portal to submit, pay and track your application. Instructions on how to create an account are below.
Existing applications have been migrated to the new system- you will need to create a new account to access them. Once you have done this, please contact [email protected] or our individual offices to link your existing application to your account.

SUPPORT

Staff is available to assist you. Email [email protected] or contact any of our Divisions.

We hope you are excited as we are about this huge step towards modernizing our services. We strive to be New Jersey’s leader in delivering the best possible service to the public. If you have any questions or concerns about the new software, feel free to reach out to us. And if you like it, we’d love to hear from you too!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

To set up an online CSS account, please visit jcnj.org/permitportal

Go to the top right and click "Login or Register"

Note: You will not be able to use the same email address for multiple accounts. Each email is account specific.

You will then receive a confirmation email at the address you provided that will direct you back to the setup screen to continue the process.

Next you will have to decide on a username and password. The username can be your email address.

Next you will enter your contact information. Notice that you cannot change the email address. Remember if you are creating a Company Account, enter the name of the Company in the First Name, Last Name, and Company fields. If you are creating a Name account, you do not need to enter a company. When you have completed all the required fields, click Next.

Next you will enter your Contact Address. This may be different than the address of your project.

Lastly you will need to sign and hit submit.

We recommend you use a computer to submit a construction permit application rather than a handheld device.

Once you are registered and logged into your account, click on the following:

Apply --> search box --> type "construction" --> enter --> choose the correct application

portal FAQ 2

Go through the application process, answering all the required questions. Then click "submit".
*YOU ARE NOT DONE YET, BUT ALMOST THERE!*
Go back to your application --> "sub-records" tab --> apply for the appropriate tech card such as - building, plumbing, electrical, fire or elevator.

portal FAQ 3

Please note: all PLANS, Plumbing and Electrical technical forms (tech cards) must be submitted IN PERSON to the Division of the Construction Code Official's Office at One Jackson Square, in additional to submitting them on the portal.

Once you are logged into your account, click the following:

Apply --> search for "certificate" --> Apply

portal FAQ 4

Once you are logged into your account, click the following:

Dashboard --> View My Permits

portal FAQ 5

Locate the permit associated with the inspection type. For example, if you are requesting a footing inspection, it would fall under Building tech card which might look like "BLD123456" or "B-24-1234"

portal FAQ 6

Make sure your permit status is "Issued" --> Click on that permit and the permit page will open. From the permit page --> click "Inspections" --> select your inspection category --> select your desired date

portal FAQ 7

Once you are logged into your account, click the following:

Go to your main permit application. It usually has a number like "CNST-24-1234". Click on the number to open the permit page.

portal FAQ 9

From the permit page click the following:
"Sub-records" --> "Apply" for the appropriate technical forms (tech cards).

portal FAQ 10

Once you are logged into your account, click the following:

Apply --> Search "1 to 4 Unit" or "5 plus unit" depending on your building --> Apply

portal FAQ 11

If you are an Owner you do not *need* a portal account however we encourage you to register for one and ask your hired professional(s), as the applicant(s), to add you as a contact to every application. This allows you have full visibility into the status of every submission.

Jersey City