New Jersey Structural Inspections

1. All structural reports shall be provided to the covered building’s owner and shall be made available to any resident of a covered building upon request.
2. It must follow law when damage is found to primary structural systems.
3. Shall undertake measures, including engaging engineer if necessary to implement covered maintenance and submit plans to the city.

If an issue is found, the property is required to have a report every 60 days until remedied.

The report must:

• Describe with specificity maintenance or repairs needed to the primary load-bearing system and any safety concerns.
• Provide any other information or guidance necessary to maintain the structural integrity of a covered building.

• Determine a reasonable period of time in which the next inspection shall take place.
  • The next inspection should take no longer than 5 years, if over 15 years old.
  • If the association is less than 15 years old and has substantial deterioration to the primary structural members, the next inspection must be in 60 days.
• The report  must be provided to the building official and owner.
  • The association must provide it to the owners and make it available to any resident upon request.
• Follow standard protocols.
• If there was a prior structural inspection, the engineer must:
  • Review prior reports and show differences in deterioration.
  • Address maintenance for progressive or new deterioration.

If your covered building is 15+ years old, the association must complete a structural inspection no later than January  8, 2026.

A NJ Structural Inspection must be renewed every 5 years.

If your covered building is less than 15  years old, the association must complete a structural inspection one year from when the association becomes 15  years old (based on the COO).

Any covered building that discovers damage to primary structural members must complete a structural inspection within 60 days, regardless of its age.

A property must complete a structural inspection if converting to a condominium or cooperative association.

Only an engineer licensed in NJ can perform structural inspections on covered buildings.

In New Jersey, a covered building is a “residential condominium or cooperative building that has a primary load-bearing system that consists of a concrete, masonry, steel, or hybrid structure including, without limitation, heavy timber and a building with podium decks, but not including an excluded structure.”

Covered buildings are condos and co-ops where masonry, steel and concrete are the primary structural members. If you do not know the framing of your building, you can check your insurance valuation appraisal. It should have a rating of ISO 1 - ISO 6. If your buildings are rated anything other than ISO 1 then it is a covered building. If your association is wood-framed but on the podium deck, it is a covered building.

In New Jersey, Townhomes, HOA’s, apartments, commercial buildings, hotels and single family homes are excluded from structural inspections.

A Covered Building, as it relates to NJ structural safety, is a condominium or cooperative association made of steel, concrete or masonry. Framed buildings on podium decks (regardless of height) are also considered a covered building.

Mandated only for “covered buildings” in NJ, a Structural Inspection is a visual review by a licensed NJ Engineer of primary load-bearing systems, including foundation and balconies.  The inspection includes addressing maintenance concerns for items that protect the structural integrity of the building.

A NJ Structural Inspection is not  a code inspection. A NJ Structural Inspection is not a  general maintenance inspection.

Stone Building Solutions would not consider surface imperfections such as cracks, distortion, sagging, deflections, misalignment, signs of leakage, or peeling of finishes unless we, as licensed engineers performing the inspection, determine that such surface imperfections are a sign of substantial structural deterioration.

A condo or a co-op which is defined as a covered building and is 15+ years old.