New Jersey State Parking Garage Law Affects Parking Structure Owners
Find Out How This Law Affects You
As of September 19, 2024, B S3636 of the State of New Jersey 221st Legislature mandates assessment and reporting requirements that every parking garage owner in New Jersey needs to follow to stay compliant.
Below, we will talk about details regarding the New Jersey Law:
- Responsibilities of Parking Structure Owners
- Next Steps
Responsibilities of Parking Structure Owners
Parking structure owners need to pay attention to the details below to determine when they need to take action on their parking structure.
1.
A. The owner of a parking structure shall engage a professional engineer to inspect the structural integrity of the parking structure at least once within five years of the effective date of this section, and thereafter, at least once every five years following the most recent inspection conducted pursuant to this section. The inspections conducted pursuant to this section shall be designed to ensure that the parking structure meets the structural integrity specifications required for the loads and uses for which the parking structure was designed and is to be used. The professional engineer shall prepare and deliver a report on the structural integrity of the parking structure to the owner within 30 business days of conducting an inspection.
B. The owner of a parking structure shall submit to the Department of Community Affairs a copy of a report on the structural integrity of a parking structure within 14 days of receipt of a report from a professional engineer pursuant to subsection a. of this section.
C. The department shall identify the parking structures in this State that are subject to the provisions of this section, and shall notify the owner of a parking structure who has not submitted a report on the structural integrity of a parking structure of the requirements of this section. The department shall allow an owner an additional 30 days, following the date the department notifies an owner of the requirements of this section, within which the owner may submit a report to the department. The department shall notify the owner of the parking structure of the department’s power to close a parking structure that has not been inspected as required pursuant to this section.
D. The department may close a parking structure, or portions thereof, if either the parking structure fails inspection, or the owner fails to submit a report to the department within the time limitations afforded pursuant to this section. The department shall allow an owner to reopen a parking structure that has been closed pursuant to this section, following the department’s receipt of a professional engineer’s report indicating that the parking structure passed the engineer’s structural integrity inspection of the parking structure.
E. As used in this section, “Professional engineer” means a person who is legally authorized to practice professional engineering in this State, as provided by P.L.1938, c.342 (C.45:8-27 et seq.), which person has attained five or more years of experience conducting structural evaluations, inspections, or both.
2.
On or before the first day of the fourth month next following enactment, the Commissioner of Community Affairs shall adopt rules and regulations, pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), to effectuate the provisions of this act.
3.
This act shall take effect on the first day of the fourth month next following enactment, except that the Commissioner of Community Affairs may take such anticipatory action as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this act.
Next Steps
Whether required by law or not, preventative assessment and maintenance of parking structures is always a good idea.
As leaders in parking structure management and safety compliance, StructureCare is here to guide you through the complexities of the assessment and reporting requirements for parking structures in New York State.
We offer comprehensive assessment and reporting services to ensure your parking facilities meet all legal requirements and maintain the highest safety standards.
Nick Heim, PE
Innovation Engineer, Ohio
Are you curious how your city fits in with the New Jersey State Laws? Our team would be happy to help with any additional details on the topic.