What New Jersey’s Proposed Parking Structure Law Could Mean for You
Here’s what you need to know about the proposed New Jersey Bill S-3636 and how it could impact parking structure owners.
The State of New Jersey is considering Bill S-3636, which would introduce new inspection and reporting requirements for parking structure owners. If enacted, the law would establish a formal process for ensuring the structural integrity and safety of parking facilities across the state. Below, we'll break down what’s included in the proposed law and what it could mean for all New Jersey parking structure owners.
What Is Bill S-3636?
Bill S-3636 (221st Legislature) is proposed legislation that would require routine structural inspections of all parking structures in New Jersey.
The goal: to ensure that parking structures remain safe for public use and are properly maintained over time.
If passed, the bill would require owners to:
- Hire a licensed professional engineer to perform a structural inspection of their parking structure.
- Submit inspection reports to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) within specified timeframes.
- Address any deficiencies identified in the inspection report before reopening or continuing operations.
Key Requirements (If Passed)
If Bill S-3636 becomes law, here’s what parking structure owners would need to do:
1. Initial and Ongoing Inspections
- Have a licensed professional engineer inspect each parking structure within five years of the law’s effective date.
- Repeat inspections every five years thereafter.
2. Inspection Reporting
- The engineer must provide a written structural integrity report to the owner within 30 business days of completing the inspection.
- The owner must then submit that report to the DCA within 14 days of receiving it.
3. Compliance and Enforcement
- The DCA may notify owners who have not submitted reports and allow an additional 30 days to comply.
- The DCA would have the authority to close a parking structure that fails inspection or remains uninspected past the required deadline.
- A structure could only reopen once a new inspection confirms it meets all safety requirements.
Who Qualifies as a “Professional Engineer”?
Under the proposed law, inspections must be conducted by a New Jersey licensed professional engineer with at least five years of experience in structural evaluations or inspections.
What Happens Next?
As of now, Bill S-3636 has not yet been enacted into law. If it passes, the Commissioner of Community Affairs would adopt the detailed regulations needed to put the law into effect. In the meantime, it’s wise for all New Jersey parking structure owners to prepare by understanding the likely requirements and evaluate the condition of your structure. Our post on common types of parking garage deterioration helps explain the early warning signs to look for.
How StructureCare Can Help
Whether or not this law passes, routine assessment and maintenance are essential to ensure parking structure safety and longevity.
At StructureCare, we help owners navigate changing regulations and stay proactive with:
- Comprehensive condition assessments
- Structural repair and predictive maintenance planning
- Documentation and reporting guidance
Our expert engineers are ready to help you understand what this proposed legislation could mean for your property and how to prepare.
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.