Clifton Planning & Zoning

"I chose Clifton to move closer to my business. What a huge mistake. After I closed on the house I went to the building department and showed them a list of all what I need to upgrade or repair and asked for help applying for any and all permits so I can avoid any future legal issues. So I applied for 4 permits, one for the new boiler and building permit, plumbing permit and electrical permit for the kitchen. The plumber that came with me was given the permit for the boiler immediately, I was told that it will take a long time till the other permits are issued and I should wait for them to call me when they are ready. The Kitchen was in very old and poor shape. The plaster walls where falling down, the very old metal cabinets were falling apart. So while the plumber was replacing the boiler, I started taking down the old kitchen cabinets and gutted the kitchen walls. Nothing new was installed in the kitchen. A week past and the boiler installation was complete. I called the plumbing inspector to come in to check the boiler installation. As soon as he came in and saw the kitchen gutted he called the building inspector and between the two they red tagged the building and kicked me out saying that I shouldn't have started till the permits were issued and I was fined $4000. I went to their office, I explained that I filled for the permits and no new work was done and if I wanted to do anything illegal I wouldn't have called for an inspection knowing that the only entrance to the basement were the boiler is located is through the kitchen. Any how, the fine was taken off, but every inspection after than failed. They made sure that it took 5 months to finish instead of 2 month. It was 5 months of stress and heartache. They have way too much power and they use it. Stay away from Clifton it's not worth the trouble."

"Good people thanks"

"Workers are very helpful."

"Brian Rodgers has been very helpful and made himself available whenever I had questions. His willingness to take the time to understand our project ended up saving us time and money."

"I’m a home owner in 4 cities is NJ but Clifton NJ is the worst Daniel Howell zoning office issued me a $1,200 ticket for being 1 month late on registrating my tenants but it’s ok for his to take 6 months to issue me a dwelling certificate ( still waiting for it) Now trying to talk to city manager"