DeGeorge Development, LLC.

10/15/2026

Short answer: yes. Every time. New Jersey's Uniform Construction Code requires a construction permit for new construction and for work on existing buildings, and enlarging a house is squarely on that list.

A family room off the back, a second story, a bigger kitchen pushed out into the yard. All of it needs a permit before anybody digs.

People really want to know the rest. Who applies? What has to happen first? How long does the town get, and what are all those inspections about? This post covers it step by step, the way it usually plays out here in Ocean and Monmouth County.

Do you need a permit for a home addition in New Jersey? Zoning, flood zones, plan review time, required inspections and the Certificate of Occupancy

09/15/2026

Choosing between renovation and rebuilding is never simple, as NJ homeowners must consider structure, layout, finishes, household preferences, and budget. Sometimes a home doesn’t meet your household needs, and you plan to upgrade finishes and consider a renovation. Other times, the structure, framing, and layout aren't up to the mark, and the only right choice is to rebuild. When you're unsure whether to renovate or rebuild, it’s always a good idea to involve a professional team and bring in an expert. A professional review clarifies things and helps you choose what will benefit you in the long run.

​Renovate Vs Rebuild: How to Make the Right Choice?

NJ homeowners take into consideration the following 5 steps before deciding between renovation and rebuilding.

Check the Home Condition First

Let Us Help You Decide to Renovate or Rebuild

Deciding whether the home needs to be rebuilt or renovated depends on home condition.

Learn how NJ homeowners decide between renovation and rebuilding, based on home condition, goals, and local regulations.

08/11/2026

Kitchen island size guidelines are important dimensions and measurements to know when considering designing an island in a new kitchen. Having a kitchen island is probably one of the most desired features in a kitchen, and while they can be extremely practical and look fantastic, there are a few size guidelines to be aware of.

How Much Space Is Needed Between
an Island and a Counter?

At least one to 1.2 meters of space between the island and a counter, or the island and a wall, or any walkway in the kitchen, should be planned. This distance means being able to walk around the island freely, with enough space for two people to stand back to back or walk past each other, if somebody is working at the hob or doing the dishes at the sink.

How Big of A Kitchen Island Do You Need?

It also means doors and drawers can open without clashing or taking up too much space.

Learn kitchen island size guidelines, including seating overhang, clearance space, and per-person seating dimensions.

07/23/2026

An empty lot looks like simple flat ground, a for-sale sign, and a vision for the building that could go there. But buying land for commercial construction is where a lot of promising projects quietly go sideways, because what you can't see matters far more than what you can: zoning, soil, wetlands, utilities. Any one of them can stop a cold.

So here are the real steps to buying a vacant lot for commercial construction, in the exact order a seasoned developer actually takes them. Do them right, and you avoid the expensive surprises that surface after closing.

Start With Zoning and Title

Before you fall in love with a parcel, confirm you can legally build what you're picturing. This is the most important preliminary move, and for more deals than any other, NOT making this move has caused them to die in infancy.

Commercial Construction in NJ

A zoning ordinance determines how a lot is zoned by means of a host of alternative uses that the lot may or may not be put to.

Vacant lot purchase steps: verify zoning and title, run environmental assessments, test soil, confirm utilities and access.

07/07/2026

When you go to sign your contract to build a house, you will be choosing your location. Most first-time builders never run a check before they buy a lot. They find the one they like, write the offer, and figure out the maths after.

The lot ratio rule

The rule is very simple. In a standard market, the price of your lot should be 10 to 15% of what you're going to sell the finished house for, anything more, and the deal is compressed before you even start. Most home builders never run this. They find a lot, fall in love, and write the offer to whatever the seller is asking.

How to measure the size of a lot

Measure the rectangle and square lights and multiply the width boundary by the lumen. To find the area of a triangle, simply multiply the height of the triangle by its base, then divide the result by two. Add up the area of each shape in order to find the total size of the property. Use these numbers to find the area of the light.

Choosing a lot size for your new home: lot ratio rule, premium lots, walkout lots, zero lot lines, plot plans, and floor plans.

06/23/2026

Here's the truth about most houses. They were built for somebody else. You tour them, you flinch at the weird layout, you talk yourself into it anyway. There's another way, though. A home shaped entirely around your life, your lot, your taste. Every last detail, yours.

That's the whole promise of a custom home builder. Forget cramming your family into a floor plan some stranger sketched years ago. You start with nothing, a blank page, and build the place you've been seeing in your head all along.

Why Custom Beats Settling

Buying existing means inheriting decisions. Other people's decisions, which is the whole reason a custom home builder exists, the cramped kitchen, the awkward flow, the listing that's perfect except for three glaring things.

A House Built for You, Not a Stranger

Custom Home Builder in Ocean County, NJ

Custom flips the whole thing on its head. Every room. Every finish. Every window, picked by you, for how you actually live. Nothing wasted, nothing forced on you.

06/09/2026

More and more people are being stolen from by unscrupulous or perhaps just unschooled contractors, and people hate it.

When it comes to choosing any contractor, there can be a lot of concerns, and that is true for commercial construction in Brick, NJ as much as anywhere.

Here are the things that you've just got to know before you hire a contractor for your Ocean County business.

The State of the Trades

For a generation or two, the emphasis was placed on college degrees, and the result is a trade gap and a shortage of blue-collar workers.

Choosing the right contractor for commercial construction in Brick, NJ: the top concerns include cost, quality of work and trust.

05/29/2026

Building a custom home at the Jersey Shore on a sandy beach and with natural beauty is no less than a big dream. If you are lucky enough to make your dream come true, you must consider a few important things before you make a purchase.

The New Jersey coast has the best location to build your dream house, but you must plan it properly. When you design your new Jersey Shore custom home, you must take into account these important factors, which we are going to discuss in this blog post.

Visit Open Houses

The most important step to buying a property on the Jersey shore is going to open houses. A beach house might intrigue you, but you must go and see them in reality if you really want this. Ask your agent to show you the options to get a sense of what your home is going to be like.

Let Us Build Your Home On The Jersey Shore

This way, you will find the property for your needs right in front of you. The best time to visit is during the summer.

In this blog post, we have discussed important things you must consider when buying a property to build a home on the Jersey shore.

05/13/2026

Commercial construction includes numerous stages to ensure construction happens easily. This blog post can help you understand what it takes to structure a design from an idea to reality. Learn about construction conditions and what questions to ask as you choose a secure, commercial construction company.

7 Steps When Getting Ready To Build A Commercial Building

Step 1: The Development and Planning Phase

In this phase of commercial construction, you set a design’s direction. It’s essential to spend time so that the rest of the process has a strong foundation. Part of the development and planning phase is choosing a location, budget, and general contractor you trust.

Building A Commercial Building In NJ

Finding a Location

In real estate, location plays a major part in the cost of the design. Land and posterior construction costs vary in price depending on position. Areas of high demand have advanced land prices for construction.

This blog post discusses the steps involved in structuring a commercial building from an idea to reality. Also, learn about construction conditions.

04/27/2026

A commercial construction permit is an official approval issued by a local municipality that authorizes the construction, renovation, or modification of a commercial building. The permit ensures that the project complies with local building codes, zoning laws, and safety regulations.

The 8 main steps included in the commercial construction permitting process are project code determination, zoning approval, application submission, application review, comment review, permit issuance, inspection during construction, and final inspection. The main requirements for commercial construction building permits are completed application forms (e.g., UCC-F100), Project plans (architectural, engineering), Site plan or survey, and zoning approvals (if applicable)

Contractor registration details and Fee payments. Starting construction without getting an official commercial construction permit leads to fines, penalties, a stop-work order, and restrictions on property use.

NJ commercial construction permits require UCC-F100 forms, zoning approval, site plans, and contractor licenses. Review takes 20 days.