Legal Question in Real Estate Law in New Jersey

Re: preliminary site plan approval

A preliminary plan is just a piece of paper. Any approvals come in the Resolution of the board dealing with the paper. So, you need to read the Resolution.

That said, my experience is that preliminary plan approval normally constitutes permission to proceed with the improvements and changes that the plan shows unless there are reservations on the drawings or in the Resolution. Frequently, the final plan is simply an "as built" version of what was on the preliminary with, of course, another opportunity for everyone concerned to review, sign, and charge another fee.

If you have a specific problem, check with the building inspector before you commit funds to the work. He or she might not be the final word, but it's certain that if the building inspector is unhappy, you will be too.

See also: http://info.corbettlaw.net/lawguru.htm