11. State buildings and buildings of interstate agencies; outdoor advertising signs on public property. a. Notwithstanding any other provision of P.L.1975, c.217 (C. 52:27D-119 et seq.), the Department of Community Affairs shall have authority to administer and enforce the code in regard to buildings and structures owned by the State, and any of its departments, divisions, bureaus, boards, councils, authorities or other agencies; provided, however, that the Division of Building and Construction in the Department of the Treasury shall have authority to conduct field inspections for the purpose of enforcing the code in buildings built under its supervision. The Division of Building and Construction shall be authorized to review plans and undertake construction if the Department of Community Affairs cannot approve plans within the 20-day period provided for in P.L.1975, c.217. In an emergency or cost savings situation, the commissioner may delegate, by rule, the authority to conduct field inspections for the purpose of enforcing the code. The Division of Building and Construction and any public or private agency which receives such a delegation shall carry out any review or inspection responsibilities with persons certified by the Commissioner of Community Affairs pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1975, c.217. The Department of Community Affairs shall have ultimate responsibility for insuring that all buildings conform to the requirements of the code.

b. Construction, alteration, renovation, rehabilitation, repair, removal or demolition of any building or structure situated wholly within New Jersey by or for an agency created by an interstate compact to which the State of New Jersey is a party shall be subject to the provisions of the code; provided that such interstate agency shall have exclusive authority to administer and enforce the code in regard to such buildings and structures.

c. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, rule or regulation to the contrary, except for signs which advertise or otherwise identify activities performed on the property on which the sign is located, the Department of Community Affairs shall be the sole enforcing agency with regard to outdoor advertising signs which exceed 32 square feet in area on any face and which are located on land owned or controlled by any public entity, including but not limited to any State, county or local department, agency, board, commission, authority or instrumentality.

L.1975,c.217,s.11; amended 1983, c.496, s.3; 1991, c.87; 2004, c.42, s.10.