General Contractor & Construction Company in New Jersey
Office on the border of Brick, NJ & Toms River, NJ
DeGeorge Development is a licensed, insured and bonded general contractor and construction company in New Jersey, working out of Brick since 1982. That’s more than 40 years as an experienced home improvement contractor in NJ. We build custom homes, additions, renovations and commercial buildings for owners in Ocean County, Monmouth County and the rest of Central and Southern NJ.
The company is still family owned. John DeGeorge joined in 1992, and he’s the person who calls, texts and emails you while your project is underway. We file the permits, line up the licensed trades, work through the inspections and stay with the job until the final walkthrough.
Your first step costs nothing. Book a free consultation at 732-477-6363.
What Does a General Contractor in NJ Handle on Your Project?
A general contractor in NJ takes responsibility for the whole build under one contract: plans, permits, licensed trades, inspections and closeout with the township. You deal with one company, and that company answers for the result.
On a DeGeorge project, that work breaks into four stages.
- Approvals. Plans get finished and prior approvals, such as zoning, get sorted before the permit application goes in.
- Permits. We submit the application with the building, electrical, plumbing and HVAC sections signed by the trades doing the work.
- Construction. Framers, electricians, plumbers and HVAC crews are scheduled so nothing gets closed up before its inspection. New Jersey requires work to be inspected before it is covered or concealed.
- Closeout. The township issues a certificate of occupancy for a new home or addition, or a certificate of approval for an alteration. Then we walk the finished job with you.
What happens if you hire the trades yourself? All of that coordination becomes your job. So does figuring out whose schedule slipped when the electrical rough-in fails and the drywall crew is already standing in your driveway.
DeGeorge Development Services In Ocean & Monmouth Counties, NJ
Custom Home Builder in NJ for More Than 40 Years
Custom homes are what DeGeorge Development specializes in. Asked what the company does best, John DeGeorge gives a short answer: “Custom homes. When we can make someone’s dreams and visions become a reality.”
John has personally been building homes for over 30 years. Here is how a custom home build runs with us, stage by stage:
- Consultation: a free first meeting about your lot, the home you want and your timing
- Architectural phase: the floor plan is set here, before construction begins
- Permits: DeGeorge submits every application to the municipal construction department
- Construction: a standard average-size home takes 3 to 6 months
- Certificate of occupancy: under NJ code, nobody moves in until the township issues it
- Warranty: new homes from a registered NJ builder carry the state new home warranty (1 year, 2 years and 10 years, explained below)
Plans can still change once framing starts. Layout, materials, windows and doors can all be adjusted. Each change goes on a written change order with the scope and cost spelled out, and both of us sign it before any work on that change begins. Nobody gets a surprise line on the final invoice.
Some owners come to us with an older house on a lot they love and aren’t sure whether to fix it or knock it down. Our article on whether to renovate or rebuild homes in NJ covers that decision. When the answer is a new build, our new home construction in NJ page goes into the details.
Residential Contractor in NJ for Additions, Renovations and House Lifting
Beyond new homes, DeGeorge Development works as a residential contractor for additions, renovations, custom kitchens, custom bathrooms, roofing and house lifting. Each of these comes with its own permit and sign-off rules in New Jersey.
Home additions. An addition that increases the height or area of your house can’t be used until the township issues a certificate of occupancy. On an owner-occupied home, zoning approval also has to come through before plan review can move forward. Our home additions in NJ page explains how we plan around both.
Renovations. Altered space needs a certificate of approval from the construction official before anyone moves back in. That matters if you’re planning to live in part of the house while we work on the rest.
Kitchens and bathrooms. Custom work, built to code. Patricia P. in Brick had us build a new kitchen with custom cabinets, a range hood, a minibar and a brand new pantry. Our custom kitchen remodeling in NJ page shows what that kind of project involves.
Roofing. Roof work built solid and secure, meant to hold up for years.
House lifting. After Hurricane Sandy hit New Jersey in October 2012, many municipalities raised their base flood elevation (BFE) requirements in local codes and zoning. Our house lifting and raising in NJ service follows 10 steps:
- Site assessment
- Permitting
- Foundation preparation
- House elevation
- Support structure setup
- Precise leveling
- Reinforcements
- Utilities reconnection
- Backfilling
- Final inspection
Renovation work can follow once the house sits at its new height.
Commercial Construction Is Where DeGeorge Started
Plenty of home builders add commercial work later. DeGeorge went the other way, so we were a construction contractor for NJ businesses long before we built kitchens. The company began as a strictly commercial contractor and added residential construction afterward.
Our commercial work includes the Silverton First Aid Building in Toms River and the Old Bridge Bank and Whiting Building. We build these types of projects:
- Office buildings
- Retail spaces, plazas and shopping centers
- Restaurants and hotels
- Medical facilities
- Banks
- Churches and religious facilities
- Industrial buildings, including warehouses and manufacturing plants
- Custom commercial projects
Renovations count too. Brian Corsi brought us in for a restaurant renovation in Howell and left a review on our testimonials page afterward.
A bank and a single-family house run through the same New Jersey Uniform Construction Code: permit application, plan review, inspections, and a certificate at the end. Commercial jobs usually add more approvals and much bigger drawing sets. See our commercial construction in NJ page and the completed commercial projects gallery.
Design-Build Contractor: Design and Construction Under One Contract
DeGeorge Development works as a design-build contractor, so design, engineering, permitting and construction all run through one company. Our team includes architects, engineers, project managers and skilled craftsmen.
Here’s why that setup counts in New Jersey specifically. A construction permit application needs engineering plans bearing the seal and signature of a licensed engineer or registered architect. The electrical plans need a licensed electrical contractor’s signature, and the plumbing plans need a licensed plumber’s. When the people producing those drawings work on the same team as the people building from them, a question about a beam or a panel location goes to someone down the hall instead of an outside office with its own schedule.
Short version: fewer handoffs, and fewer chances for your drawings to disagree with what’s being built.
Who Pulls the Permits and Approvals for a NJ Construction Project?
We submit every permit application for your project, so the application paperwork sits with us. Your municipal building or construction department issues the permit. In New Jersey, the application carries signatures from the main trades: building, electrical, plumbing and HVAC.
The permit path under the NJ Uniform Construction Code goes in this order:
- Prior approvals. The application states that all required state, county and local approvals are in place. On owner-occupied residential additions and alterations, zoning approval comes before plan review.
- Application. The submission includes sealed engineering plans, electrical plans signed by a licensed electrical contractor, plumbing plans signed by a licensed plumber, and mechanical plans for HVAC and gas.
- Plan review. The township has 20 business days to approve or deny a complete application. Revised plans get an answer within 7 business days of resubmission.
- Inspections. An inspector signs off each stage before the work is covered or concealed.
- Certificate. New homes and additions receive a certificate of occupancy. Alterations receive a certificate of approval.
The 20-day review period applies to a complete application. That’s the reason sealed drawings and trade signatures go in together, not one at a time.
How We Manage Your Project Once the Contract Is Signed
Project management at DeGeorge Development is owner-led communication, written change orders and a payment schedule set for your specific job.
John keeps you updated by email, text and phone: where the job stands this week and what comes next. You don’t have to chase anyone for an update.
Payment schedules differ between projects. Some follow milestones, like completion of the foundation or framing. Others follow time. Either way, all costs get laid out clearly with no hidden fees.
One more thing, and we mean it: have a real estate lawyer review your contract before you sign it.
Changes are normal on a custom build. Changing things on a handshake is what causes trouble, so every change goes on paper first.
How Long Does Construction Take in New Jersey?
A standard average-size home takes 3 to 6 months to build with DeGeorge Development. Five things move that number: the size of the home, material availability, design changes, weather and inspections.
Additions and renovations vary too much by scope for one honest figure. We’ll give you a timeline for your specific project at the consultation.
Permits add time before any digging starts. Build the 20 business days of plan review into your start date.
Winter matters less than most people expect. Northeastern winters have been mild, though weather still sits on the list of things that push a schedule.
Shore Town Construction Rules
Some seasonal shore towns prohibit construction during the summer. Others limit the hours. Seaside Heights, for example, passed an ordinance in 2024 that limits new construction and heavy renovation work using crews and large power equipment. Work is allowed Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with none on Sundays or federal holidays.
For a lot at the shore, check your town’s construction calendar before you pick a start date. In some towns, it decides whether heavy work can happen in summer at all.
Licensed & Insured Contractor: What New Jersey Requires and How to Check
Our company is licensed, insured and bonded in New Jersey, with both state registrations listed here:
- NJ Home Improvement Contractor
- NJ New Home Builder Registration
New Jersey runs two separate registrations, and they cover different work.
Home improvement contractors register with the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs. Every general contractor in New Jersey doing residential home improvement work needs this registration. It applies to work like additions, renovations, kitchens and bathrooms. State rules for these contractors include:
- Commercial general liability insurance of at least $500,000 per occurrence
- A written contract for any job over $500, listing the work, materials, total price and start and completion dates
- A copy of the insurance certificate attached to the contract
- The right to cancel before midnight of the third business day after you receive the contract, with any refund due within 30 days
- The HIC registration number shown on ads, contracts and company vehicles
New home builders register with the NJ Department of Community Affairs. Every new home from a registered builder carries a state warranty:
- 1 year: almost everything in the home, including workmanship, materials, systems, appliances, fixtures and equipment
- 2 years: heating and air conditioning, electrical and plumbing systems
- 10 years: major structural defects in load-bearing parts such as roof rafters and trusses, joists, beams, columns, foundation walls and footings
Before you hire any builder, us included, look them up in the NJ Department of Community Affairs new home builder search.
Where We Build in New Jersey
As an NJ construction company, DeGeorge Development builds throughout Ocean County and Monmouth County from our office at 249 Brick Blvd., right on the border of Brick and Toms River. We also take projects across Central and Southern New Jersey.
Past clients have hired us in Toms River, Brick, Howell, Point Pleasant, Old Bridge and Whiting. Those projects covered new homes, custom kitchens, a restaurant renovation, a first aid building and a bank.
On coastal and flood-zone lots, elevation requirements and seasonal construction limits shape both the design and the schedule, so bring them up at your free consultation. You can see finished homes in the completed residential projects gallery.
What Our Clients Say
“I couldn’t be happier with the stunning transformation of my home by DeGeorge Dev. They turned my outdated living room into a modern masterpiece, blending style and functionality seamlessly. Their attention to detail, professionalism, and open communication made the process smooth. My home now reflects my personality and lifestyle perfectly.”
– Brian Spillar, Toms River, NJ
“After years of dreaming about a new kitchen, John (DeGeorge Development) created a kitchen that blew away my expectations. From conceptualization to completion, their team’s expertise was evident in every detail. They took our ideas and turned them into a functional and aesthetically pleasing kitchen that everyone who sees rages about. Our kitchen has become the heart of our home.”
– Morgan Garcia, Point Pleasant, NJ
General Contractor & Custom Home Builder NJ FAQs
Book a Free Consultation With DeGeorge Development
Tell us what you want to build and where. We’ll talk through the lot, the approvals your town requires and a realistic schedule.
Call 732-477-6363 or contact DeGeorge Development to book your free consultation.
249 Brick Blvd., Brick, NJ 08723