Berkeley Township residents who are looking to begin repairing damage to their homes caused by Hurricane Sandy are urged to get permits from the township before they begin repairs.

Mayor Carmen Amato announced the township's Construction Inspection Department will have extended hours -- open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Wednesdays until 6 p.m. -- to give residents more flexibility in applying for building permits.

Permit fees have been waived for homeowners in the areas where damage occurred, but permits are necessary and important, Amato said.

"We want to make sure the work done gets inspected," Amato said. "This is for the safety of the homeowners, so weeks, months or years down the road they won't have any problems. We making this process as easy as possible for the those residents."