Which certificates you need to sell or rent a home, town by town in New Jersey
Certificate of occupancy Cherry Hill NJ: resale and rental rules
Confirm with the Cherry Hill Township offices before you rely on this page. A Cherry Hill sale needs two things: the township's Certificate of Continued Occupancy, an exterior property-maintenance inspection ($100, applied for online), and the smoke and carbon-monoxide certificate from the Cherry Hill Fire Department, a fire district whose 2026 fee sheet charges $100 when the request arrives eight or more calendar days before settlement, $115 at seven days and $162 at three days or less, with a $35 re-inspection fee, a $30 discount for sellers aged 62 and over, 90-day validity, and a request window of three to four weeks before settlement. Landlords need a Rental Housing Certificate of Occupancy at every change of tenant ($65 per unit, plus a $20 state fee where a lead inspection applies). The fire fee sheet is explicitly effective 1 January to 31 December 2026 and drops the extinguisher. Sources on the town's own site: Cherry Hill Fire Department - Residential Resale Requirements for One (Effective 1/1/2026 to 12/31/2026); Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm Compliance Certification Inspection (undated); Residential Resale Inspections (undated). State rule for every sale or lease of a one- or two-family home: N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.3 (text). Last checked 24 October 2026.
| Question | Answer | The town's own words |
|---|---|---|
| Municipal certificate needed before a sale | Yes: Certificate of Continued Occupancy (exterior property maintenance inspection) plus CHFD smoke/CO certificate | Cherry Hill homeowners are required to obtain a Certificate of Continued Occupancy prior to the resale of any single-family residential property in Cherry Hill. |
| Municipal certificate needed before a new tenant | Yes: Rental Housing Certificate of Occupancy | A Rental Housing Certificate of Occupancy inspection is required for all rental dwelling units whenever there is a change of occupancy and prior to occupancy of the unit. |
| Smoke and CO alarm certificate (state rule N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.3) | Cherry Hill Fire Department (fire district; CHFD, 856-429-7441), fee $100.00 if requested 8+ calendar days before settlement; $115.00 at 7 days; $162.00 at 3 days or less | Requests received eight (8) calendar days or more prior to the settlement date: $100.00 |
| Fee: CHFD smoke/CO request received eight (8) calendar days or more before settlement | $100.00 | Requests received eight (8) calendar days or more prior to the settlement date: $100.00 |
| Fee: CHFD request received seven (7) calendar days before settlement | $115.00 | Requests received seven (7) calendar days prior to the settlement date: $115.00 |
| Fee: CHFD request received three (3) calendar days or less before settlement | $162.00 | Requests received three (3) calendar days or less prior to the settlement date: $162.00 |
| Fee: Seller age 62 or over (proof of age) | -$30.00 off initial CHFD fee | Sellers age 62 & over may deduct $30.00 from the initial inspection fee |
| Fee: Residential CCO (exterior inspection), any sale | $100.00 | The cost of inspection is $100, due prior to inspection. |
| Fee: Rental Housing Certificate of Occupancy, per unit per tenant change | $65.00 (+$20 state lead fee where lead inspection applies) | mail it or drop it off at the Municipal Building with a $65 check made out to Cherry Hill Township. |
| Reinspection fee | $35.00 (CHFD); rental: a failed unit must reapply and pay a new fee | Re-inspection Fee: $35.00 |
| How long the certificate stays valid | CHFD certificate 90 days; rental inspection valid 90 days until tenant named | Certificates are valid for 90 days |
| How early to apply | CHFD: 3 to 4 weeks before settlement; rental: allow two weeks | Requests must be submitted using the online form located at www.chnj.gov/fire, 3 to 4 weeks prior to the settlement |
| Who applies | Owner or applicant/representative (form has 'Applicant Name (if not owner)' and realtor fields); CHFD page addresses the home seller | Applicants can apply online, visit Room 202 at 820 Mercer Street or |
| Lead-safe inspection for pre-1978 rentals | $65 visual inspection plus $20 per unit state fee; at turnover or every 3 years | The Township will charge the dwelling owner a fee sufficient to cover the cost of inspections, currently $65 (plus any costs associated with dust sampling/testing, if needed). |
| Last rule change on record | CHFD fee sheet effective 1/1/2026-12/31/2026; extinguisher dropped; new secondary power source label requirement | Fire extinguishers are NO longer required. |
| Online application | Yes: https://chnj.gov/1107/Online-CCO-Application |