Which certificates you need to sell or rent a home, town by town in New Jersey
Certificate of occupancy Clifton NJ: resale and rental rules
Confirm with the City of Clifton offices before you rely on this page. Clifton runs both resale and rental certification through the Fire Prevention Bureau's Certificate of Inspection: $125 per unit for a sale and $75 per unit for a rental, with expedited service at $200 per unit (certificate within four to twenty days) or $300 (within four business days). The application must be stamped by the Building Department first, is signed by the current owner and the buyer or tenant, and inspections are held on Wednesday mornings only; the certificate is ready about seven business days after the inspection and is valid six months. No separate residential certificate of continued occupancy form was found on the city site. The packet is undated; it already omits the extinguisher, while the Fire Department FAQ still asks what size extinguisher is needed. Sources on the town's own site: 1 & 2 Family and Apartments Dwelling Application Packet (undated); Fire Department FAQ (undated); Fire Department page (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 Inspection (Dwelling Smoke Detector & Carbon Monoxide Compliance), Fire Prevention Bureau; contingent on Building, Tax and Zoning clearance | No closing shall take place without a VALID Certificate of Inspection. |
| Municipal certificate needed before a new tenant | Yes: Certificate of Inspection (rental), Fire Prevention Bureau | No tenant rental shall take occupancy without a VALID Certificate of Inspection. |
| Smoke and CO alarm certificate (state rule N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.3) | City of Clifton Fire Prevention Bureau (900 Clifton Avenue, 973-470-5801), fee Sale $125.00 per unit; Rental $75.00 per unit | Sale - $125.00 per unit |
| Fee: Sale | $125.00 per unit | Sale - $125.00 per unit |
| Fee: Rental | $75.00 per unit | Rental - $75.00 per unit |
| Fee: Expedited, certificate within 4-20 days | $200 per unit | Certificate available within 4-20 days - $200 per unit |
| Fee: Expedited, certificate within 4 business days | $300 per unit | Certificate available within 4 business days - $300 per unit |
| How long the certificate stays valid | 6 months after fire department inspection | *CERTIFICATE EXPIRES 6 MONTHS AFTER FIRE DEPARTMENT INSPECTION* |
| How early to apply | No lead time stated; inspections only Wednesdays 9-12, certificate ready about 7 business days after inspection (expedited 4-20 days or 4 business days at extra cost) | Inspections are scheduled on Wednesdays between 9am-12noon. |
| Who applies | Current owner and new buyer/tenant both sign; application must be stamped by the Building Dept first | Applications must be filled out in their entirety, signed by the seller and the buyer, and be legible and full size. |
| Last rule change on record | Packet (undated) already includes the multiple-sources-of-power label requirement and omits the extinguisher; FAQ page still has an extinguisher question | Multiple Sources of Power: A structure used or intended for use for residential purposes by one or two households |