Which certificates you need to sell or rent a home, town by town in New Jersey
Certificate of occupancy Middletown NJ: resale and rental rules
Confirm with the Middletown Township offices before you rely on this page. Middletown needs two applications for a sale or a new tenant: the Residential Certificate of Occupancy from the Housing Department ($150 plus a $15 filing fee, two separate checks, $75 for a third inspection; form dated 10 October 2025) and the smoke and carbon-monoxide certificate from the Bureau of Fire Prevention, now a component of the CO, priced by notice: $100 with more than ten business days before closing, $125 with four to ten, $150 with fewer than four. Landlords also register with the Township Clerk. The Fire Prevention FAQ records the February 2025 removal of the extinguisher; no fixed lead time is stated beyond the fee tiers. Sources on the town's own site: Application for Residential Certificate of Occupancy (CO APP:10/10/2025); Certificate of Occupancy page (undated); Application for Certificate of Smoke Detector & Carbon Monoxide Compli (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: Residential Certificate of Occupancy (Housing Dept / Building & Inspection), with Fire Prevention smoke/CO certificate as a component | Before an owner/tenant can occupy or change the title of a house or apartment it must meet certain requirements. |
| Municipal certificate needed before a new tenant | Yes: Residential Certificate of Occupancy (per rental unit) plus Landlord Registration | STRUCTURE WHEN FOUND TO BE CONFORMING. A NON-REFUNDABLE FEE OF $150 FOR EACH RENTAL UNIT & SALE OF |
| Smoke and CO alarm certificate (state rule N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.3) | Township of Middletown Bureau of Fire Prevention (732-615-2270), fee $100 if received more than 10 business days before closing; $125 at 4-10 business days; $150 under 4 business days | Received more than ten (10) business days prior to closing/change of occupancy date: $100 |
| Fee: Residential CO, per rental unit or per house sold | $150 | C.O. FEE: $150 |
| Fee: Residential CO filing fee (separate cheque) | $15 | FILING FEE: $15 |
| Fee: Smoke/CO application received more than ten (10) business days before closing/change of occupancy | $100 | Received more than ten (10) business days prior to closing/change of occupancy date: $100 |
| Fee: Received four (4) to ten (10) business days before closing/change of occupancy | $125 | Received four (4) to ten (10) business days prior to closing/change of occupancy date: $125 |
| Fee: Received less than four (4) business days before closing/change of occupancy | $150 | Received less than four (4) business days prior to closing/change of occupancy date: $150 |
| Reinspection fee | $75 (3rd inspection) for the CO | REINSPECTION FEE: $75 Middletown, NJ 07748 |
| How early to apply | No fixed lead time stated; lowest smoke/CO fee requires application more than 10 business days before closing | Received more than ten (10) business days prior to closing/change of occupancy date: $100 |
| Who applies | Owner of record or authorized agent (present property owner on the CO form) | I hereby certify that I am the owner of record or agent authorized by the owner of record to make this application for a |
| Last rule change on record | Smoke/CO certificate moved to Fire Prevention Office and became a component of the CO; extinguisher requirement dropped Feb 2025; CO form revised 10/10/2025 | No. NJ Assembly Bill A3894 (February 2025) eliminates the requirement for portable fire extinguishers for a |