Which certificates you need to sell or rent a home, town by town in New Jersey
Certificate of occupancy West Orange NJ: resale and rental rules
Confirm with the West Orange Township offices before you rely on this page. West Orange requires a Certificate of Continued Occupancy from the Construction Official for every sale and every rental (a copy of the lease is required for rentals): $200 for a single unit, $275 for two, $350 for three, up to $575 for six, $75 per re-inspection, and $25 for a written determination that no CCO is needed; the owner of record applies, and a temporary CCO for minor violations must be cured within 30 days. The 2026 application embeds the ordinance text, which makes brokers and attorneys liable alongside the owner. No separate Fire Prevention smoke-certificate form or fee was found; the Building Department's smoke and carbon-monoxide sheet cites the state rule and still asks for a kitchen fire extinguisher. No validity period is stated. Sources on the town's own site: Certificate of Continued Occupancy - Residential Application (undated); Conditions for CCO Inspections (undated); Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide Detector Requirements N.J.A.C. 5:70 (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 (CCO), issued by the Construction Official (Building Department / Planning & Development), covers fire-safety and zoning compliance | l. Prior to the sale or rental of any existing residential structure containing one |
| Municipal certificate needed before a new tenant | Yes: Certificate of Continued Occupancy (same application; copy of lease required for rentals) | *PLEASE NOTE: A COPY OF THE LEASE MUST BE PROVIDED FOR ALL RENTALS* |
| Smoke and CO alarm certificate (state rule N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.3) | West Orange Building Department (its smoke/CO requirements sheet cites N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.3 and 4.19; the CCO inspection checks smoke & CO detectors and a kitchen extinguisher). No separate Fire Prevention Bureau smoke-certificate form or fee found | N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.3 AND 4.19 (d) |
| Fee: CCO: single unit residential dwelling | $200.00 | Single Unit Residential Dwelling $200.00 |
| Fee: CCO: two unit residential dwelling | $275.00 | Two (2) Unit Residential Dwelling $275.00 |
| Fee: CCO: three unit residential dwelling | $350.00 | Three (3) Unit Residential Dwelling $350.00 |
| Fee: CCO: four / five / six unit residential dwelling | $425.00 / $500.00 / $575.00 | Four (4) Unit Residential Dwelling $425.00 |
| Fee: determination by the Construction Official that no CCO is required | $25.00 | twenty-five ($25.00) dollars for such determination. |
| Reinspection fee | $75.00 | ALL REINSPECTIONS REQUIRE A $75 FEE |
| How long the certificate stays valid | not stated; Temporary CCO for minor violations must be cured within 30 days, then the permanent CCO has no additional fee | may allow a Temporary Certificate of Continued Occupancy to be issued |
| Who applies | owner of record | The application of such permit shall be made by the owner of record and shall |
| Lead-safe inspection for pre-1978 rentals | CCO conditions require compliance with the Lead-Based Paint Inspection Law P.L.2021 c.182; the township page routes rental lead inspections to LEW Environmental Services (third party); no township lead fee published | ____ Compliant with The Lead-Based Paint Inspection Law, P.L.2021, c.182 |
| Last rule change on record | CCO ordinance section 25-40.2 cites Ord. No. 2357-12; application file is labelled 2026; fee schedule cites Ord 2798-23 | (Ord. No. 2357-12 ยง 25-40.2) |