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What is a Certificate of Occupancy?

A certificate of Occupancy is needed when any of the following occur:

Code inspection prior to sale, lease or other transfer of realty.

  1. Residential (single family). Prior to any sale, rentalor other transfer of any single-family residential real estate orpart thereof to another, the owner shall apply for and obtain a certificateof occupancy, as provided for herein, issued by the Construction Officialor his or her designee.
  2. Residential (rental). Prior to any sale, rental orother transfer of any rented single-family residential real estateor part thereof to another, the owner shall apply for and obtain acertificate of occupancy, as provided for herein, issued by the ConstructionOfficial or his or her designee.
  3. Residential (less than three units). Prior to anysale, rental or other transfer of any residential real estate containingless than three units or part thereof to another, the owner shallapply for and obtain a certificate of occupancy, as provided for herein,issued by the Construction Official or his or her designee.
  4. Nonresidential. Prior to any sale, rental or othertransfer of any nonresidential real estate or part thereof to another,the owner shall apply for and obtain a certificate of occupancy, asprovided for herein, issued by the Construction Official or his or her designee.


A certificate of occupancy is a document issued by a local government agency or building department certifying a building's compliance with applicable building codes and other laws, and indicating it to be in a condition suitable for occupancy.

The procedure and requirements for the certificate vary widely from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and on the type of structure. In the United States, obtaining a certificate is generally required whenever:

  • a new building is constructed
  • a building built for one use is to be used for another (e.g. an industrial building converted for residential use)
  • occupancy of a commercial or industrial building changes, or ownership of a commercial, industrial, or multiple-family residential building changes

The purpose of obtaining a certificate of occupancy is to prove that, according to the law, the house or building is in livable condition. Generally, such a certificate is necessary to be able to occupy the structure for everyday use, as well as to be able to sign a contract to sell the space and close on a mortgage for the space.

A certificate of occupancy is evidence that the building complies substantially with the plans and specifications that have been submitted to, and approved by, the local authority. It complements a building permit—a document that must be filed by the applicant with the local authority before construction to indicate that the proposed construction will adhere to ordinances, codes and laws.

Common Code Violations

In order to protect the safety, prosperity, health and welfare of all city residents, city code regulations require that property owners keep their properties safe and well-maintained. Below are several examples of common city code violations.

Sidewalk safety
For public safety and safe access, snow, landscaping, debris and other obstructions must be removed from public sidewalks. Once snow has stopped falling, residences have twenty-four (24) hours to remove snow and ice from public sidewalks adjacent to their property. Once snow has stopped falling, businesses have four (4) hours to remove snow and ice from public sidewalks adjacent to their property.

Parking on unpaved surfaces

Parking on dirt areas is not allowed. Allowable parking surfaces for single-family dwellings include 6 inches of gravel, road base material (recycled asphalt), asphalt, or concrete. Allowable parking surfaces for 2-unit dwellings or multi-unit dwellings include road base, asphalt, or concrete.

Fences
Fences must be maintained, built to proper height (generally 4’ in the front and 6’ in the sides and back of residential lots), and constructed with approved materials (no barbed wire, corrugated metal or salvage materials)

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Princeton Contracting, LLC
555 Grand Avenue #7095

Ewing, NJ. 08628
Phone: 609-671-0793
                     E-Mail: info@princetoncontracting.com
 
        
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