Cal. Civ. Code § 5:10-1.13
Unsafe building notice and order
Operative Text
(a) Upon a determination by the Bureau of Housing Inspection or its authorized representatives or a local enforcing agency that violations of the provisions of this chapter exist and that such violations result in an imminent hazard to the safety and welfare of the occupants, an order shall be issued to the owner forbidding occupation of any dwelling units then vacated or to be vacated during the life of the order and/or ordering that the violation be corrected within the period specified in the order. (b) The notice shall be given to the owner or lessee of the property involved, or to the agents of either of them, and may be contained in an order to declare building unsafe issued stating the reasons for the issuance of the order and the conditions under which occupancy may take place. (c) When any owner to whom an order has been issued pursuant to (a) above denies that any violation justifying such order exists, such owner may apply for an administrative hearing. Any such hearing shall be held, and a decision rendered, within 48 hours of receipt by the Department of the hearing request.
Under N.J.A.C. § 5:10-1.13, when the Bureau of Housing Inspection or a local enforcing agency finds that code violations create an imminent hazard to occupants, it may issue an order prohibiting re-occupancy of vacated units and/or requiring the owner to correct the violations within a set timeframe. The notice must be delivered to the owner, lessee, or their agents, and must explain the reasons for the order and the conditions under which occupancy could resume. An owner who disputes the order has the right to request an administrative hearing, which must be held and decided within 48 hours of the Department receiving that request.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to N.J.A.C. § 5:10-1.13 should be aware that a finding of imminent hazard can result in an official order restricting re-occupancy of any units that become vacant while the order is in effect. Compliant operators generally maintain properties in a condition that avoids such orders, keep accurate contact information on file with the relevant agency so that notices reach them promptly, and document corrective actions taken within the timeframe specified in any order. An owner who believes an order was issued in error has the right under this section to request an administrative hearing, which must occur within 48 hours of the Department receiving the request.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.J.A.C. § 5:10-1.13 gives tenants a layer of protection by empowering the Bureau of Housing Inspection or a local enforcing agency to prohibit an owner from re-renting vacated units when imminent hazards exist, effectively preventing new occupants from moving into unsafe conditions. If you believe your building has conditions that pose an imminent hazard, you may consider contacting the Bureau of Housing Inspection or your local enforcing agency to request an inspection. Tenant-rights organizations in New Jersey can help explain how this provision interacts with other housing code protections and what options may be available when an unsafe building order is—or should be—in effect.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 3, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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