Cal. Civ. Code § 5:10-1.17
Violation penalties
Operative Text
(a) For purposes of this section, a "life hazard violation" shall be any violation of this chapter, or of any violation of the Uniform Fire Code, N.J.A.C. 5:70, that is incorporated into this chapter by reference, that presents a hazard to the life safety of occupants of the building or of the public generally. (b) Except as otherwise provided in (f) and (g) below, penalties shall be assessed for each area in which one or more violations are found. Violation areas shall be: 1. Each dwelling unit; 2. Interior common areas; and 3. Building exterior. (c) Absent any mitigating or aggravating circumstances, the initial penalty for each violation area shall be as follows: 1. In a dwelling unit for which a life hazard violation is cited: $ 325.00; 2. In an interior common area or building exterior for which a life hazard violation is cited: $ 500.00; and 3. In any area for which none of the violations cited is a life hazard violation: $ 175.00. (d) Absent any mitigating or aggravating circumstances, the first continuing violation penalty shall be as follows: 1. For each violation area in which a life hazard violation is cited: $ 1,500; and 2. For each violation area in which no life hazard violation is cited: $ 1,000. (e) Absent any mitigating or aggravating circumstances, the second continuing violation penalty shall be as follows: 1. For each violation area in which a life hazard violation is cited: $ 2,500; and 2. For each violation area in which no life hazard violation is cited: $ 1,000. (f) Absent any mitigating circumstances, the third, and any subsequent, continuing violation penalty shall be in the amount of $ 5,000 per violation. (g) The owner of any building subject to an unsafe building notice and order issued pursuant to N.J.A.C. 5:10-1.13 who shall fail to comply with such notice and order after issuance of the first continuing violation penalty shall be subject to a continuing violation penalty of $ 5,000 per day per violation until all life hazard violations are abated.
N.J.A.C. § 5:10-1.17 establishes a tiered penalty structure for housing code violations in New Jersey, with fines assessed per violation area—each dwelling unit, interior common areas, and building exterior counted separately. Initial penalties range from $175 to $500 depending on whether a life hazard violation is present, and penalties escalate with each continuing violation, reaching up to $5,000 per violation at the third offense and beyond. Buildings subject to an unsafe building notice and order face especially steep consequences: if life hazard violations remain unabated after the first continuing violation penalty, fines can reach $5,000 per day per violation until the hazards are corrected.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under N.J.A.C. § 5:10-1.17, compliant property operators promptly address all cited violations before reinspection to avoid escalating continuing-violation penalties. Operators generally document corrective actions taken in each violation area—dwelling units, interior common areas, and building exterior—since penalties are assessed separately for each. Properties subject to an unsafe building notice and order under N.J.A.C. 5:10-1.13 require especially urgent attention, as unresolved life hazard violations after the first continuing penalty can trigger daily fines of $5,000 per violation.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.J.A.C. § 5:10-1.17 provides a financial enforcement mechanism that can compel landlords to address housing code violations, including life hazard conditions, through escalating penalties assessed per violation area. Tenants who believe their dwelling unit or building's common areas contain uncorrected violations may report conditions to the relevant New Jersey municipal or state housing inspection authority, which has the power to cite violations and impose these penalties. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents understand how the penalty structure under § 5:10-1.17 relates to their situation and what complaint or enforcement options may be available.
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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