Cal. Civ. Code § 5:10-1.2
Purpose
Operative Text
(a) The purpose of this chapter is to provide reasonable minimum requirements and standards, based upon scientific and engineering knowledge, experience and techniques, and the utilization of modern machinery, equipment, materials, and forms and methods of maintenance for the regulation of the maintenance of hotels and multiple dwellings in the State of New Jersey in the interest of public safety, health and welfare, as well as to provide effective administrative structures for enforcement. (b) The Bureau or a local enforcing agency shall have discretion not to enforce any maintenance requirement herein set forth in a particular case if it determines that the violation of such requirement in such case, if allowed to continue, would not jeopardize the health, safety or welfare of occupants or intended occupants or of the public generally. In no case, however, shall the Bureau or local enforcing agency fail to enforce any standards or requirements pertaining to fire safety, building security, occupancy, health or providing of required facilities or equipment except pursuant to an exception granted in accordance with N.J.S.A. 55:13A-11.
N.J.A.C. § 5:10-1.2 establishes the overarching purpose of New Jersey's hotel and multiple dwelling maintenance regulations: to set minimum standards for upkeep based on scientific and engineering knowledge, in the interest of public safety, health, and welfare. The rule also grants enforcement agencies some discretion to deprioritize certain maintenance violations when continued non-compliance would not endanger occupants or the public. However, that discretion has firm limits — standards related to fire safety, building security, occupancy, health, and required facilities or equipment must always be enforced unless a formal exception is granted under N.J.S.A. 55:13A-11.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under N.J.A.C. § 5:10-1.2, operators of hotels and multiple dwellings in New Jersey are expected to maintain their properties in accordance with the minimum standards set out in this chapter, which are grounded in scientific and engineering principles. While enforcement agencies retain some discretion over lower-stakes maintenance issues, compliant operators generally ensure that fire safety systems, building security measures, occupancy requirements, health conditions, and required facilities are kept in continuous good order. Relying on enforcement discretion as a substitute for compliance — particularly in those non-waivable categories — is not a posture that aligns with the chapter's stated purpose.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.J.A.C. § 5:10-1.2 makes clear that the maintenance standards in this chapter exist to protect the health, safety, and welfare of occupants like tenants in hotels and multiple dwellings across New Jersey. Critically, the provision prohibits enforcement agencies from exercising discretion to overlook violations involving fire safety, building security, occupancy, health, or required facilities and equipment — meaning tenants who observe such conditions have a strong regulatory basis for raising concerns. Tenants who believe these standards are not being met may consider contacting the Bureau of Housing Inspection or their local enforcing agency, or reaching out to a tenant-rights organization for guidance on available options.
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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