Cal. Civ. Code § 5:10-25.1
Scope
Operative Text
(a) This subchapter establishes standards and procedures for the Bureau of Housing Inspection's approval of methods and devices for indirect apportionment of heating costs in multiple dwellings, in accordance with P.L. 1991, c.453. (b) No method, device or system of devices for apportionment of heating costs in multiple family dwellings shall be used without prior approval of the Bureau pursuant to this subchapter, except that methods or devices in use on April 17, 1992 may continue in use pending application for and issuance of approval by the Bureau, until not later than October 17, 1992, unless an application for approval is filed by January 19, 1993. Any system not approved by the Department by April 19, 1993, or undergoing testing or other procedures required by the Department as part of the approval process as of that date, shall be removed or permanently shut out of service. (c) This subchapter shall not apply to devices for direct apportionment of heating costs that are approved by the Board of Public Utilities. (d) This subchapter shall not apply to any charges for the separate heating of domestic hot water, charges for cooking fuel or charges for the heating of common areas in buildings. Charges for any such energy uses are not covered by this subchapter. (e) This subchapter shall apply to all multiple dwellings, including, without limitation, condominiums, cooperatives and mutual housing corporations that are not excluded from jurisdiction under the act in accordance with N.J.S.A. 55:13A-3(k).
N.J.A.C. § 5:10-25.1 establishes the scope of New Jersey's rules governing how heating costs may be divided among units in multi-family dwellings using indirect apportionment methods. Any device or system used for this purpose must receive prior approval from the Bureau of Housing Inspection, and systems that were in use before April 17, 1992 were subject to a transitional approval timeline with a hard deadline of April 19, 1993. The subchapter applies broadly to multiple dwellings—including condominiums, cooperatives, and mutual housing corporations—but does not cover direct apportionment devices approved by the Board of Public Utilities, nor does it govern charges for domestic hot water heating, cooking fuel, or common-area heating.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating multiple dwellings in New Jersey should be aware that N.J.A.C. § 5:10-25.1 requires any indirect heating-cost apportionment method or device to carry prior approval from the Bureau of Housing Inspection before it is put into use. Compliant operators ensure that no unapproved system is installed or activated, and they maintain documentation of Bureau approval for any apportionment device currently in service. Because the subchapter covers condominiums, cooperatives, and mutual housing corporations as well as traditional rental buildings, operators across all of these property types generally verify their compliance status with the Bureau.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under N.J.A.C. § 5:10-25.1, tenants in New Jersey multiple dwellings have an interest in knowing that any system used to divide heating costs among units must be approved by the Bureau of Housing Inspection—unapproved systems are not permitted to remain in service. If a tenant believes that heating costs are being apportioned through a device or method that lacks Bureau approval, they may consider contacting the Bureau of Housing Inspection to inquire about a system's approval status. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with New Jersey housing law can also help residents understand how this subchapter interacts with their lease obligations and any applicable rent regulations.
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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