N.J. Stat. Ann. § 46:8-1 et seq. § 46:8-28.5

Certificate of registration, fee; exceptions

In Force
Verified 10/6/2026 · Next check 11/5/2026
effective 10/6/2026New JerseyInspections, Registration & Licensing

Operative Text

N.J. Stat. Ann. § 46:8-1 et seq. § 46:8-28.5
2. a. Except as otherwise provided in subsection b. of this section, every owner of a tenant-occupied single-family or two-family residential property, including, without limitation, a two-family property in which one unit is owner-occupied, shall file a certificate of registration on forms prescribed by the Commissioner of Community Affairs, in accordance with section 2 of P.L.1974, c.50 (C.46:8-28), with the Bureau of Housing Inspection in the Department of Community Affairs. Any such filing shall be accompanied by a filing fee not exceeding the filing for hotels and multiple dwellings established by section 12 of P.L.1967, c.76 (C.55:13A-12).

b. Subsection a. of this section shall not apply to any owner-occupied two-family residential property that:

(1) has been certified to be free of lead-based paint;

(2) was constructed during or after 1978;

(3) is a seasonal rental unit which is rented for less than six months' duration each year; or

(4) has been certified as having a lead-free interior by a certified inspector.

c. Any owner who fails to comply with an order of the commissioner to register any property subject to this section shall be liable for a penalty of $200 for each registration ordered by the commissioner. The commissioner may issue a certificate to the clerk of the Superior Court that an owner is indebted to the department for the payment of such penalty and thereupon the clerk shall enter upon the record of docketed judgments the name of the owner, and of the State, a designation of the statute under which the penalty is imposed, the amount of the penalty so certified, and the date of such certification. The making of the entry shall have the same force and effect as the entry of a docketed judgment in the office of such clerk.

L.2007, c.251, s.2.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Under N.J.S.A. 46:8-1 et seq. § 46:8-28.5, owners of tenant-occupied single-family and two-family residential properties in New Jersey are generally required to file a certificate of registration with the Bureau of Housing Inspection in the Department of Community Affairs, along with a prescribed filing fee. Certain owner-occupied two-family properties are exempt from this requirement if they meet specific conditions related to lead-based paint certification, construction date, seasonal rental status, or a certified lead-free interior. Owners who fail to comply with a commissioner's registration order face a $200 penalty per registration ordered, which can be entered as a docketed judgment against them.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 6, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Property owners subject to N.J.S.A. 46:8-1 et seq. § 46:8-28.5 generally maintain compliance by filing the required certificate of registration with the Bureau of Housing Inspection using the forms prescribed by the Commissioner of Community Affairs and paying the applicable filing fee. Operators of owner-occupied two-family properties should evaluate whether their property qualifies for one of the four statutory exemptions—such as a post-1978 construction date or a certified lead-free interior—before assuming registration is unnecessary. Failure to comply with a commissioner's order to register can result in a $200 penalty per registration, which may be recorded as a docketed judgment in Superior Court.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

N.J.S.A. 46:8-1 et seq. § 46:8-28.5 establishes that landlords of tenant-occupied single-family and two-family properties are generally obligated to register with the state's Bureau of Housing Inspection, a requirement designed to support housing oversight and tenant protections. Tenants who believe their landlord has not complied with this registration requirement may consider contacting the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs to inquire about a property's registration status. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid services can help tenants understand how a landlord's failure to register under this provision might be relevant to their housing situation.

General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.

Generated October 6, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

Effective Timeline

Current
Oct 6, 2026
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Related Rules

§ 14.544
LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
§ 14.545
STANDARDS FOR HEALTH, SAFETY AND NUISANCE PREVENTION
§ 14.546
SANCTIONS AND PENALTIES