N.J. Stat. Ann. § 55:13A-1 et seq. § 55:13A-7

Rules, regulations

In Force
Verified 10/6/2026 · Next check 11/5/2026
effective 10/6/2026New JerseyHabitability & Repair

Operative Text

N.J. Stat. Ann. § 55:13A-1 et seq. § 55:13A-7
7. The commissioner shall issue and promulgate, in the manner specified in section 8 of P.L.1967, c.76 (C.55:13A-8), such regulations as the commissioner may deem necessary to assure that any hotel or multiple dwelling will be maintained in such manner as is consistent with, and will protect, the health, safety and welfare of the occupants or intended occupants thereof, or of the public generally.

Any such regulations issued and promulgated by the commissioner pursuant to this section shall provide standards and specifications for such maintenance materials, methods and techniques, fire warning and extinguisher systems, elevator systems, emergency egresses, and such other protective equipment as the commissioner shall deem reasonably necessary to the health, safety and welfare of the occupants or intended occupants of any units of dwelling space in any hotel or multiple dwelling, including but not limited to:

(a) Structural adequacy ratings;

(b) Methods of egress, including fire escapes, outside fireproof stairways, independent stairways, and handrails, railings, brackets, braces and landing platforms thereon, additional stairways, and treads, winders, and risers thereof, entrances and ramps;

(c) Bulkheads and scuttles, partitions, walls, ceilings and floors;

(d) Garbage and refuse collection and disposal, cleaning and janitorial services, repairs, and extermination services;

(e) Electrical wiring and outlets, and paints and the composition thereof;

(f) Doors, and the manner of opening thereof;

(g) Transoms, windows, shafts and beams;

(h) Chimneys, flues and central heating units;

(i) Roofing and siding materials;

(j) Lots, yards, courts and garages, including the size and location thereof;

(k) Intakes, open ducts, offsets and recesses;

(l) Windows, including the size and height thereof;

(m) Rooms, including the area and height thereof, and the permissible number of occupants thereof;

(n) Stairwells, skylights and alcoves;

(o) Public halls, including the lighting and ventilation thereof;

(p) Accessory passages to rooms;

(q) Cellars, drainage and air space;

(r) Water-closets, bathrooms and sinks;

(s) Water connections, including the provision of drinking and hot and cold running water;

(t) Sewer connections, privies, cesspools, and private sewers;

(u) Rain water and drainage conductors;

(v) Entrances and ramps; and

(w) Presence of lead-based paint hazards in multiple dwellings and in single-family and two-family dwellings, exclusive of owner-occupied dwelling units, subject to P.L.2003, c.311 (C.52:27D-437.1 et al.). In a common interest community, any inspection fee for and violation found within a unit which is solely related to this subsection shall be the responsibility of the unit owner and not the homeowners' association, unless the association is the owner of the unit.

L.1967, c.76, s.7; amended 2003, c.311, s.19; 2007, c.251, s.5.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Section 55:13A-7 of New Jersey's Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law authorizes the state Commissioner of Community Affairs to create and enforce detailed maintenance regulations for hotels and multiple dwellings. These regulations must set standards covering a broad range of building systems and conditions—from structural integrity and fire safety to plumbing, electrical wiring, egress routes, and lead-based paint hazards—with the overarching goal of protecting the health, safety, and welfare of occupants and the general public. The provision also clarifies that in common interest communities, inspection fees and violations tied specifically to lead-based paint within an individual unit are the financial responsibility of that unit's owner, not the homeowners' association.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 14, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Under N.J.S.A. 55:13A-7, property owners and managers of hotels and multiple dwellings are expected to maintain their buildings in compliance with the regulations the Commissioner has issued under this authority, which span structural, fire safety, plumbing, electrical, egress, and lead-based paint standards. Compliant operators typically conduct regular inspections of all covered systems—including elevators, fire warning equipment, water connections, and garbage disposal arrangements—and address deficiencies promptly. Owners of units in common interest communities should be aware that lead-based paint inspection fees and related violations within their individual units are their own responsibility under this section, not the homeowners' association's.

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

For Tenants

Section 55:13A-7 establishes the regulatory framework that entitles occupants of hotels and multiple dwellings in New Jersey to buildings maintained to state health, safety, and welfare standards across a wide range of conditions, including fire safety, structural soundness, plumbing, electrical systems, and lead-based paint hazards. Tenants who believe their building falls short of these standards may consider filing a complaint with the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, which administers the Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law under this provision. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid services can help occupants understand which specific regulations apply to their building type and what remedies 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 October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

Effective Timeline

Current
Oct 6, 2026
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Related Rules

§ 244.260
Compliance required
§ 14.567
ADOPTED BY REFERENCE
§ 244.340
Sewer and water connections