Rental Inspections in Cherry Hill, NJ: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Cherry Hill or are thinking about moving there, rental inspections are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Cherry Hill has 2 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of rental inspections, and some of them might surprise you.

Inspection Programs

Cherry Hill Township requires every rental dwelling unit, from single-family rentals to apartments and condominiums, to pass an inspection and hold a Certificate of Occupancy before it can be leased, with a $65.00 fee and repeat inspections for compliance.

Key details: Certificate required: Before any rental occupancy or re-rental. Initial inspection fee: $65.00. Reinspection fee: $65.00 each. Inspecting official: Cherry Hill Township Housing Inspector. Per-day penalty: $100.00-$500.00.

Occupying or renting a dwelling unit without a valid Certificate of Occupancy exposes the responsible party to a fine of not less than $100.00 and not more than $500.00, and/or up to 30 days' imprisonment, and/or up to 90 days of community service, for each day the unit is occupied without the certificate (§ 15-75). Selling a property without the required residential certificate of occupancy under § 15-77 carries the same $100.00 to $500.00 per-day fine.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Cherry Hill actively enforces its inspection programs requirements.

Tenant Complaint Process

Before the Cherry Hill Rent Review Board approves a rent increase, tenants get a formal complaint window: a repair checklist under § 14-3.4b7, then a Rent Review Officer-coordinated Township inspection of any disputed items within ten days of the checklist period closing, under § 14-3.4b10.

Key details: Trigger: tenant repair checklist tied to rent petition. Checklist filing window: 14 days after service. Landlord repair response window: 14 days after checklist. Inspection scheduling: within 10 days, Officer + Township Inspector. Inspection notice: 3 business days advance notice.

A landlord who does not complete repairs confirmed by the Rent Review Officer's inspection risks having the rent increase deferred or reduced under § 14-3.4b11, and the Board can refuse the petition entirely under § 14-3.4b12 if the dwelling remains unsafe, uninhabitable, or noncompliant with municipal ordinances, including the Property Maintenance Code, until a supplementary certification of cure is submitted.

The Bottom Line

Cherry Hill's rental inspections rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Cherry Hill is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Cherry Hill can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.