Old Bridge, NJ Building Safety: Lead Paint (2026)

Chapter 235, Article II of the Old Bridge Township Code, adopted July 15, 2025 by Ordinance No. 2025-19, implements New Jersey's statewide lead-based paint inspection law, P.L. 2021, c. 182, and its regulations at N.J.A.C. 5:28A-1.1 et seq. Section 235-19 requires every rental single-family, two-family, and multiple dwelling unit in the Township to be inspected for lead-based paint hazards, covering interior spaces and shared areas like hallways and basements in two-family and multi-family rentals, unless the unit falls under a Section 235-25 exemption. Section 235-21 sets the inspection timeline: the initial inspection must happen at tenant turnover or within two years of the law's July 22, 2022 effective date, whichever comes first, and after that, every unit must be reinspected every three years or at tenant turnover, whichever is sooner, unless the owner already holds a valid lead-safe certification.

Owners can satisfy the requirement by hiring a DCA-certified lead evaluation contractor themselves, or by requesting a Township-facilitated inspection under Section 235-22, where fees are capped at $500 per rental unit and cancellations require 24 business hours' notice. The Township's Housing/Code Enforcement Officer keeps the inspection schedule, results, and every lead-safe and lead-free certification on file. Enforcement runs through Section 235-29: the Housing/Code Enforcement Officer can investigate and cite an owner who has not complied, and the owner then has 30 days to cure the violation by conducting the inspection or starting remediation.

Missing that 30-day window triggers a penalty of $1,000 per week until the owner complies, and any other violation of the article draws a separate fine of between $100 and $1,000 per offense.