Building Safety in Bergenfield, NJ (2026)
7 verified building safety rules for Bergenfield, New Jersey, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Lead Paint
Bergenfield requires every single-family, two-family, and multi-unit rental to undergo a Borough-hired visual lead assessment starting January 1, 2025, and every three years after, implementing New Jersey's rental lead-inspection mandate. Owners who miss the deadline face a penalty of up to $1,000 per week after a 30-day cure period.
Bergenfield Rental Lead Paint Inspection Law
Some RestrictionsBergenfield Borough Code §§ 313-3, 313-8
§ 313-3. Visual lead assessment. ... A. Visual lead assessment of single-family, two-family, and multiple rental dwellings by Borough. A certified visual lead assessment official hired by the Borough shall conduct a visual lead assessment of every single-family, two-family, and multiple rental dwelling located within the Borough starting January 1, 2025. Thereafter, all such units shall be visu...
Elevator Maintenance
Bergenfield charges separate fees for every stage of elevator oversight under Chapter 136: a plan review and acceptance-test fee when a device is installed or altered, a six-month routine inspection fee of $211 for escalators, a five-year inspection fee up to $646 for tall traction elevators, and a flat $100 reinspection fee whenever a violation forces a follow-up visit.
Bergenfield Elevator Inspection Fee Schedule
Some RestrictionsBergenfield Borough Code § 136-4B(10)
The plan review fee for the installation or alteration of elevator devices as defined in N.J.A.C. 5:23-1.4.: ... The Borough fee for required routine and periodic inspections and tests for elevator devices in structures not of Group R-3, R-4 or R-5, or otherwise exempt devices in structures of Group R-2, shall be as follows: ... The fee for the six-month routine inspection of escalators shall b...
Childcare Center Rules
Bergenfield requires a Health Department license before anyone may operate a child-care facility for six or more children under age six. Licenses expire every December 31, annual inspection fees run $75 to $150 by enrollment, and violations carry a fine of $50 to $1,000 or up to 90 days in jail.
Bergenfield Child-Care Center Licensing Rules
Some RestrictionsBergenfield Borough Code §§ 310-2, 310-9
§ 310-2. License required; term of license. A. No person shall maintain any place for the day care of children in the Borough unless a license therefor has first been issued by the Health Department. ... C. No license above provided for shall be granted for a term exceeding one year. Licenses issued under this chapter shall expire on December 31 at each year. Applications shall be renewed by Ja...
Door Locking Hardware
Bergenfield's Chapter 239, Article IV bars keyed door knobs and deadbolts on interior doors in rental dwellings. Under § 239-19, doors serving bedrooms, bathrooms and other livable spaces must open without a key, a rule the Borough Council adopted in 2025 to prevent illegal boarding and to keep emergency responders from having to force locked interior doors.
Bergenfield Bans Keyed Interior Door Locks
Some RestrictionsBergenfield Borough Code § 239-19
§ 239-19. Locked interior doors. Interior doors are not permitted to have keyed door knobs or deadbolts. Interior doors servicing bedrooms, bathrooms, and other livable spaces shall be readily openable without the need for keys. Keyed door knobs may impede entry in emergency situations resulting in demolition of such doors. Keyed door knobs can also be an indication of boarding, which is strict...
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Every residential occupancy in the Borough of Bergenfield must have working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms installed and maintained under state fire-code standards. Sellers and landlords must certify compliance before closing or renting through a Certificate of Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Compliance (CSDCMAC), part of the certificate of occupancy application administered by the Construction Office.
Bergenfield Requires Smoke and CO Alarms
Some RestrictionsBergenfield Borough Code § 232-5
§ 232-5. Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms. Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms shall be installed and maintained in all residential occupancies as per N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.3.
Building Permits
Bergenfield requires a construction permit from its State Uniform Construction Code Enforcing Agency, the Bergenfield Construction Code Department, before building, plumbing, electrical, elevator or fire protection work begins. The Borough's fee schedule in Code § 136-4 lists the triggers: new construction, additions, renovations, swimming pools, fences over six feet and flammable-liquid tanks all require a permit before work starts.
When Bergenfield Requires a Building Permit
Some RestrictionsBergenfield Borough Code §§ 136-1, 136-4
There is hereby established in the Borough of Bergenfield a State Uniform Construction Code Enforcing Agency to be known as the "Bergenfield Construction Code Department," consisting of a Construction Official, Building Subcode Official, Plumbing Subcode Official, Electrical Subcode Official, Fire Protection Subcode Official and such other subcode officials for such additional subcodes as the C...
Building Inspections
Bergenfield enforces the State Uniform Construction Code through the Bergenfield Construction Code Department, run by a Construction Official with separate Building, Plumbing, Electrical and Fire Protection Subcode Officials. A basic construction permit starts at a $60 minimum fee for one- and two-family homes, $100 for every other use group.
Bergenfield Construction Code Enforcement and Fees
Some RestrictionsBergenfield Borough Code §§ 136-1, 136-4A
There is hereby established in the Borough of Bergenfield a State Uniform Construction Code Enforcing Agency to be known as the "Bergenfield Construction Code Department," consisting of a Construction Official, Building Subcode Official, Plumbing Subcode Official, Electrical Subcode Official, Fire Protection Subcode Official and such other subcode officials for such additional subcodes as the C...
Looking for Bergen County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Bergenfield city rules.
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