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Building Safety in Hackensack, NJ (2026)

10 verified building safety rules for Hackensack, New Jersey, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Lead Paint

Hackensack City Code Chapter 105 requires owners of rental single-family, two-family, and multiple dwellings built before 1978 to have units inspected for lead-based paint hazards at tenant turnover or every three years, with dust wipe sampling and a lead-safe certificate filed with the Code Enforcement Officer.

Hackensack Rental Lead-Based Paint Inspections

Some Restrictions

Hackensack City Code § 105-2, § 105-3, § 105-10

All rental single-family, two-family, and multiple dwelling units must be inspected for lead-based paint hazards in accordance with this chapter except for the following: A. Dwellings constructed during or after 1978. ... The owner shall have every dwelling unit, as defined under this chapter, inspected for lead-based paint hazards upon tenant turnover or within two years of the effective date ...

Elevator Maintenance

Elevators, dumbwaiters and escalators in Hackensack buildings must be maintained to ASME A17.1, with the current inspection certificate posted at the unit or on file for public inspection. Buildings with passenger elevators must keep at least one running whenever the building is occupied.

Hackensack Elevator Inspection and Uptime Rule

Some Restrictions

Hackensack City Code § 100-38

Elevators, dumbwaiters and escalators shall be maintained in compliance with ASME A17.1. The most current certification of inspection shall be on display at all times within the elevator or attached to the escalator or dumbwaiter, or the certificate shall be available for public inspection in the office of the building operator. The inspection and tests shall be performed at not less than the p...

Fire Sprinkler Requirements

Hackensack does not set its own sprinkler mandate: the state Uniform Construction Code decides when a sprinkler system is required. What Section 166-3A(10)(a) fixes locally is the permit fee once one is installed, running from $75 for systems with up to 20 heads to $1,000 for systems with 401 to 1,000 heads, plus $1.50 per head above that.

Hackensack Sprinkler System Permit Fee Table

Some Restrictions

Hackensack City Code §§ 166-1 and 166-3A(10)(a)

§ 166-1. Enforcing agency established. A. There is hereby established in the City of Hackensack a State Uniform Construction Code enforcing agency ... consisting of a Construction Official, Building Subcode Official, Plumbing Subcode Official, Electrical Subcode Official, Fire Protection Subcode Official ... (10) Fire subcode fee schedule. (a) Sprinkler system: Number of Heads Fee 0 to 20 $75 2...

Childcare Center Rules

Hackensack requires a Health Department license before operating a child-care facility for six or more children under six, and Chapter 74 conditions that license on written sign-off from both the Construction Official and the Fire Prevention Bureau chief. An initial license also needs a certificate of occupancy, and renewal requires approval from the Building Subcode Official and Fire Subcode Official.

Hackensack Child-Care Facility Licensing Rules

Some Restrictions

Hackensack City Code §§ 74-2, 74-3, 74-6

No person shall maintain any place for the day care of children in the city unless a license therefor has first been issued by the Health Department in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 107, Licenses and Permits. ... A license shall only be issued for a place where children are given day care if the Chief of the Bureau of Fire Prevention and the Construction Official have indicated thei...

Door Locking Hardware

Doors to any dwelling, rooming or housekeeping unit that is rented, leased or let in Hackensack must have a deadbolt with a throw of at least one inch that opens from inside without a key. A sliding bolt does not qualify, and low, accessible windows need a sash lock.

Hackensack Rental Deadbolt Lock Requirement

Some Restrictions

Hackensack City Code § 100-17R(1)

Doors providing access to a dwelling unit, rooming unit or housekeeping unit that is rented, leased or let shall be equipped with a deadbolt lock designed to be readily openable from the side from which egress is to be made without the need for keys, special knowledge or effort and shall have a lock throw of not less than one inch (25 mm). Such deadbolt locks shall be installed according to the...

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Carbon monoxide detectors are required in every Hackensack residential occupancy that has a fuel-burning device or an attached garage, installed near sleeping areas and listed to UL-2034, under the Property Maintenance Code's firesafety article.

Hackensack Carbon Monoxide Detector Rule

Some Restrictions

Hackensack City Code § 100-43E

Carbon monoxide detectors. Carbon monoxide detectors shall be required in all residential occupancies, except for buildings that do not contain a fuel-burning device or have an attached garage. ... Single-station carbon monoxide alarms shall be installed and maintained in the immediate vicinity of the sleeping areas. ... Carbon monoxide alarms may be battery operated, hardwired or plug-in type ...

Building Permits

Hackensack requires a building permit from the Construction Official before anyone builds, alters or restores a structure or swimming pool, and a certificate of occupancy from the Chief Building Inspector before any building or use changes. City Code § 175-3.2 sets the requirement; enforcement runs through Chapter 175's Article III and Chapter 166's Uniform Construction Code enforcement provisions.

Hackensack Building Permit Requirement

Some Restrictions

Hackensack City Code § 175-3.2

No person shall construct, erect, repair or make any alteration to or restoration of any structure or swimming pool until he shall be applied for and secured a building permit from the Construction Official.

Electrical Permits

Hackensack's Electrical Subcode Official, created by Section 166-1 within the local Uniform Construction Code enforcing agency, issues electrical permits under the fee schedule in Section 166-3A(9): $50 for the first 25 receptacles or fixtures, $35 for each additional 20, and fees running from $50 up to $300 for service panels depending on amperage.

Hackensack Electrical Permit Fee Schedule

Some Restrictions

Hackensack City Code §§ 166-1 and 166-3A(9)

§ 166-1. Enforcing agency established. A. There is hereby established in the City of Hackensack a State Uniform Construction Code enforcing agency ... 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 ... (9) Electrical subcode fe...

Plumbing Permits

Hackensack's Plumbing Subcode Official, one of the positions Section 166-1 creates within the local Uniform Construction Code enforcing agency, issues plumbing permits under the itemized device fees in Section 166-3A(8): $25 for a water closet, lavatory or bathtub, $50 for a water heater, and $150 for a commercial sewer or storm connection.

Hackensack Plumbing Permit Fee Schedule

Some Restrictions

Hackensack City Code §§ 166-1 and 166-3A(8)

§ 166-1. Enforcing agency established. A. There is hereby established in the City of Hackensack a State Uniform Construction Code enforcing agency ... consisting of a Construction Official, Building Subcode Official, Plumbing Subcode Official, Electrical Subcode Official, Fire Protection Subcode Official ... (8) Plumbing permit fees. Device Fee Water closet $25 Urinal/bidet $35 Bathtub $25 Lava...

Building Inspections

Hackensack enforces the state Uniform Construction Code through its own Division of Building Inspection. Section 166-1 creates the local enforcing agency, headed by a Construction Official with Building, Plumbing, Electrical and Fire Protection Subcode Officials, and Section 166-15 sets every construction permit to expire 12 months after issuance unless work is actively underway.

Hackensack UCC Enforcement Agency and Permits

Some Restrictions

Hackensack City Code §§ 166-1, 166-14 and 166-15

§ 166-1. Enforcing agency established. A. There is hereby established in the City of Hackensack a State Uniform Construction Code enforcing agency ... consisting of a Construction Official, Building Subcode Official, Plumbing Subcode Official, Electrical Subcode Official, Fire Protection Subcode Official ... The Construction Official shall be the chief administrator of the enforcing agency. ......

Looking for Bergen County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Hackensack city rules.

Building Safety in Bergen County