East Orange, NJ Rental Inspections: Inspection Programs (2026)

City Code § 159-45 makes it unlawful for any property owner, tenant placement organization, landlord or tenant to rent, accept rental payments, or deliver up for occupancy any building, premises, apartment or dwelling unit until a certificate of habitability confirming compliance with Chapter 159 has been issued by the Public Officer or designee. The Public Officer must issue that certificate within 15 days of a written request, after inspection and approval by a housing inspector; the certificate stays effective as long as occupancy remains unchanged, and any safety concerns found must be reported to and signed by the landlord.

Section 159-46 sets the certificate fee at $100 ($75 for new developments or substantially rehabilitated buildings of 10 or more units), with the first reinspection free and later reinspections $75 each. Buildings with five or more dwelling units carry an added duty under § 159-55: the owner, operator or lessor must register the premises with the Public Officer by June 1 of each year, and within two weeks of any change in owner, agent or superintendent, naming the responsible parties on a form the Public Officer provides.

General inspections of residential buildings under § 159-15 must occur between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. unless the premises are unavailable during those hours or there is reason to believe an immediate health or safety threat exists. Violations of Chapter 159, including failure to obtain a certificate of habitability or register a five-or-more-unit building, are punished under § 159-44 by a fine of not less than $250 nor more than $2,000 per offense, imprisonment up to 90 days, community service up to 90 days, or a combination, with owners facing fines over $1,250 given a 30-day cure period and hearing before further penalties apply.