Clifton, NJ Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Hot water minimum
- 120°F at every fixture (§ 273-8G)
- Water flow minimum
- 4 gallons/minute hot or cold (§ 273-8D)
- Egress width
- At least 30 inches wide (§ 273-8H)
- Required fixtures
- Kitchen sink, toilet, lavatory, tub/shower
- Enforcer
- Public officer (City Manager or agent)
Summary
Clifton law bars anyone from occupying or renting out a dwelling unit that lacks a working kitchen sink, a private bathroom with a flush toilet, lavatory and tub or shower, hot water reaching 120 degrees Fahrenheit, and a 30-inch-wide unobstructed exit, under Code § 273-8. Enforcement runs through the Health Officer and public officer.
No person shall occupy as owner-occupant or let to another for occupancy any dwelling or dwelling unit, for the purpose of living, sleeping, cooking or eating therein which does not comply with the following requirements: A. Every dwelling unit shall contain a kitchen sink in good working condition and properly connected to a water and sewer system approved by the Health Officer. B. Every dwelling unit shall contain a room which affords privacy to a person within said room and which is equipped with a flush water closet and a lavatory basin and a bathtub or shower in good working condition and properly connected to a water and sewer system approved by the Health Officer. ... G. Every dwelling shall have supplied water-heating facilities which are properly installed, are maintained in safe and good working condition, are properly connected with the hot-water lines required under the provisions of Subsection D of this section and are capable of heating water to such a temperature as to permit an adequate amount of water to be drawn at every required kitchen sink, lavatory basin, bathtub or shower at a temperature of not less than 120º F.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4963532; v64 updated 2026-07-21; through 07-21-2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 273-8, Minimum requirements, makes it unlawful to occupy or let for occupancy any dwelling unit that does not comply with a list of fixed physical standards. Every unit must have a kitchen sink connected to an approved water and sewer system (§ 273-8A) and a private room with a flush water closet, lavatory basin and bathtub or shower, also properly connected (§ 273-8B, C). ' at every fixture even when the space-heating system is off (§ 273-8G). Every unit needs adequate rubbish and garbage storage, with organic waste kept in watertight, covered metal or similar receptacles, at least one per unit (§ 273-8E).
Bathroom fixtures must be reachable without passing through another unit's space (§ 273-8F), and every unit needs a safe, unobstructed exit at least 30 inches wide leading to open ground-level space (§ 273-8H). Newly built residential buildings also need heavy-duty entrance locks, dead bolts on unit doors, chain guards, and inside-only sash locks on openable windows (§ 273-8I). Companion sections add light and ventilation minimums (§ 273-9) and room-size minimums, including at least 150 square feet for the first two occupants of a unit (§ 273-10A).
Violations & Fines
Letting or occupying a unit that fails § 273-8's standards is enforced through the public officer's unfitness process in §§ 273-2 through 273-7: after notice and a hearing, the officer can order repairs, or vacate-and-close, or demolition, with the City's costs becoming a lien on the property under § 273-6 if the owner does not comply.
Frequently Asked Questions
What plumbing must a Clifton rental have?
How hot does the water have to be?
What happens if a rental doesn't meet these standards?
Sources & Official References
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