Toms River, NJ Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)

Toms River Township adopted the 2006 International Property Maintenance Code, "together with any subsequent amendment, change or supplement thereto," as the governing habitability standard for every rental dwelling in the Township (§ 335-1). Section 335-2 amends that code locally: the Code Enforcement Officer supervises the Bureau of Property Maintenance and the Housing Inspection Division (§ 335-2C, D, as amended 2-14-2024 by Ord. No. 4799-24), which have exclusive responsibility for inspections and orders under the code. M designates the Construction Official as the "public officer" who investigates complaints filed by a public authority or by at least five residents, holds a hearing 10 to 30 days after serving a complaint, and, after finding the building unfit, orders the owner to repair, alter or improve it within a reasonable time, or to vacate and close it.

If the condition is dangerous to health or safety and the owner does not comply, the public officer can have the building demolished after bidding. All costs of repair, closing or demolition become a municipal lien on the property; an owner has 60 days from the lien filing to contest the amount in Superior Court. P also requires every premises to be graded to prevent erosion and standing water, and bars sump pumps from discharging onto sidewalks, streets or neighboring lots. A. J). Ten marked copies of the code are kept on file at the Township Clerk's office for public review (§ 335-3).