Carteret, NJ Residential Lease Agreement

Carteret · Middlesex County, New Jersey

Carteret municipal data verified: August 31, 2026

Page content reviewed: August 19, 2026

Download Carteret lease (Word)Open to print or save as PDF

Free, no email required. The Word file is a blank you fill in; the print version opens in a new tab and saves as a PDF from your browser's print dialog. Both include Carteret's municipal addendum.

What Carteret requires before the tenant moves in

Certificate of Habitability.

When it applies. Before any dwelling unit is leased, subleased, rented, let or sold. In practice the inspection is tied to a unit being vacated / a new tenancy: the owner requests inspection up to 21 days before the expected vacancy, or within 10 days after the tenant vacates.

Who handles it. Code Enforcement Officer, Borough of Carteret, 61 Cooke Ave, Carteret NJ 07008; 732-541-3800

From the ordinance. Borough Code Ch. 99 (Certificates of Habitability), adopted 1-18-1985 by Ord. 84-45, amended in its entirety 6-5-1986 by Ord. 86-12, with later amendments (Ord. 03-33, Ord. 11-14). Sec. 99-3: no multiple dwelling, apartment, dwelling unit or mobile space may be leased, rented or sold without a certificate of habitability from the Code Enforcement Officer. Ch. 99's MULTIPLE DWELLING definition (Sec. 99-1) covers buildings with two or more rented units including mobile homes and trailer parks, and expressly EXCLUDES owner-occupied two-family homes, motels, hotels and boarding homes. Separately, Sec. 99-2 (as amended 2011) requires an owner statement filed with the Municipal Clerk that reaches all one- or two-unit rental premises including owner-occupied two-family and non-owner-occupied single-family rentals. Fee equals the borough's certificate-of-occupancy fee. If the Code Enforcement Officer cannot inspect within 7 working days of the owner's request, the unit may be occupied subject to later inspection (Sec. 99-4E).

What that means for your lease start date

The lease start date in Section 2 of the template is the date the tenant is entitled to occupy the unit. In Carteret that date should fall after the certificate or inspection above has been issued, not before it. Schedule the inspection first, then write the start date.

If the certificate slips, the tenant cannot lawfully take occupancy on the day the lease says they can, and you are holding a signed contract you cannot perform. The copy of the lease on this page carries Carteret's requirement as a printed addendum so the person signing it can see the same thing.

Official sources

Verified 2026-08-31 against the sources above. Ordinances change; confirm with Code Enforcement Officer, Borough of Carteret, 61 Cooke Ave, Carteret NJ 07008; 732-541-3800 before the tenant moves in.

Required statewide, on top of Carteret's rule

Register as a landlord (New Jersey Landlord Registration / Identity Law, N.J.S.A. 46:8-27 to 46:8-37). File within 30 days, or at creation of the first tenancy in a newly constructed/reconstructed building (46:8-28). Give each tenant a copy of the registration certificate at the start of a new tenancy (46:8-29). File an amended certificate within 20 days of any change to the form's information (46:8-28.2).

File with the right office. One-unit or two-unit non-owner-occupied: Municipal clerk of the town where the property is located (or the official the clerk designates). Three or more units: NJ DCA Bureau of Housing Inspection. Owners of tenant-occupied single-family and two-family properties must also file a registration with the DCA Bureau of Housing Inspection (46:8-28.5), with limited exceptions (e.g., certified lead-free or post-1978 owner-occupied two-family, seasonal rental under 6 months).

If you do not register. In an action for possession by a non-compliant landlord, no judgment for possession until registration; the court continues the case up to 90 days, then dismisses (46:8-33). Penalty up to $500 per offense (46:8-35); tenant rights cannot be waived (46:8-36).

Questions

Does Carteret require a certificate of occupancy before a new tenant moves in?

Yes. Carteret runs a Certificate of Habitability. Before any dwelling unit is leased, subleased, rented, let or sold. In practice the inspection is tied to a unit being vacated / a new tenancy: the owner requests inspection up to 21 days before the expected vacancy, or within 10 days after the tenant vacates. Borough Code Ch. 99 (Certificates of Habitability), adopted 1-18-1985 by Ord. 84-45, amended in its entirety 6-5-1986 by Ord. 86-12, with later amendments (Ord. 03-33, Ord. 11-14). Sec. 99-3: no multiple dwelling, apartment, dwelling unit or mobile space may be leased, rented or sold without a certificate of habitability from the Code Enforcement Officer. Ch. 99's MULTIPLE DWELLING definition (Sec. 99-1) covers buildings with two or more rented units including mobile homes and trailer parks, and expressly EXCLUDES owner-occupied two-family homes, motels, hotels and boarding homes. Separately, Sec. 99-2 (as amended 2011) requires an owner statement filed with the Municipal Clerk that reaches all one- or two-unit rental premises including owner-occupied two-family and non-owner-occupied single-family rentals. Fee equals the borough's certificate-of-occupancy fee. If the Code Enforcement Officer cannot inspect within 7 working days of the owner's request, the unit may be occupied subject to later inspection (Sec. 99-4E). Confirm current details with Code Enforcement Officer, Borough of Carteret, 61 Cooke Ave, Carteret NJ 07008; 732-541-3800 and the official sources on this page.

When can the lease start in Carteret?

Set the start date after the certificate or inspection is issued, not before. Before any dwelling unit is leased, subleased, rented, let or sold. In practice the inspection is tied to a unit being vacated / a new tenancy: the owner requests inspection up to 21 days before the expected vacancy, or within 10 days after the tenant vacates. If the certificate is late, the tenant cannot lawfully take occupancy on the date written in the lease, which is the problem this page exists to prevent.

Do I still have to register as a landlord in Carteret?

Yes. Carteret's municipal requirement is on top of, not instead of, New Jersey's statewide Landlord Registration / Identity Law (N.J.S.A. 46:8-27 to 46:8-37). Both apply.

Related

This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or tax advice. Consult a licensed attorney or real estate professional for advice specific to your situation.