Fort Lee, NJ Residential Lease Agreement

Fort Lee · Bergen County, New Jersey

Fort Lee municipal data verified: August 10, 2026

Page content reviewed: August 19, 2026

Download Fort Lee 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 Fort Lee's municipal addendum.

What Fort Lee requires before the tenant moves in

Certificate of Continuing Occupancy (CCO).

When it applies. No one may occupy or use any portion of a residential (or commercial or industrial) building after it has been vacated or sold, or where there has been a change in occupancy, until the owner/landlord applies for and secures a Certificate of Continuing Occupancy.

Who handles it. Building Department (Construction Official/Zoning Officer), 1365 Inwood Terrace, 201-592-3500 x1503; certificate issued by the enforcement officer appointed by the Construction Official

From the ordinance. Code of the Borough of Fort Lee Ch. 182, Sec. 182-1(A). On receipt of the application and fee the enforcement officer inspects the premises for compliance with applicable building, health, safety, and fire codes. Application fee is $75, and the officer may waive the inspection and fee if the same premises was inspected within the prior 180 days. If violations are found there is no new occupancy or use until compliance is obtained. A sitting residential tenant who buys the unit within 24 months of a tenancy that already had a CCO does not need a new CCO for the title transfer. The Borough publishes a housing inspection checklist covering smoke and CO detectors within 10 feet of sleeping areas, detectors replaced within 10 years, a mounted 5 to 10 lb ABC fire extinguisher, working plumbing and heat, unobstructed egress, and screens.

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 Fort Lee 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 Fort Lee's requirement as a printed addendum so the person signing it can see the same thing.

Official sources

Verified 2026-08-10 against the sources above. Ordinances change; confirm with Building Department (Construction Official/Zoning Officer), 1365 Inwood Terrace, 201-592-3500 x1503; certificate issued by the enforcement officer appointed by the Construction Official before the tenant moves in.

Required statewide, on top of Fort Lee'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 Fort Lee require a certificate of occupancy before a new tenant moves in?

Yes. Fort Lee runs a Certificate of Continuing Occupancy (CCO). No one may occupy or use any portion of a residential (or commercial or industrial) building after it has been vacated or sold, or where there has been a change in occupancy, until the owner/landlord applies for and secures a Certificate of Continuing Occupancy. Code of the Borough of Fort Lee Ch. 182, Sec. 182-1(A). On receipt of the application and fee the enforcement officer inspects the premises for compliance with applicable building, health, safety, and fire codes. Application fee is $75, and the officer may waive the inspection and fee if the same premises was inspected within the prior 180 days. If violations are found there is no new occupancy or use until compliance is obtained. A sitting residential tenant who buys the unit within 24 months of a tenancy that already had a CCO does not need a new CCO for the title transfer. The Borough publishes a housing inspection checklist covering smoke and CO detectors within 10 feet of sleeping areas, detectors replaced within 10 years, a mounted 5 to 10 lb ABC fire extinguisher, working plumbing and heat, unobstructed egress, and screens. Confirm current details with Building Department (Construction Official/Zoning Officer), 1365 Inwood Terrace, 201-592-3500 x1503; certificate issued by the enforcement officer appointed by the Construction Official and the official sources on this page.

When can the lease start in Fort Lee?

Set the start date after the certificate or inspection is issued, not before. No one may occupy or use any portion of a residential (or commercial or industrial) building after it has been vacated or sold, or where there has been a change in occupancy, until the owner/landlord applies for and secures a Certificate of Continuing Occupancy. 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 Fort Lee?

Yes. Fort Lee'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.