Franklin Township, NJ Residential Lease Agreement
Franklin Township · Somerset County, New Jersey
Franklin Township municipal data verified: August 29, 2026
Page content reviewed: August 19, 2026
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 Franklin Township's municipal addendum.
What Franklin Township requires before the tenant moves in
Certificate of occupancy for multiple dwelling units (Code Ch. 151, Housing Standards).
When it applies. Change of occupancy of a unit in a multiple dwelling. § 151-6 requires a certificate of occupancy prior to renting the unit or, for a unit already rented, at the renting of it to any new tenant. Under § 151-10 the owner or operator must notify the Township Building Inspector and the Somerset County Department of Health within 48 hours of any vacancy, and the certificate or a written denial issues within 48 hours of that notice.
Who handles it. Township Building Inspector, together with the Somerset County Department of Health
From the ordinance. SCOPE: this is not a townwide rental CO. Chapter 151 attaches the change-of-occupancy certificate to MULTIPLE dwelling units (and requires annual inspection with a certificate for hotels, motels, rooming houses and senior residences); on its face it does not require a change-of-occupancy certificate for a rented single-family house. Multiple dwelling units and common areas are additionally inspected every fifth year under N.J.S.A. 55:13A-13, with a certificate of occupancy required for continued occupancy, and living units in multifamily dwellings get a five-yearly Fire Prevention inspection. Separately, the township's Construction Code FAQ states that a certificate of continued occupancy inspection is NOT required when selling a residential home in Franklin Township - a Fire Prevention Department inspection is what is required there - and that a Certificate of Continued Building Compliance (CCBC) is required for commercial property and for new tenants. No fee schedule appeared on either source; confirm the current fee, and the treatment of a one- or two-family rental, with the Building Inspector before relying on this.
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 Franklin Township 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 Franklin Township's requirement as a printed addendum so the person signing it can see the same thing.
Official sources
- https://ecode360.com/6343163
- https://www.franklintwpnj.org/departments/construction-code
- New Jersey Landlord Registration / Identity Law (N.J.S.A. 46:8-27 to 46:8-37)
Verified 2026-08-29 against the sources above. Ordinances change; confirm with Township Building Inspector, together with the Somerset County Department of Health before the tenant moves in.
Required statewide, on top of Franklin Township'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 Franklin Township require a certificate of occupancy before a new tenant moves in?
Yes. Franklin Township runs a Certificate of occupancy for multiple dwelling units (Code Ch. 151, Housing Standards). Change of occupancy of a unit in a multiple dwelling. § 151-6 requires a certificate of occupancy prior to renting the unit or, for a unit already rented, at the renting of it to any new tenant. Under § 151-10 the owner or operator must notify the Township Building Inspector and the Somerset County Department of Health within 48 hours of any vacancy, and the certificate or a written denial issues within 48 hours of that notice. SCOPE: this is not a townwide rental CO. Chapter 151 attaches the change-of-occupancy certificate to MULTIPLE dwelling units (and requires annual inspection with a certificate for hotels, motels, rooming houses and senior residences); on its face it does not require a change-of-occupancy certificate for a rented single-family house. Multiple dwelling units and common areas are additionally inspected every fifth year under N.J.S.A. 55:13A-13, with a certificate of occupancy required for continued occupancy, and living units in multifamily dwellings get a five-yearly Fire Prevention inspection. Separately, the township's Construction Code FAQ states that a certificate of continued occupancy inspection is NOT required when selling a residential home in Franklin Township - a Fire Prevention Department inspection is what is required there - and that a Certificate of Continued Building Compliance (CCBC) is required for commercial property and for new tenants. No fee schedule appeared on either source; confirm the current fee, and the treatment of a one- or two-family rental, with the Building Inspector before relying on this. Confirm current details with Township Building Inspector, together with the Somerset County Department of Health and the official sources on this page.
When can the lease start in Franklin Township?
Set the start date after the certificate or inspection is issued, not before. Change of occupancy of a unit in a multiple dwelling. § 151-6 requires a certificate of occupancy prior to renting the unit or, for a unit already rented, at the renting of it to any new tenant. Under § 151-10 the owner or operator must notify the Township Building Inspector and the Somerset County Department of Health within 48 hours of any vacancy, and the certificate or a written denial issues within 48 hours of that notice. 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 Franklin Township?
Yes. Franklin Township'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
- Landlord registration and certificate of occupancy in Franklin Township
- New Jersey lease agreement template - the statewide version and every other town
- What New Jersey law requires in a lease
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.