Garfield, NJ Residential Lease Agreement

Garfield · Bergen County, New Jersey

Garfield municipal data verified: August 24, 2026

Page content reviewed: August 19, 2026

Download Garfield 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 Garfield's municipal addendum.

What Garfield requires before the tenant moves in

Dwelling Certificate (rental change-of-occupancy inspection).

When it applies. Per City Ordinance 2213 (Code Ch. 128), the owner and/or tenant must file a Dwelling Certificate and pass inspection upon ANY change of occupancy (new lease, rental, or ownership change), unless a Dwelling Certificate was filed and the unit inspected within 11 months of the new occupancy.

Who handles it. Garfield Fire Prevention Bureau (Dwelling Certificates), City Hall main 973-340-2000; Building Department handles the resale CCO (973-340-2000 x4040)

From the ordinance. Dwelling Certificate fee $60 per dwelling unit (includes smoke detector certification); additional $60 if reinspection needed; payable to the Fire Prevention Bureau; application must be on site at inspection. Requires 10-year sealed battery smoke + CO detectors within 10 ft of all bedrooms; attic/basement access required. A distinct Certificate of Continuing Occupancy (Ch. 105, Ord. 2212 as amended by Ord. 2942/2991) applies to residential SALES and commercial rental/sale/lease: $50 one-family/condo, $100 two-family, $100 first two units of multifamily + $25 each additional unit. Quirk: rental turnover is enforced via the Fire Prevention Bureau's Dwelling Certificate, not the Building Dept CCO. Online applications via garfieldnj.portal.fasttrackgov.com.

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

Official sources

Verified 2026-08-24 against the sources above. Ordinances change; confirm with Garfield Fire Prevention Bureau (Dwelling Certificates), City Hall main 973-340-2000; Building Department handles the resale CCO (973-340-2000 x4040) before the tenant moves in.

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

Yes. Garfield runs a Dwelling Certificate (rental change-of-occupancy inspection). Per City Ordinance 2213 (Code Ch. 128), the owner and/or tenant must file a Dwelling Certificate and pass inspection upon ANY change of occupancy (new lease, rental, or ownership change), unless a Dwelling Certificate was filed and the unit inspected within 11 months of the new occupancy. Dwelling Certificate fee $60 per dwelling unit (includes smoke detector certification); additional $60 if reinspection needed; payable to the Fire Prevention Bureau; application must be on site at inspection. Requires 10-year sealed battery smoke + CO detectors within 10 ft of all bedrooms; attic/basement access required. A distinct Certificate of Continuing Occupancy (Ch. 105, Ord. 2212 as amended by Ord. 2942/2991) applies to residential SALES and commercial rental/sale/lease: $50 one-family/condo, $100 two-family, $100 first two units of multifamily + $25 each additional unit. Quirk: rental turnover is enforced via the Fire Prevention Bureau's Dwelling Certificate, not the Building Dept CCO. Online applications via garfieldnj.portal.fasttrackgov.com. Confirm current details with Garfield Fire Prevention Bureau (Dwelling Certificates), City Hall main 973-340-2000; Building Department handles the resale CCO (973-340-2000 x4040) and the official sources on this page.

When can the lease start in Garfield?

Set the start date after the certificate or inspection is issued, not before. Per City Ordinance 2213 (Code Ch. 128), the owner and/or tenant must file a Dwelling Certificate and pass inspection upon ANY change of occupancy (new lease, rental, or ownership change), unless a Dwelling Certificate was filed and the unit inspected within 11 months of the new 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 Garfield?

Yes. Garfield'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.