Gloucester Township, NJ Residential Lease Agreement

Gloucester Township · Camden County, New Jersey

Gloucester Township municipal data verified: August 29, 2026

Page content reviewed: August 19, 2026

Download Gloucester Township 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 Gloucester Township's municipal addendum.

What Gloucester Township requires before the tenant moves in

Rental Housing and Property Maintenance Compliance Code registration and certificate.

When it applies. Every change of occupancy, and annually. § 59A-4B: each rental unit and rental facility must be registered annually and with each unit change in occupancy, and no rental unit may be rented unless it is registered, inspected and issued a certificate. § 59A-9 requires a new certificate every time a residential rental unit changes tenants, users or occupants.

Who handles it. Division of Rental Housing and Property Maintenance Compliance (§ 59A-3)

From the ordinance. Fees under § 59A-10: $25 per unit annually for a property of three or fewer units; $15 per unit plus a $125 building fee for four or more units; $2,500 flat plus a $125 building fee for a complex of 50 or more units; $50 per unit re-inspection; $100 per unit late fee after February 15. Units are inspected at least once in every twelve-month period (§ 59A-7), with an exemption available where 85% of a complex's units pass for two consecutive years (§ 59A-7D). Verified from the published ordinance code; confirm the current fee schedule and application route with the division. Do not confuse this township with Gloucester City, a separate Camden County municipality with its own code.

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

Official sources

Verified 2026-08-29 against the sources above. Ordinances change; confirm with Division of Rental Housing and Property Maintenance Compliance (§ 59A-3) before the tenant moves in.

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

Yes. Gloucester Township runs a Rental Housing and Property Maintenance Compliance Code registration and certificate. Every change of occupancy, and annually. § 59A-4B: each rental unit and rental facility must be registered annually and with each unit change in occupancy, and no rental unit may be rented unless it is registered, inspected and issued a certificate. § 59A-9 requires a new certificate every time a residential rental unit changes tenants, users or occupants. Fees under § 59A-10: $25 per unit annually for a property of three or fewer units; $15 per unit plus a $125 building fee for four or more units; $2,500 flat plus a $125 building fee for a complex of 50 or more units; $50 per unit re-inspection; $100 per unit late fee after February 15. Units are inspected at least once in every twelve-month period (§ 59A-7), with an exemption available where 85% of a complex's units pass for two consecutive years (§ 59A-7D). Verified from the published ordinance code; confirm the current fee schedule and application route with the division. Do not confuse this township with Gloucester City, a separate Camden County municipality with its own code. Confirm current details with Division of Rental Housing and Property Maintenance Compliance (§ 59A-3) and the official sources on this page.

When can the lease start in Gloucester Township?

Set the start date after the certificate or inspection is issued, not before. Every change of occupancy, and annually. § 59A-4B: each rental unit and rental facility must be registered annually and with each unit change in occupancy, and no rental unit may be rented unless it is registered, inspected and issued a certificate. § 59A-9 requires a new certificate every time a residential rental unit changes tenants, users or occupants. 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 Gloucester Township?

Yes. Gloucester 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.

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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.