Piscataway, NJ Residential Lease Agreement

Piscataway · Middlesex County, New Jersey

Piscataway municipal data verified: August 31, 2026

Page content reviewed: August 19, 2026

Download Piscataway 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 Piscataway's municipal addendum.

What Piscataway requires before the tenant moves in

Municipal Certificate of Continued Compliance (MCCC).

When it applies. Sale or rental. A new MCCC is required on each change of tenancy, before any new tenant occupies the property.

Who handles it. MCCC Office, Department of Community Development, Township of Piscataway, 505 Sidney Road, Piscataway NJ 08854; 732-562-2393; mccc@piscatawaynj.org

From the ordinance. Piscataway Municipal Code Sec. 14-4 (Municipal Certificates of Occupancy and Continued Compliance), Ch. 14 (Building). The MCCC program has been in effect since January 1, 2019 and applies to existing residential dwellings as well as commercial, industrial and office property; no narrow residential subset limit was found. Township fee schedule: $150 per unit for single-family, condominium or townhome; $150 per unit for two-family; $125 temporary; $100 reinspection from the third reinspection onward. Landlords also face a separate annual landlord registration ($100 per unit), must supply a Lead Safe Certificate for pre-1978 rentals, and must show proof of $500,000 liability insurance. Verify current fees on the Township MCCC page.

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 Piscataway 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 Piscataway'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 MCCC Office, Department of Community Development, Township of Piscataway, 505 Sidney Road, Piscataway NJ 08854; 732-562-2393; mccc@piscatawaynj.org before the tenant moves in.

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

Yes. Piscataway runs a Municipal Certificate of Continued Compliance (MCCC). Sale or rental. A new MCCC is required on each change of tenancy, before any new tenant occupies the property. Piscataway Municipal Code Sec. 14-4 (Municipal Certificates of Occupancy and Continued Compliance), Ch. 14 (Building). The MCCC program has been in effect since January 1, 2019 and applies to existing residential dwellings as well as commercial, industrial and office property; no narrow residential subset limit was found. Township fee schedule: $150 per unit for single-family, condominium or townhome; $150 per unit for two-family; $125 temporary; $100 reinspection from the third reinspection onward. Landlords also face a separate annual landlord registration ($100 per unit), must supply a Lead Safe Certificate for pre-1978 rentals, and must show proof of $500,000 liability insurance. Verify current fees on the Township MCCC page. Confirm current details with MCCC Office, Department of Community Development, Township of Piscataway, 505 Sidney Road, Piscataway NJ 08854; 732-562-2393; mccc@piscatawaynj.org and the official sources on this page.

When can the lease start in Piscataway?

Set the start date after the certificate or inspection is issued, not before. Sale or rental. A new MCCC is required on each change of tenancy, before any new tenant occupies the property. 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 Piscataway?

Yes. Piscataway'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.