Rahway, NJ Residential Lease Agreement
Rahway · Union County, New Jersey
Rahway municipal data verified: August 24, 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 Rahway's municipal addendum.
What Rahway requires before the tenant moves in
Certificate of Approval for Continued Occupancy (CACO) + rental registration.
When it applies. No rental unit may be rented unless registered and issued a CACO (Sec. 257-25). Inspection at least every 3 years or upon any change in occupancy/number of tenants; a new registration fee is due at each change of occupancy.
Who handles it. Department of Code Enforcement, Division of Property Maintenance, City Hall Plaza, Rahway NJ, 732-827-2199; registration filed with the City Clerk
From the ordinance. Rahway Code Ch. 257, Art. IV, Secs. 257-23 to 257-35, adopted 8/11/2025 (Ord. O-39-25), amended 10/14/2025 (Ord. O-48-25) - a very new program. Registration fee $50/unit. Municipal registration applies to buildings of 4 or fewer dwelling units (larger buildings are excluded and state-registered); owner-occupied units exempt; $500,000 liability insurance required; CACO must be posted in the unit; temporary CACO (TCACO) available for minor violations with a 30-day cure; senior-citizen resident-owner inspection fee waiver; penalties up to $2,000/day.
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 Rahway 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 Rahway's requirement as a printed addendum so the person signing it can see the same thing.
Official sources
- https://ecode360.com/48040889
- https://www.cityofrahway.org/176/Code-Enforcement
- New Jersey Landlord Registration / Identity Law (N.J.S.A. 46:8-27 to 46:8-37)
Verified 2026-08-24 against the sources above. Ordinances change; confirm with Department of Code Enforcement, Division of Property Maintenance, City Hall Plaza, Rahway NJ, 732-827-2199; registration filed with the City Clerk before the tenant moves in.
Required statewide, on top of Rahway'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 Rahway require a certificate of occupancy before a new tenant moves in?
Yes. Rahway runs a Certificate of Approval for Continued Occupancy (CACO) + rental registration. No rental unit may be rented unless registered and issued a CACO (Sec. 257-25). Inspection at least every 3 years or upon any change in occupancy/number of tenants; a new registration fee is due at each change of occupancy. Rahway Code Ch. 257, Art. IV, Secs. 257-23 to 257-35, adopted 8/11/2025 (Ord. O-39-25), amended 10/14/2025 (Ord. O-48-25) - a very new program. Registration fee $50/unit. Municipal registration applies to buildings of 4 or fewer dwelling units (larger buildings are excluded and state-registered); owner-occupied units exempt; $500,000 liability insurance required; CACO must be posted in the unit; temporary CACO (TCACO) available for minor violations with a 30-day cure; senior-citizen resident-owner inspection fee waiver; penalties up to $2,000/day. Confirm current details with Department of Code Enforcement, Division of Property Maintenance, City Hall Plaza, Rahway NJ, 732-827-2199; registration filed with the City Clerk and the official sources on this page.
When can the lease start in Rahway?
Set the start date after the certificate or inspection is issued, not before. No rental unit may be rented unless registered and issued a CACO (Sec. 257-25). Inspection at least every 3 years or upon any change in occupancy/number of tenants; a new registration fee is due at each change of 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 Rahway?
Yes. Rahway'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 Rahway
- 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.