Union, NJ Residential Lease Agreement

Union · Union County, New Jersey

Union municipal data verified: August 31, 2026

Page content reviewed: August 19, 2026

Download Union 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 Union's municipal addendum.

What Union requires before the tenant moves in

Rental Certificate of Occupancy (20+ unit multifamily) / Rental Registration and License with annual inspection (20 units or fewer).

When it applies. Every initial occupancy or change of occupancy. Art. I (20+ unit multifamily): a rental certificate of occupancy must issue before a tenant occupies. Art. III (buildings of 20 units or fewer, including 1-2 family): the unit must be registered initially, yearly and at each change of occupancy, pass an annual inspection, and hold a current license before occupancy.

Who handles it. Building Department / Construction Code Official, Township of Union, 1976 Morris Ave, Union NJ 07083; 908-851-8509. Registration and licensing are filed with the Township Clerk or the Clerk's designee.

From the ordinance. Township Code Ch. 447 (Rental Property). Art. I (adopted 2-22-1994 by Ord. 4293) requires inspection on every initial or change of occupancy and states at Sec. 447-4 that 'No tenant shall occupy any building, structure or any units thereof until a rental certificate of occupancy has been issued'; there shall not be more than one such inspection biannually per unit. IMPORTANT SCOPE LIMIT: Sec. 447-9 defines MULTIFAMILY as a building comprising 20 or more separate dwelling or apartment units, so Art. I reaches only large multifamily. Art. III (Registration and Licensing) fills the gap for everything else: Sec. 447-29 requires registration of all rental units except buildings of more than 20 units, Sec. 447-30 requires registration initially, yearly and with each change of occupancy, Sec. 447-33A requires annual inspection, Sec. 447-36 conditions the license on a satisfactory inspection, and Sec. 447-35 bars occupancy of an unregistered or unlicensed rental unit. Art. I fee $75 per apartment inspection including one reinspection ($50 each additional); Art. III fee $50 per unit per year with waivers for qualifying senior owner-occupants and 501(c)(3) owners. Note a drafting seam: a building of exactly 20 units is described by both articles (Art. I says '20 or more', Art. III excepts 'more than 20'). The Building Department's separate residential Certificate of Continued Occupancy ('Residential Resale Certificate', $175, smoke/CO/extinguisher, valid 3 months) is triggered by SALE/RESALE, not by rental. DISAMBIGUATION: this is the TOWNSHIP OF UNION in Union County, not Union City (Hudson County) and not Union Township in Hunterdon County.

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 Union 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 Union'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 Building Department / Construction Code Official, Township of Union, 1976 Morris Ave, Union NJ 07083; 908-851-8509. Registration and licensing are filed with the Township Clerk or the Clerk's designee. before the tenant moves in.

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

Yes. Union runs a Rental Certificate of Occupancy (20+ unit multifamily) / Rental Registration and License with annual inspection (20 units or fewer). Every initial occupancy or change of occupancy. Art. I (20+ unit multifamily): a rental certificate of occupancy must issue before a tenant occupies. Art. III (buildings of 20 units or fewer, including 1-2 family): the unit must be registered initially, yearly and at each change of occupancy, pass an annual inspection, and hold a current license before occupancy. Township Code Ch. 447 (Rental Property). Art. I (adopted 2-22-1994 by Ord. 4293) requires inspection on every initial or change of occupancy and states at Sec. 447-4 that 'No tenant shall occupy any building, structure or any units thereof until a rental certificate of occupancy has been issued'; there shall not be more than one such inspection biannually per unit. IMPORTANT SCOPE LIMIT: Sec. 447-9 defines MULTIFAMILY as a building comprising 20 or more separate dwelling or apartment units, so Art. I reaches only large multifamily. Art. III (Registration and Licensing) fills the gap for everything else: Sec. 447-29 requires registration of all rental units except buildings of more than 20 units, Sec. 447-30 requires registration initially, yearly and with each change of occupancy, Sec. 447-33A requires annual inspection, Sec. 447-36 conditions the license on a satisfactory inspection, and Sec. 447-35 bars occupancy of an unregistered or unlicensed rental unit. Art. I fee $75 per apartment inspection including one reinspection ($50 each additional); Art. III fee $50 per unit per year with waivers for qualifying senior owner-occupants and 501(c)(3) owners. Note a drafting seam: a building of exactly 20 units is described by both articles (Art. I says '20 or more', Art. III excepts 'more than 20'). The Building Department's separate residential Certificate of Continued Occupancy ('Residential Resale Certificate', $175, smoke/CO/extinguisher, valid 3 months) is triggered by SALE/RESALE, not by rental. DISAMBIGUATION: this is the TOWNSHIP OF UNION in Union County, not Union City (Hudson County) and not Union Township in Hunterdon County. Confirm current details with Building Department / Construction Code Official, Township of Union, 1976 Morris Ave, Union NJ 07083; 908-851-8509. Registration and licensing are filed with the Township Clerk or the Clerk's designee. and the official sources on this page.

When can the lease start in Union?

Set the start date after the certificate or inspection is issued, not before. Every initial occupancy or change of occupancy. Art. I (20+ unit multifamily): a rental certificate of occupancy must issue before a tenant occupies. Art. III (buildings of 20 units or fewer, including 1-2 family): the unit must be registered initially, yearly and at each change of occupancy, pass an annual inspection, and hold a current license before 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 Union?

Yes. Union'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.