How to register as a landlord in Franklin Township
New Jersey's New Jersey Landlord Registration / Identity Law (N.J.S.A. 46:8-27 to 46:8-37) applies statewide, so the registration requirement is the same in Franklin Township as it is everywhere else in New Jersey. It requires landlords to file a certificate of registration identifying who owns and manages the property and who to reach in an emergency.
Where to file
- One-unit rentals, and two-unit non-owner-occupied properties: Municipal clerk of the town where the property is located (or the official the clerk designates).
- Three or more units (multiple dwellings): NJ DCA Bureau of Housing Inspection.
- Single- and two-family rentals (2007 amendment): 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).
Key obligations
- 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).
If you don't 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).
Official source: NJ DCA - Landlord Identity Law (N.J.S.A. 46:8-27 to 46:8-37) (PDF)
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Certificate of occupancy / rental inspection in Franklin Township
N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.12a and 40:48-2.12m authorize municipalities to require a certificate of inspection or occupancy for residential rental property prior to a new occupancy. This is why the requirement exists town-by-town rather than as one statewide process.
- Program
- Certificate of occupancy for multiple dwelling units (Code Ch. 151, Housing Standards)
- Office
- Township Building Inspector, together with the Somerset County Department of Health
- When it's triggered
- Change of occupancy of a unit in a multiple dwelling. § 151-6 requires a certificate of occupancy prior to renting the unit or, for a unit already rented, at the renting of it to any new tenant. Under § 151-10 the owner or operator must notify the Township Building Inspector and the Somerset County Department of Health within 48 hours of any vacancy, and the certificate or a written denial issues within 48 hours of that notice.
- What to know
- SCOPE: this is not a townwide rental CO. Chapter 151 attaches the change-of-occupancy certificate to MULTIPLE dwelling units (and requires annual inspection with a certificate for hotels, motels, rooming houses and senior residences); on its face it does not require a change-of-occupancy certificate for a rented single-family house. Multiple dwelling units and common areas are additionally inspected every fifth year under N.J.S.A. 55:13A-13, with a certificate of occupancy required for continued occupancy, and living units in multifamily dwellings get a five-yearly Fire Prevention inspection. Separately, the township's Construction Code FAQ states that a certificate of continued occupancy inspection is NOT required when selling a residential home in Franklin Township - a Fire Prevention Department inspection is what is required there - and that a Certificate of Continued Building Compliance (CCBC) is required for commercial property and for new tenants. No fee schedule appeared on either source; confirm the current fee, and the treatment of a one- or two-family rental, with the Building Inspector before relying on this.
Local programs and fees change. Confirm the current rule with Township Building Inspector, together with the Somerset County Department of Health before relying on it.
Franklin Township landlord FAQs
Do I have to register as a landlord in Franklin Township?
Yes. New Jersey's Landlord Registration / Identity Law (N.J.S.A. 46:8-27 to 46:8-37) applies statewide, including Franklin Township. For a single-unit rental or a two-unit non-owner-occupied property you file with the municipal clerk; for three or more units you file with the NJ DCA Bureau of Housing Inspection. A 2007 amendment also requires single- and two-family rental owners to file with the DCA.
Does Franklin Township require a certificate of occupancy before renting?
Yes. Franklin Township runs a Certificate of occupancy for multiple dwelling units (Code Ch. 151, Housing Standards). Change of occupancy of a unit in a multiple dwelling. § 151-6 requires a certificate of occupancy prior to renting the unit or, for a unit already rented, at the renting of it to any new tenant. Under § 151-10 the owner or operator must notify the Township Building Inspector and the Somerset County Department of Health within 48 hours of any vacancy, and the certificate or a written denial issues within 48 hours of that notice. SCOPE: this is not a townwide rental CO. Chapter 151 attaches the change-of-occupancy certificate to MULTIPLE dwelling units (and requires annual inspection with a certificate for hotels, motels, rooming houses and senior residences); on its face it does not require a change-of-occupancy certificate for a rented single-family house. Multiple dwelling units and common areas are additionally inspected every fifth year under N.J.S.A. 55:13A-13, with a certificate of occupancy required for continued occupancy, and living units in multifamily dwellings get a five-yearly Fire Prevention inspection. Separately, the township's Construction Code FAQ states that a certificate of continued occupancy inspection is NOT required when selling a residential home in Franklin Township - a Fire Prevention Department inspection is what is required there - and that a Certificate of Continued Building Compliance (CCBC) is required for commercial property and for new tenants. No fee schedule appeared on either source; confirm the current fee, and the treatment of a one- or two-family rental, with the Building Inspector before relying on this. Confirm current details with Township Building Inspector, together with the Somerset County Department of Health and the official sources on this page.
Forms & tools for Somerset County landlords
- NJ Landlord Registration Statement + Filing Kit
- NJ residential lease agreement
- NJ security deposit calculator
- NJ rent increase calculator
- Section 8 landlord requirements in NJ
- NJ Truth in Renting: required tenant disclosure
- How to legally rent out your house in NJ (full guide)
- Back to the full registration directory
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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.