Landlord Registration & Certificate of Occupancy in Garfield, NJ

Garfield · Bergen County, New Jersey

Garfield municipal data verified: August 24, 2026

Page content reviewed: August 19, 2026

New to renting in New Jersey? There's a filing checklist before your first tenant.

The NJ Registration Starter Kit covers registration, the required disclosures, a CO/inspection prep checklist, and a filing timeline, in the order you actually do them. One-time $39.

Get the Registration Starter Kit → $39
General information, not legal advice. This page summarizes how New Jersey's statewide landlord-registration law works and what we have (or have not yet) confirmed about Garfield's local certificate-of-occupancy requirement. Always confirm current details with the municipal office before you rent.

How to register as a landlord in Garfield

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 Garfield 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)

Generate your Garfield landlord registration kit

A completed registration statement with every statutory field, filing instructions routed to the right office, and a tenant copy. We show you what to file and where; some towns also require their own form.

Start the registration kit for Garfield

Free to build and preview. Sign in at the last step and we will tell you exactly what this document costs before you generate it. No subscription, no card to start.

Certificate of occupancy / rental inspection in Garfield

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.

Confirmed requirementVerified August 2026Checked against the official sources listed below
Program
Dwelling Certificate (rental change-of-occupancy inspection)
Office
Garfield Fire Prevention Bureau (Dwelling Certificates), City Hall main 973-340-2000; Building Department handles the resale CCO (973-340-2000 x4040)
When it's triggered
Per City Ordinance 2213 (Code Ch. 128), the owner and/or tenant must file a Dwelling Certificate and pass inspection upon ANY change of occupancy (new lease, rental, or ownership change), unless a Dwelling Certificate was filed and the unit inspected within 11 months of the new occupancy.
What to know
Dwelling Certificate fee $60 per dwelling unit (includes smoke detector certification); additional $60 if reinspection needed; payable to the Fire Prevention Bureau; application must be on site at inspection. Requires 10-year sealed battery smoke + CO detectors within 10 ft of all bedrooms; attic/basement access required. A distinct Certificate of Continuing Occupancy (Ch. 105, Ord. 2212 as amended by Ord. 2942/2991) applies to residential SALES and commercial rental/sale/lease: $50 one-family/condo, $100 two-family, $100 first two units of multifamily + $25 each additional unit. Quirk: rental turnover is enforced via the Fire Prevention Bureau's Dwelling Certificate, not the Building Dept CCO. Online applications via garfieldnj.portal.fasttrackgov.com.

Local programs and fees change. Confirm the current rule with Garfield Fire Prevention Bureau (Dwelling Certificates), City Hall main 973-340-2000; Building Department handles the resale CCO (973-340-2000 x4040) before relying on it.

Garfield landlord FAQs

Do I have to register as a landlord in Garfield?

Yes. New Jersey's Landlord Registration / Identity Law (N.J.S.A. 46:8-27 to 46:8-37) applies statewide, including Garfield. 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 Garfield require a certificate of occupancy before renting?

Yes. Garfield runs a Dwelling Certificate (rental change-of-occupancy inspection). Per City Ordinance 2213 (Code Ch. 128), the owner and/or tenant must file a Dwelling Certificate and pass inspection upon ANY change of occupancy (new lease, rental, or ownership change), unless a Dwelling Certificate was filed and the unit inspected within 11 months of the new occupancy. Dwelling Certificate fee $60 per dwelling unit (includes smoke detector certification); additional $60 if reinspection needed; payable to the Fire Prevention Bureau; application must be on site at inspection. Requires 10-year sealed battery smoke + CO detectors within 10 ft of all bedrooms; attic/basement access required. A distinct Certificate of Continuing Occupancy (Ch. 105, Ord. 2212 as amended by Ord. 2942/2991) applies to residential SALES and commercial rental/sale/lease: $50 one-family/condo, $100 two-family, $100 first two units of multifamily + $25 each additional unit. Quirk: rental turnover is enforced via the Fire Prevention Bureau's Dwelling Certificate, not the Building Dept CCO. Online applications via garfieldnj.portal.fasttrackgov.com. Confirm current details with Garfield Fire Prevention Bureau (Dwelling Certificates), City Hall main 973-340-2000; Building Department handles the resale CCO (973-340-2000 x4040) and the official sources on this page.

Forms & tools for Bergen County landlords

Get the free NJ Landlord Compliance Checklist

Required disclosures, security deposit rules, eviction notice periods, and a year-round compliance calendar. One page, NJ-specific.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.

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.