Landlord Registration & Certificate of Occupancy in Hackensack, NJ

Hackensack · Bergen County, New Jersey

Hackensack municipal data verified: August 10, 2026

Page content reviewed: August 19, 2026

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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 Hackensack's local certificate-of-occupancy requirement. Always confirm current details with the municipal office before you rent.

How to register as a landlord in Hackensack

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 Hackensack 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 Hackensack

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
Continued Certificate of Occupancy (CCO)
Office
Department of Building, Housing and Land Use (B.H.L.U.), 116 Holt Street, 201-646-3920
When it's triggered
Required on the sale OR rental of certain residential units, including but not limited to one- and two-family homes; the code fee schedule prices a residential CCO for resale or change in tenancy.
What to know
City instruction sheet requires a completed application with payment: one-family $100, two-family $150 (check, money order, or credit card). The codified fee schedule at Sec. 166-3(m) lists the residential (Use Group R-5) CCO at $85 and the commercial CCO at $100, so the city's published instruction-sheet amount is higher than the codified figure and should be treated as operative. Zoning Code Sec. 175-3.2(B) supplies the general prohibition on occupying or changing the occupancy of any building without a certificate from the Chief Building Inspector. Coverage beyond one- and two-family units is asserted by the city instruction sheet but is not spelled out in the fee schedule.

Local programs and fees change. Confirm the current rule with Department of Building, Housing and Land Use (B.H.L.U.), 116 Holt Street, 201-646-3920 before relying on it.

Hackensack landlord FAQs

Do I have to register as a landlord in Hackensack?

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

Yes. Hackensack runs a Continued Certificate of Occupancy (CCO). Required on the sale OR rental of certain residential units, including but not limited to one- and two-family homes; the code fee schedule prices a residential CCO for resale or change in tenancy. City instruction sheet requires a completed application with payment: one-family $100, two-family $150 (check, money order, or credit card). The codified fee schedule at Sec. 166-3(m) lists the residential (Use Group R-5) CCO at $85 and the commercial CCO at $100, so the city's published instruction-sheet amount is higher than the codified figure and should be treated as operative. Zoning Code Sec. 175-3.2(B) supplies the general prohibition on occupying or changing the occupancy of any building without a certificate from the Chief Building Inspector. Coverage beyond one- and two-family units is asserted by the city instruction sheet but is not spelled out in the fee schedule. Confirm current details with Department of Building, Housing and Land Use (B.H.L.U.), 116 Holt Street, 201-646-3920 and the official sources on this page.

Forms & tools for Bergen County landlords

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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.