New Jersey home-sale compliance checklist
Last updated 2026-10-13. Checked against the official sources listed at the end of this page. Not legal advice: confirm with the town and your attorney.
Reviewed by NJ Home Sale Checklist staff
| Item | Required? | Who does it | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke & CO alarm certificate | Yes, 1-2 family homes (statewide) | Town fire official, or NJ DCA | Guide · by town |
| Private well test (PWTA) | Yes, if on a private well | NJDEP-certified lab | Guide |
| Town certificate of occupancy / continued compliance | Depends on the town (e.g. Newark CCC, Hamilton CO) | Town code/housing office | Town pages |
| Radon test | No (common buyer inspection) | NJDEP-certified radon business | Guide |
| Oil tank sweep / closure | Sweep: no. Closure: certified firm required | NJDEP-certified UST firm | Guide |
| Lead | Sale: federal disclosure plus 10-day opportunity to test (pre-1978). Rentals: lead-safe certification | DCA-certified lead evaluation contractor | Directory |
Frequently asked questions
What certificates does a NJ seller need?
Statewide: the smoke/CO alarm certificate for 1-2 family homes, and well test results if the home is on a private well. Many towns add a certificate of occupancy or continued-occupancy inspection, which this site notes where verified.
Is a radon or oil tank inspection required?
Not by state law. Both are common buyer inspections.
General information, not legal advice. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
Sources
Each row of the checklist summarizes a guide on this site. These are the official sources those guides rely on:
- N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.3 (used in the smoke co certificate guide)
- its online portal (used in the smoke co certificate guide)
- DCA in-lieu form (used in the smoke co certificate guide)
- N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.9(d) (used in the smoke co certificate guide)
- NJDEP PWTA (used in the well testing guide)
- NJDEP Office of Quality Assurance (used in the well testing guide)
- NJDEP Radon Business Certification (used in the radon guide)
- NJDEP Unregulated Heating Oil Tanks (used in the oil tanks guide)
- FAQ (used in the oil tanks guide)
- NJ DCA lead-safe certification (used in the lead guide)
- EPA: Real estate disclosures about potential lead hazards (used in the lead guide)
Where can I find a DCA-certified lead evaluation contractor in NJ?
Browse NJ DCA-certified lead evaluation contractors by county below, or see the full county list.
All counties · Bergen County · Morris County · Essex County · Union County · Camden County · Middlesex County