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New Jersey lead-safe certificate for rentals (2026)

What you need and when

Not covered

• Built in 1978 or later
• Certified lead-free (a lead-free certificate from a full abatement or inspection under N.J.A.C. 5:17)
• Single-family or two-family seasonal rentals rented less than six months a year to tenants without consecutive lease renewals
• Units in a multiple dwelling (3+ units) registered with DCA for at least 10 years with no outstanding lead-based paint violations from its two most recent state Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law cyclical inspections
• Units that already have a valid (unexpired) lead-safe certificate

Certificate types

• Lead-safe certification: A visual assessment or dust wipe inspection found no lead-based paint hazards (no deteriorated paint, no lead dust above limits). Lead paint may still be present under intact paint. Issued on DCA's form by a town inspector or a DCA-certified lead evaluation contractor. 3 years (2 years for certificates issued under the original law, before Sept. 12, 2024)
• Lead-free certification: A full inspection or completed abatement under N.J.A.C. 5:17 shows no lead-based paint in the unit. Ends future lead-safe inspections for that unit. no expiry

How to get inspected

Your town's inspector (its building, housing or health agency, a shared-service partner, or a lead evaluation contractor the town hires), or a DCA-certified lead evaluation contractor you hire yourself. Towns must let you hire your own unless you previously failed to finish a self-arranged inspection or there is a conflict of interest. No self-certification. Visual assessment is allowed in towns where fewer than 3% of tested children 6 and under have blood lead of 5 ug/dL or more; dust wipe sampling is required in the rest (51 of 564 towns on DCA's 2025-26 list). Owners who hire their own contractor may choose dust wipes even in a visual town, and some towns require dust wipes by local ordinance anyway.

Typical cost: About $125-$300 per unit for a visual inspection and roughly $250-$600 per unit with dust wipes, before the $20 state fee and any town filing fee. These are published prices from NJ contractors: Side by Side MRO $125-$150 per unit lab included; NJLeadPaint.com $250 per unit visual; Lead Testing Services NJ $200-$300 visual and $400-$600 dust wipe by bedroom count; Go Lead Safe $250 per unit + $100 certificate fee, +$100 per unit for dust wipes. (source). More in what a lead inspection costs.

Fees

• Town inspection fee: Set by each town to cover its cost (no state cap). Examples from town codes: Lakewood $60/$150, Toms River $60/$170, Jersey City $200, Bayonne $250, Clifton $300 + $30 per extra bedroom, Trenton $350-$600 by bedrooms, Passaic $600 for dust wipe (pub.njleg.gov)
• State Lead Hazard Control Assistance Fund fee: $20 per unit per inspection, collected by the town, owed even if you hire your own inspector (waived only if DCA already charged it) (nj.gov)
• Town filing fee for a private inspector's certificate: Varies; often $25 per unit (e.g., Newark, Clifton, Bayonne, Plainfield); New Brunswick charges $100 per property (ecode360.com)
• Private lead evaluation contractor: About $125-$300 per unit for a visual inspection, $250-$600 with dust wipes (published NJ contractor price lists) (sidebysidemro.com)

What to give tenants

• At every tenant turnover: give the new tenant evidence of a valid lead-safe certificate and attach a copy to the lease (N.J.S.A. 52:27D-437.16(e)(2); N.J.A.C. 5:28A-3.1(a)).
• Tell the town about every tenant turnover so it can schedule any required inspection, and give it the certificate (N.J.A.C. 5:28A-3.1(a), (d)). Private contractors must also send the town a copy.
• Keep a record of each lead-safe certificate, including the names of tenants living in the unit at the time of inspection (N.J.S.A. 52:27D-437.16(e)(3)).
• When selling a covered rental, give the buyer N.J.A.C. 5:28A, any lead-safe certificates and DCA's guide 'Lead-Based Paint in Rental Dwellings' (N.J.A.C. 5:28A-3.1(e)).
• Federal EPA/HUD disclosure applies too: lead pamphlet, disclosure of known lead paint and Lead Warning Statement before each lease of pre-1978 housing; keep signed copies 3 years.

The federal lead disclosure rule applies on top of this for nearly every rental built before 1978. What it requires.

Where to register or file

No statewide owner registry. Certificates are filed with the town, which keeps the records and reports inspected units and hazards to DCA (DCA's Municipal Lead Reporting Portal is for towns).: File with your town (paper, email, or the town's online portal, depending on the town)

Town by town

Every New Jersey town has to run this program, and each sets its own fee and process. We list the largest towns and what we could confirm from each town’s own pages or ordinance. For any other town (New Jersey has 564 municipalities), check with your town’s code enforcement or construction office.

Visual or dust wipe? The state picks by town each year from children’s blood lead data. On the 2025–26 list, 51 of New Jersey’s 564 towns need dust wipe sampling; the rest allow a visual assessment, though some towns require dust wipes by local ordinance. You can always ask your contractor for dust wipes.

Questions landlords ask

How long is a lead-safe certificate good for in NJ?

Three years for certificates issued since September 12, 2024, when P.L.2024, c.74 took effect; DCA's current certificate form says 'valid for three years'. Older certificates and some town and DCA web pages still say two years, so go by the expiration date printed on your certificate.

Do I need a new lead inspection every time a tenant moves out in New Jersey?

Only if the unit's lead-safe certificate has expired. If the certificate is still valid at turnover, no new inspection is needed, but the unit must be re-inspected at least every 3 years. You still have to give the new tenant a copy of the certificate attached to the lease and tell the town about the turnover.

How much does a lead-safe certificate cost in NJ?

Your town sets its own inspection fee, from about $40-$75 per unit in towns that bundle it with a rental CO inspection to $350-$600 per unit in cities such as Trenton and Passaic. Private contractors typically charge about $125-$300 per unit for a visual inspection and more for dust wipes. Every inspection also carries a $20 per unit state fee, and many towns add a $25 filing fee.

Can I hire my own inspector for the NJ lead-safe certificate?

Yes. Towns must let you hire a lead evaluation contractor certified by DCA (DCA publishes the list). You cannot certify your own unit. The contractor sends the town a copy, and the town still collects the $20 state fee.

Which rentals are exempt from the NJ lead inspection law?

Units built in 1978 or later, units certified lead-free, one- and two-family seasonal rentals rented under six months a year without consecutive renewals, units in multiple dwellings registered with DCA for 10+ years with no lead paint violations in their last two state inspections, and units with a valid lead-safe certificate.

What is the fine for not having a lead-safe certificate in NJ?

After the town finds a violation you get 30 days to get the inspection or start repairs. After that, the fine is up to $1,000 per week until you do. Some towns add their own fees, such as up to $300 per unit for missing a scheduled inspection.

Last checked November 6, 2026. Law: P.L.2021, c.182 as amended by P.L.2024, c.74 (N.J.S.A. 52:27D-437.16 to -437.20); rules at N.J.A.C. 5:28A. Agency: NJ Department of Community Affairs (DCA) + each of the 564 municipalities.

This page sums up published rules as of November 6, 2026. It is not legal advice, and myleadsafe is not a government site. Rules and fees change, and local offices add their own steps, so confirm with your town or city and the state agency before you rely on a date or a fee.