Cresskill Borough

Bergen County

Text Client checklist

Certificate of Occupancy

Required

Certificate

Residential Resale/Rental Certificate (inspection certificate for resale)

Issued by

Borough of Cresskill Building Department (Construction Official)

Requirements

Written application to the Construction Official with seller, buyer, closing date and room details
All open permits must be inspected and closed before the resale inspection can be scheduled
Visual inspection for flue connections, permitted water heaters and mechanical equipment, sump pumps not tied to the sanitary sewer, stove anti-tip brackets, rigid kitchen exhaust ducts, covered outlets and panels, no lamp cords on fixed appliances
Handrails on four or more risers, guards on landings 30 inches above grade and open basement stairs, garage walls and ceilings next to the house sheetrocked
Pool gates and fencing self-closing and latching (latches 54 inches above grade); lawn and bushes neatly trimmed
Real estate sign needs a sign permit (asked on the application)
Monitored alarm: have the password or someone on site to turn it off
Separate smoke/CO certificate from the Fire Prevention Division (one check can cover both)

Fees

Resale/rental certificate, request more than 10 business days before inspection (application form; office says one check can cover building and fire inspections)	$200
Request 4 to 10 business days before inspection (application form)	$250
Request less than 4 business days before inspection (application form)	$300
Reinspection if the first inspection fails (application form)	$50
Certificate for resale/rental, request more than 10 business days before inspection (Code 207-31, amended 3-5-2025)	$100
Code 207-31, request 4 to 10 business days before inspection	$125
Code 207-31, request fewer than 4 business days before inspection	$150

Timing

Code says the inspection is done within 10 days after the written request and payment, and the certificate is issued or denied within 10 working days after entry. Fees go up for requests made 10 or fewer business days before the inspection.

Phone

201-569-7775

Application Official page

Smoke and CO alarm certificate

Required

Requirements

Smoke alarm on every level including the basement (not needed in an unfinished attic); on sleeping floors within 10 feet of all bedroom doors
Alarm type depends on when the home was built or renovated (battery on all levels before 1977 up to hardwired, interconnected with battery backup in every bedroom since March 1991); electric alarms cannot be replaced with battery alarms
Any smoke alarm more than 10 years old must be replaced; alarms must be properly mounted (no Velcro or tape)
Two-family homes: smoke alarm at each landing of common halls and stairways
CO alarm within 10 feet of all bedroom doors in homes with fuel-burning appliances, fireplaces or attached garages (UL 2034, NFPA 720); stand-alone CO alarms are treated as expired after 5 to 7 years unless documentation shows a longer life
Low-voltage fire alarm systems are not tested by the Division; an NFPA 72 report from an approved contractor, no more than 30 days old, is required

Cresskill Fire Department, Division of Fire Prevention

Fees

Smoke and CO certificate, request more than 10 business days before inspection (Code 128-12, amended 3-5-2025)	$100
Request 4 to 10 business days before inspection	$125
Request fewer than 4 business days before inspection	$150
Reinspection, per occurrence	$50
Penalty for failing to get the certificate	$500

Timing

Fee depends on business days between the request and the inspection (more than 10 business days for the lowest fee). Inspections Monday to Friday 9:30 to 11:30 am; certificates ready after 12:00 pm the next business day. Certificate valid 6 months.

Phone

(201) 568-0030

Application Official page

Last checked October 4, 2026

Sources

Other towns in Bergen County

Look up any New Jersey property on Watchdog

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