Mahwah Township

Certificate of Occupancy Required

Certificate of Continued Occupancy (CCO), residential, selling a home · Township of Mahwah Building Department (Construction Code Official)

• Required for one- and two-family dwellings before the property is listed, and on transfer of title (homes with 3 or more units are exempt)
• Visual inspection by the Construction Code Official, who may call in subcode officials, the Water Department and the Department of Health
• Inspection covers items such as pools, electric fixtures and wiring, plumbing fixtures and water heaters, heating and ventilation, the building exterior and other hazards
• Any additions or construction done without permits must have permit fees paid before the CCO is issued
• Separate smoke/CO certificate from Fire Prevention (not part of the CCO inspection)
• Exempt transfers include deed corrections, transfers between spouses, parent and child or grandparent and grandchild, estate distributions, new construction and quitclaim deeds to quiet title

• Phone: 201-529-5757
• Timing: The code says CCOs are issued or denied within 10 days of filing the application. The code also requires the CCO before the property is listed.
• Good for: One year from the date of issuance, provided there is no material change in the physical status of the premises
• Official page: https://www.mahwahtwp.org/159/Construction-Office-Department-of-Inspec

Smoke and CO alarm certificate Required

• Smoke detector on each level including basements (not attics or crawl spaces), and smoke and CO alarm outside each separate sleeping area within 10 feet of bedrooms
• Homes built before January 1, 1977 may use 10-year lithium sealed battery smoke detectors; homes built on or after that date need hardwired detectors as originally required
• The Township asks that hardwired detectors with removable batteries and detectors older than 10 years be replaced with hardwired 10-year sealed battery backup units; CO detectors replaced with 10-year sealed battery units
• Low voltage monitored fire alarm systems must stay monitored and a copy of the alarm report must be included with the affidavit
• Signed affidavit (Application and Certification) returned with the fee before the inspection
• Portable fire extinguisher no longer required as of February 15, 2025 (the packet's form title still lists it)