Old Tappan Borough

Bergen County

Text Client checklist

Certificate of Occupancy

Required

Certificate

Rental and Resale Certificate (RRC, formerly CCO): Certificate of occupancy, resale and/or rental certificate

Issued by

Borough of Old Tappan Building Department (Construction Official or his agent), with a fire inspection

Requirements

All open permits must be closed before the sale; check open permits before applying
Someone over 18 must be at the house until the inspectors finish; inspectors do not call ahead
Furnace/boiler flue connections sealed; replaced water heaters and mechanical equipment need a permit and an approval sticker
Sump pumps discharge outside, not to the sanitary sewer; anti-tip brackets on stoves where required; rigid visible kitchen exhaust ducts
Electrical outlets, switches, boxes and panels covered; no lamp cords on fixed appliances
Handrails on 4 or more risers; guards on landings over 30 inches and open basement stairs; garage walls/ceilings next to the house sheet-rocked
Pool gates and fencing compliant (self-closing, self-latching, latches 54 inches); lawn and bushes trimmed; no property maintenance violations
Smoke alarms on every level (under 10 years old, 10-year sealed battery or hardwired, per the house's construction era) and a CO alarm within 10 feet of every bedroom
Kitchen fire extinguisher 2A:10B:C, no more than 10 lbs, mounted within 10 feet of the kitchen (form still lists it)
Resale-only certificates (buyer not occupying) need a notarized letter from the purchaser's attorney

Fees

Residential inspection fee (application form; one check can cover building and fire inspections)	$125
Re-inspection (application form)	$50
Certificate fee, request more than 10 business days before inspection (Code Section 100-14.6)	$50
Request 4 to 10 business days before inspection (Code)	$75
Request less than 4 business days before inspection (Code)	$125
Reinspection if the first inspection fails (Code)	$50

Timing

Code: the Construction Official acts within 10 working days after entry is provided. Inspection times are set by the Borough; no specific time can be requested.

Phone

201-664-1849 ext. 19

Application Official page

Smoke and CO alarm certificate

Required

Requirements

Smoke alarms on every level including the basement, within 10 feet of bedroom doors, under 10 years old; hardwired and interconnected as required by the year the house was built
Carbon monoxide alarm within 10 feet of the bedroom doors (battery or plug-in accepted); CO alarm inside bedrooms with fuel-burning appliances
Portable fire extinguisher 2A:10B:C within 10 feet of the kitchen, mounted no higher than 5 feet, serviced/tagged within 12 months or with a receipt (form still lists it)
Monitored alarm systems: password must be available

Borough of Old Tappan (Building Department schedules; Fire Prevention Bureau, Fire Marshal)

Fees

Residential inspection fee covering building and fire inspections (application form)

$125

Timing

Fire inspections are listed Wednesday and Friday 2:00pm to 4:00pm on the Building page; scheduled with the Building Department.

Phone

201-664-1849 Ext. 26

Application Official page

Last checked October 4, 2026

Sources

Other towns in Bergen County

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