Berlin Borough

Certificate of Occupancy Required

Certificate of Continued Occupancy (CCO) · Borough of Berlin Construction Department

• All utilities on for the inspection; lockbox code if vacant
• Trash and debris cleared inside and out
• Walkways level and free of trip hazards
• 4 inch contrasting house number visible from the street
• Graspable handrail on steps with more than four risers; guardrails on open stairs
• Windows and doors operable, no cracked or broken glass
• No pest or rodent infestation
• Egress window or door in every bedroom; no bedrooms in basements
• Bathroom window or exhaust fan
• Dryer vent hard piped to the outside
• Water heater discharge pipe ending 2 to 6 inches above the floor
• Smoke detectors working on every level, under 10 years old, 10-year sealed battery if battery powered, hardwired units interconnected and not swapped for battery units
• CO detector within 10 feet of each bedroom
• Pools, fences, garages and decks safe; pool gates self-closing and self-latching
• Wood-burning fireplace or stove needs a certificate showing it is in good working order
• Thumb-turn locks (no keyed interior locks)
• All open permits closed with final inspections; unpermitted work must be documented before the CCO is issued

• Phone: 856-767-7777 ext. 316
• Application: https://www.berlinnj.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/CCO-Application.pdf

Smoke and CO alarm certificate Required

• Battery smoke detectors must be 10-year sealed battery units (Bureau notice, 'Effective Immediately')
• Hardwired smoke alarms from original construction may not be replaced with battery alarms
• If the home has a monitored alarm system, notify the alarm company before the test and have the codes available at the inspection