Stow Creek Township

Cumberland County

Certificate of Occupancy

Required

Certificate

Certificate of Occupancy (sale property)

Issued by

Stow Creek Township Office of Housing and Zoning (Housing Officer)

Requirements

Remove trash and debris inside and out; cut high grass and weeds; fix tripping hazards on walks, steps and driveways
Sheds, garages, fences and pools kept sound; pool gates self-closing and self-latching
Exterior walls, siding, roof, gutters, foundation and chimney in good repair; scrape and paint peeling paint
House numbers visible from the street, plus a 3 foot white 911 post at the end of the driveway with numbers on the left, right and street sides
Handrails on stairs with more than 4 risers; guardrails at least 30 inches high
Windows open easily and stay open, no broken glass, tight-fitting screens; exterior doors open from inside without a key
Bedroom and bathroom privacy locks; bathroom window or exhaust fan; dryer vented outside
Plumbing working and sanitary; water heater gives at least 110 degree water and has a discharge pipe about 6 inches from the floor
Heating system safe; fuel-burning appliances clear of combustibles; electrical safe and workmanlike
At least two outlets in every habitable room; grounded outlets in bathrooms and laundry; GFCI outlets within 6 feet of water and outdoors
Carbon monoxide detector outside the bedroom areas
Work done without permits must be permitted and finaled
Proof of extermination if insects or rodents are found

Fees

Certificate of Occupancy application (sale property or rental unit)

$50.00

Phone

856-455-8640

Required

Requirements

Smoke alarms (UL listed) on every level; battery-only alarms must be the 10-year sealed battery type, and hardwired alarms cannot be replaced with battery alarms
Basement smoke alarm at the bottom of the stairwell, on the ceiling (not between joists)
A 10-year sealed smoke alarm in every bedroom
Smoke alarms and CO alarms must be less than 10 years old and working
Carbon monoxide alarm in the hallway within 10 feet of all bedrooms
House numbers at least 4 inches high, contrasting color, permanently fixed and visible from the street
Homes with solar panels, a backup generator or battery storage need a permanent printed 'Caution: Multiple Sources of Power' label at the main electrical panel and the electric meter

Fees

Smoke/CO certificate, 1-2 family, request received 10 or more business days before settlement	$45.00
Smoke/CO certificate, 1-2 family, request received 7 business days before settlement (source wording)	$90.00
Smoke/CO certificate, 1-2 family, request received fewer than 4 business days before settlement	$161.00
Re-inspection for a failed or no-show inspection: same fee as the initial inspection tier	$45.00 to $161.00

Timing

Submit the request 2 to 3 weeks before settlement; the lowest fee applies when the request is received 10 or more business days before settlement

Phone

856-451-0091

Last checked September 30, 2026

Sources