South Plainfield Borough

Certificate of Occupancy Required

Certificate of Municipal Compliance (Residential Resale or Tenant), for smoke and CO detectors and Certificate of Occupancy · Borough of South Plainfield Building Department

• Smoke detectors on each habitable level, on or within 6 inches of the ceiling (not in corners), and within 10 feet of the farthest bedroom door
• 10-year sealed battery smoke detectors; homes built after 1977 with AC or interwired detectors must keep that type; smoke detectors expire after 10 years
• CO detectors near all bedrooms, no more than 10 feet from the farthest bedroom door (not inside a bedroom unless there is also one in the hall)
• Alarm systems need annunciators within 10 feet of bedrooms and on each level; notify the alarm company before the test
• 2A-10B:C fire extinguisher, 10 lb. or less, within 10 feet of the kitchen in the path of egress, mounted with the maker's bracket, top no more than 5 feet above the floor (as printed on the June 2023 form)
• Sump pump area open for inspection; sump pumps must not discharge into the sanitary sewer
• Water heater/boiler discharge valve and any fire sprinkler system are checked
• All open permits closed before the inspection; work found done without permits (pools, spas, decks, sheds, garage conversions, basement work, wood stoves, furnace or water heater replacement, central A/C, oil to gas, tank removal) carries a minimum $250 penalty
• House Evaluation form: finished basement, A/C, furnace or boiler, generator, sump pump, water heater, deck, shed, pool and radon system (original or replaced)
• Inspection may be refused if the property has health or safety issues; corrective action falls on the seller

• Phone: 908-226-7645
• Timing: Certificates are generated within 2 business days after the inspection; do not schedule the closing until the certificate is issued and all open permits and violations are cleared
• Application: https://www.southplainfieldnj.com/spnj/Departments/Departments/Building%20Department/Forms/Permit%20Applications%20%26%20Forms/Certificate%20of%20Municipal%20Compliance%20%28Residential%20Resale%20or%20Tenant%29%2002-25-2025.pdf

Smoke and CO alarm certificate Required

• Smoke detectors on each habitable level and within 10 feet of the farthest bedroom door; 10-year sealed battery units unless the home has AC or interwired detectors (homes built after 1977 must keep that type); detectors expire after 10 years
• CO detectors within 10 feet of the farthest bedroom door
• Alarm system annunciators within 10 feet of bedrooms and on each level
• The June 2023 form still requires a 2A-10B:C extinguisher (10 lb. or less, within 10 feet of the kitchen, mounted, top no higher than 5 feet); P.L.2025, c.19 removed the state extinguisher requirement, so confirm with the Building Department