Highlands Borough

Monmouth County

Certificate of Occupancy

Required

Certificate

Residential Certificate of Inspection (resale)

Issued by

Borough of Highlands Department of Buildings & Housing (Housing Officer), inspected together with the Fire Prevention Division

Requirements

Before the inspection is scheduled, the Cashier checks with the Tax Search Officer that taxes and sewer fees are current, with the Technical Assistant for open construction (UCC) permits or violations, and with the Code Enforcement Officer for violations
Open permits or violations must be inspected and closed before the housing and fire inspections are scheduled; flood-plain homes are checked for substantial improvement
Housing inspection to the Borough's Property Maintenance Code (exterior property, sidewalks and driveways, exterior structure and paint, roofs, stairs, decks, handrails, windows that open and have screens, doors and locks, interior surfaces, plumbing, heating, electrical)
Smoke/carbon monoxide inspection by the Fire Prevention Division at the same time (see fire certificate)

Fees

Certificate of inspection for resale, with one inspection	$100
Each added reinspection	$50
Combined housing and fire inspection, scheduled and paid more than 10 days ahead	$145
Combined expedited inspection, 4 to 9 days ahead	$190
Combined expedited inspection, 1 to 3 days ahead (Borough web page figure)	$261
Combined expedited inspection, 1 to 3 days ahead (application form figure)	$225

Timing

Inspections are not scheduled until payment is received. The combined housing and fire fee is lowest when the inspection is scheduled and paid more than 10 days ahead.

Phone

732-872-1224 ext. 204

Application Official page

Smoke and CO alarm certificate

Required

Requirements

Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms per N.J.A.C. 5:70-4.19
Borough code (Section 11-10a4) says 1 and 2 family homes may not be sold unless hard-wired smoke detection devices are installed, with at least one per level and one within 15 feet of the main heating plant (a heat detector if the heating plant is in a confined space)
Fire extinguisher (form still lists it): the application and workflow still name a smoke/carbon detector and fire extinguisher certificate

Highlands Borough Fire Prevention Division (Bureau of Fire Prevention)

Fees

Smoke detector certificate, scheduled more than 10 business days ahead (CSDC-1)	$45
Scheduled 4 to 9 business days ahead (CSDC-2)	$90
Scheduled less than 4 business days ahead (CSDC-3)	$161
Reinspection after a missed appointment or failed detectors (CSDC-4)	$45

Timing

Fee depends on business days between scheduling and the appointment: more than 10 business days for the lowest fee. Inspected together with the housing inspection.

Phone

732-872-1224

Application Official page

Last checked October 4, 2026

Sources