Highlands Borough

Certificate of Occupancy Required

Residential Certificate of Inspection (resale) · Borough of Highlands Department of Buildings & Housing (Housing Officer), inspected together with the Fire Prevention Division

• 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)

• Phone: 732-872-1224 ext. 204
• 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.
• Application: https://highlandsnj.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Residential-Certificate-of-Inspection-Application-1.pdf

Smoke and CO alarm certificate Required

• 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