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WatchdogResale CO checklist

Dover Town

Morris County, New Jersey · Checked October 4, 2026

Certificate of Occupancy Required

Certificate of Compliance (C of C), residential · Town of Dover Code Enforcement and Inspection Department

  • Complete the Certificate of Compliance Application (Residential) and pay the fee before an inspection is scheduled
  • Full interior and exterior property maintenance inspection, including room measurements to set sleeping capacity
  • All open construction permits must be inspected and approved before the C of C is issued
  • Checks include sidewalks, drainage, accessory structures, unlicensed vehicles, roofs, gutters, windows, stairs and railings, bathroom and dryer venting, plumbing and sump pump discharge, heating, GFCI and electrical hazards, egress, sanitation and pests
  • Smoke and carbon monoxide alarm certification from the Fire Inspector is required before the C of C is issued (inspected the same day)
  • Owners who do not live at the property must file a Non-Owner Occupied Premises form
Certificate of Compliance, detached single family dwelling$75.00
Certificate of Compliance, two family dwelling$75.00 for the first unit plus $35.00 per additional unit
Re-inspection after the first free re-inspection$50.00
  • Phone: 973-366-2200 ext. 2114
  • Timing: Apply at least 10 working days before the closing (the Town recommends applying right after attorney review). Inspections are Wednesdays 9 am to 12 pm. A final C of C takes at least three working days to process after a clean inspection and is never issued the same day.
  • Good for: A temporary C of C may be issued for 30 days when violations remain (buyer must agree in writing to fix them within 30 days)
  • Application: https://www.dover.nj.us/documents/Residential%20COC-Smoke_Carbon%20Alarm%20Cert-Notice-Guideline%20Packet.pdf

Smoke and CO alarm certificate Required

  • Homes built before 1977: 10-year sealed lithium battery smoke detectors, one on each level including the basement (not unfinished attics) and one within 10 feet of each bedroom
  • Homes built 1977 to 1990: 120-volt hardwired smoke alarms with battery backup (interconnected in homes built 1984 to 1989), same locations
  • Homes built 1990 to present: 120-volt hardwired interconnected smoke alarms with battery backup on each level, within 10 feet of each bedroom, and inside each bedroom
  • One carbon monoxide alarm within 10 feet of each bedroom
  • All smoke detectors providing coverage must be the same type; smoke detectors over 10 years old must be replaced; fire alarm systems must be tested by a state-certified contractor with an NFPA 72 report
  • Homes with additions or renovations: call the fire inspector for specific requirements

Town of Dover Fire Department, Fire Prevention Bureau