Morris Township

Certificate of Occupancy Required

Certificate of Habitability (CH) · Township of Morris Building Department (Uniform Construction Code Enforcing Agency)

• No open permits; a CH will not be issued if permitted work has not been inspected and closed (condo association permits need a buyer's attorney letter)
• Smoke and carbon monoxide alarm compliance under N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.3 and 5:70-4.19 is checked as part of the CH inspection
• Battery smoke alarms must be 10-year sealed; AC-powered alarms must work and be no more than 10 years old; required low-voltage alarm systems need technician certification and monitoring account details
• Water heaters, heating and AC equipment must have been permitted and inspected
• GFCI outlets working, handrails in place, no extension cords as permanent wiring, stairs in good shape, panel covers secure, no exposed wiring, no broken glass
• Holes in attached-garage sheetrock sealed or repaired
• No garbage disposal in the kitchen (Township ordinance 37-3)
• Pool and fence must meet code with a latching gate
• House must match tax records; house numbers visible from the street
• Homes with a well or septic system need a report for each at the CH inspection

• Phone: 973-326-7445
• Timing: Payment must be made at the office before the CH inspection is done.
• Good for: 90 days from issuance; may be extended 30 days by the construction code official for good cause.
• Application: https://www.morristwp.com/DocumentCenter/View/10843/CH-APPLICATION

Smoke and CO alarm certificate Required

• Smoke alarms on each level and outside each separate sleeping area (2 alarms if sleeping areas are on opposite sides of the same level)
• Battery smoke alarms must be 10-year sealed (UL 217); AC-powered alarms from construction cannot be replaced with battery units and must be replaced if over 10 years old
• Required low-voltage alarm systems: technician certification plus monitoring company contact, account number and password for the inspector
• Carbon monoxide alarm in the immediate vicinity of the sleeping areas in homes with a fuel-burning device or attached garage (battery, hardwired or plug-in, UL 2034)