Clifton City
Certificate of Occupancy
Required- Certificate
- Dwelling Certificate (Certificate of Inspection for 1 & 2 family dwellings, sale)
- Issued by
- Clifton Fire Department, Fire Prevention Bureau, after Building, Tax and Zoning Department sign-off
- Requirements
- No open permits on the property (Building Department check and stamp on the application)
- Tax and Zoning Department approval (the Zoning Officer reviews and approves all Dwelling Certificates)
- Smoke alarms on every level (basement, each floor), excluding crawl spaces and unfinished attics with pull-down stairs
- Smoke alarm within 10 feet of the bedroom doors on any floor with bedrooms
- All smoke alarms less than 10 years old; battery-only alarms must be 10-year sealed battery units; existing hardwired systems must be kept
- Carbon monoxide alarms within 10 feet outside all sleeping areas, with more on each floor that has sleeping areas
- Central station fire alarm must be tested beforehand by a Division of Fire Safety certified company; bring the test record or the inspection fails
- Multiple sources of power label within 18 inches of the electrical panel and meter for homes with a generator, solar or battery storage (the Bureau supplies and installs the label at the inspection)
- An adult over 18 must be present and all areas (unit, basement, attic, common areas) must be accessible
- Fees
Dwelling certificate, sale, per unit (one certificate covers the town requirement and the smoke and carbon monoxide certificate; paid once) $125.00 per unit Expedited: certificate available within 4 to 20 days, per unit (paid instead of the standard fee) $200 per unit Expedited: certificate available within 4 business days, per unit (paid instead of the standard fee) $300 per unit Dwelling certificate (smoke and carbon monoxide compliance), sale, per unit (same certificate and fee as the town requirement; paid once) $125.00 per unit Expedited: certificate available within 4 to 20 days, per unit $200 per unit Expedited: certificate available within 4 business days, per unit $300 per unit - Timing
- Standard certificate: call the office 7 business days after the inspection; inspections are on Wednesdays 9am to 12 noon. Faster certificates cost more (within 4 to 20 days, or within 4 business days).
- Valid for
- 6 months after the Fire Department inspection
- Phone
- (973) 470-5801
Smoke and CO alarm certificate
Required- Requirements
- Smoke alarms on every level and within 10 feet of bedroom doors; all under 10 years old
- Battery-only smoke alarms must be 10-year sealed battery units; existing hardwired systems must be maintained
- CO alarms (UL 2034) within 10 feet outside all sleeping areas, on each floor with sleeping areas
- Central station fire alarm test record from a Division of Fire Safety certified company is required at the inspection; inspectors will not test it
- Multiple sources of power label for homes with a generator, solar or battery storage (supplied and installed by the Bureau at the inspection)
- The City's Fire Department FAQ still says a dry chemical fire extinguisher, at least 10BC rated and no more than 10 pounds, is needed for the dwelling inspection; the May 2025 packet does not list one
Last checked October 2, 2026