Plainfield City
Certificate of Occupancy
Required- Certificate
- Certificate of Compliance (sale)
- Issued by
- City of Plainfield Division of Inspections, Property Maintenance Unit (Department of Public Works and Urban Development)
- Requirements
- Exterior walls, roofs, porches, stairs, railings and accessory structures
- Yards, driveways, vegetation, trash and abandoned vehicles
- Kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and other habitable rooms
- Basements, cellars and crawlspaces
- Common hallways, stairs and exits
- Plumbing, water and hot water service; heating equipment and required temperatures
- Electrical fixtures, switches and outlets
- Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
- Windows, doors, walls, ceilings and floors; signs of leaks, moisture, vermin or unsafe conditions
- Legal number of units and occupancy matching zoning and construction records
- Open permits or work that looks like it was done without permits
- Heating system / heating unit certificate on the licensed certifier's letterhead with license number
- Smoke detector, carbon monoxide and fire extinguisher certificate from the Fire Division
- For 3 or more units, a current Certificate of Inspection from the NJ Bureau of Housing Inspection
- Fees
Certificate of Compliance for sale, first residential unit $50 Each additional residential unit at the same property $25 Missed appointment or no-show fee $25 Certificate of Compliance exemption application $75 Escrow when closing with a temporary Certificate of Compliance, per unit $500 One family, application received 11+ business days before the inspection $45 One family, application received 4 to 10 business days before the inspection $90 One family, expedited, 1 to 3 business days before the inspection $161 One family, reinspection on the next available Wednesday $45 Two family, application received 11+ business days before the inspection $90 Two family, application received 4 to 10 business days before the inspection $180 Two family, expedited inspection, application received 1 to 3 business days before $322 Two family, reinspection on the next Wednesday $90 Returned check charge $20.00 - Timing
- Schedule the inspection before closing; inspections are 10 am to 12:30 pm and someone must be there to let the inspector in
- Phone
- 908-753-3384
Smoke and CO alarm certificate
Required- Requirements
- Smoke alarm on each level including basements (not attics unless finished, or crawl spaces)
- Smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarm near any flame-producing device, outside each sleeping area and within 10 feet of all bedroom doors
- Battery-only smoke alarms must be 10-year sealed battery type; combination smoke/CO 10-year sealed alarms are acceptable
- Homes with a low-voltage alarm system need an alarm test report from a NJ certified fire protection contractor
- Portable fire extinguisher (2A:10BC, no more than 10 pounds) in the kitchen, no more than 5 feet above the floor, new with receipt or serviced and tagged within 12 months (2021 form; the City payment notice still names the extinguisher certificate)
- Only one- and two-family dwellings are inspected; inspections are on Wednesdays
Last checked October 2, 2026