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WatchdogResale CO checklist

Phillipsburg Town

Warren County, New Jersey · Checked September 30, 2026

Certificate of Occupancy Required

Certificate of Habitability (CH) · Town of Phillipsburg Office of Inspections (Inspections / Building Dept)

  • Smoke alarms: at least one working alarm on each level and within 10 feet of each sleeping area; battery alarms must be listed 10-year sealed type; wired alarms may not be replaced with battery alarms
  • CO alarms within 10 feet of each sleeping area (hardwired, plug-in or battery)
  • Fire extinguisher: 2A:10-B:C minimum, 10 pounds maximum, mounted within 10 feet of the kitchen (not near the stove), no higher than 5 feet, new or tagged
  • House numbers at least 4 inches, visible from all facing streets and alleys
  • Yard, fences, sheds, sidewalks and curbs kept free of weeds, debris and trip hazards
  • Exterior in good repair: no rotten wood or peeling paint, roof, siding, gutters, downspouts, chimney and foundation in good condition
  • Handrails on stairs with more than four risers; guardrails on porches and decks 30 inches or taller
  • Interior clean, walls, ceilings and floors free of breaks or flaking paint; old unused appliances, water heaters, boilers and oil tanks removed
  • Electrical: at least two receptacles per room, GFCI in bathrooms, kitchen counters and outside, grounded or GFCI three-prong outlets, covered boxes, no visible knob-and-tube wiring or fuse panels
  • Proof of professional heating system service; no plumbing leaks; approved fittings; property connected to town sewer
  • Other violations under the 2000 International Property Maintenance Code and town code may be cited
Certificate for sale or transfer, per unit (1 to 19 units per lot)$100
Conditional certificate (buyer affidavit), plus $50 per covered unit beyond 5$100
Conditional certificate affidavit, buyer who did not pay for the CH inspection$100

Smoke and CO alarm certificate Required

  • The town's Certificate of Habitability inspection checks smoke alarms, CO alarms and a fire extinguisher (see resale certificate requirements); the town's 2022 guide still lists a fire extinguisher (2A:10-B:C, max 10 pounds, within 10 feet of the kitchen, no higher than 5 feet)

Town of Phillipsburg Fire Official (Chapter 311, Fire Prevention)

Request received more than 10 business days before change of occupancy$45.00
Request received 4 to 10 business days before change of occupancy$90.00
Request received fewer than 4 business days before change of occupancy$161.00