Washington Borough

Warren County

Certificate of Occupancy

Not required

Required

Requirements

Smoke alarms more than 10 years old (from the manufacture date) or giving an end-of-life signal must be replaced
Battery-only smoke alarms must be 10-year sealed battery units; replaceable-battery single-station alarms are not accepted (since January 1, 2019)
Hardwired (A/C powered) alarms cannot be replaced with battery alarms
Smoke alarm type depends on the year built: before 1977 a 10-year sealed alarm on each level and within 10 feet of bedrooms; 1977 onward hardwired alarms on sleeping levels (and basement from October 1978; interconnected from August 1984); March 1991 onward hardwired interconnected alarms with battery backup on every level and in each bedroom
CO alarms within 10 feet of bedrooms; homes built 1993 and later need hardwired CO alarms with battery backup
All smoke and CO alarms must be listed (for example UL) and installed before booking the inspection
Battery smoke alarms may not be within 5 feet of a kitchen or bathroom
Fire extinguisher (still on the June 2024 form): listed 2A-10B:C, no more than 10 pounds, within 10 feet of the kitchen in the path of exit, mounted on its bracket with the top no more than 5 feet above the floor, serviced and tagged within 12 months or a recent purchase receipt, and the manual left for the buyer

Fees

Request received more than 10 business days before change in occupant	$40
Request received 4 to 10 business days before change in occupant	$70
Request received fewer than 4 days before change in occupant	$125

Timing

Call to schedule 2 to 3 weeks before closing; more than 10 business days ahead for the lowest fee

Phone

908-876-8637

Last checked September 30, 2026

Sources