LANDLORD REGISTRATION
Housing & Community Development Dept.
Chief Jim Lowrie, Supervisor

OFFICE ADDRESS:
City Hall Municipal Offices
525 High Street
Burlington NJ 08016

OFFICE HOURS:
M–F 9am–5pm
Please try to schedule Office visits before 4pm for best results

MAP: City Hall Location
TEL: 609-386-0200 ext. 142
FAX: 609-386-0214
CELL:
E-MAIL: jlowrie@burlingtonnj.us

OTHER HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIVISIONS:
Construction Division
Land Use Division
Landlord Registration Division
Nuisance Inspection Division
Historic Preservation Commission

Location, City Hall, High Street

LANDLORD REGISTRATION

ON THIS PAGE:
Inspectors
Basic Fees
Instructions & Requirements
New Rules & Requirements
Apply, Rental Facilities Registration & License (download and print form in PDF format)

The Landlord Registration Division, under the auspices of the Housing & Community Development Dept. performs all appropriate functions regarding the Landlord Registration Program. The Program was signed into law as Ordinance #15 on December 1, 1999. The purpose of this ordinance is to ensure that:

• Residential rental units are properly maintained
• Landlords and tenants comply with the City's Housing Code
• Lives and property of all City residents are protected.

The program works to reduce pests, infestation and injury, plus guards against hazardous conditions and thereby protects property values. There are approximately 1,300 residential rental units throughout the City.

Inspectors | page top

All Landlords in the City of Burlington are required by this program to obtain a license to operate residential rental unit(s). This involves completing a registration form and paying the appropriate fees. The Municipal Clerk’s office will receipt the fees, file the registration forms and notify our office of the application. Our office will schedule and complete the required inspections and issue the Licenses and Certificate(s) of Occupancy.

Basic Fees | page top

Landlord Registration		$100
Housing Code Inspections		$100
Housing Code Re-Inspections		$35
Certificates of Occupancy		$100

Our office is currently manned by a staff of two inspectors under the direction of the Construction Official and supported by many other departments with regard to record-keeping and notices.

Instructions & Requirements
Rental Facility Registration & License Application | page top

1. Read the Instructions & Requirements and New Requirements below
2. Print your own blank Rental Facility Registration & License Application Form – (download and print in Acrobat® PDF format)
3. Complete form and return with proper payment to office

Dear Rental Property Owner:

The City of Burlington recently adopted Ordinance No. 15-1998 which requires the annual registration, licensing, and inspection of all residential rental property within the City of Burlington. The purpose of this ordinance is to insure that residential units are properly maintained, to require landlords to comply with the City's Housing Code and to protect the lives and the property of City residents.
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1. A registration and license application which must be completed for each rental facility owned at a specific location. Without infringing upon the requirements of N.J.S.A. 46:8-28, all rental units shall be registered and licensed as provided herein. Every owner shall file with the City Clerk a registration form for each unit contained within a building. As to each rental unit, a specification of the exact number of sleeping rooms contained in the rental unit. In order to satisfy the requirement of this provision, an owner shall include a floor plan as part of the application, which shall be attached to the registration form.
2. Every owner is required to provide each occupant or tenant occupying a rental unit with a copy of the completed registration form.
3. Upon the filing of a completed registration form, payment of the prescribed fee, and a satisfactory inspection, the owner shall be entitled to the issuance of a license commencing on the date of issuance and expiring on the same date of the next calendar year. Any lease which has been executed prior to the adoption of this Ordinance shall not be affected, but the rental unit must nevertheless be registered, inspected and licensed in accordance with this Ordinance. No rental unit shall hereafter be rented unless the rental unit is registered and licensed in accordance with this Ordinance. A registration form shall be required for each rental unit, and a license shall be issued to the owner for each rental unit, even if more than one (1) rental unit is contained in the property.
4. Every person required to file a registration form pursuant to this Ordinance, shall file an amended registration form within 20 days after any change in the information required to be included thereon. No fee shall be required for the filing of an amendment except where the ownership or tenancy of the premises is changed.
5. Each rental unit shall be inspected at least once during the 12 months license period. The City of Burlington Housing Office will contact the owner of the rental unit to arrange for an inspection during the license year. The owner and/or occupant is required to give the inspecting officer free access to the rental facility at all reasonable times for the purpose of such inspection.
6. No person shall hereafter occupy any rental unit nor shall the owner permit occupancy of any rental unit which is not registered and licensed.
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7. Periodic Inspections: Each rental unit shall be inspected at least once in every 12 month period, and upon each change in tenancy, for purposes of the issuance of a certificate of occupancy. Such inspection shall be for the purpose of determining Zoning Ordinance compliance, and to the extent applicable, to determine if the property complies with the Property Maintenance Code, Uniform Construction Code, BOCA Maintenance Code, Housing Code and/or Building Code and the Uniform Fire Safety Act. Upon compliance, the Construction Official shall cause to be issued a certificate of occupancy pursuant to Burlington City Municipal Code 15.20.060.
8. Fees:
   (a) An bi-annual registration fee of $100.00) dollars;
   (b) A second Re-inspection fee of $150.00 dollars;
   (c) There shall be no fee if the owner of the property is a Senior Citizen who resides in a unit of the property and rents the remaining unit and would qualify for a State of New Jersey property Tax Deduction under N.J.S.A. 54:4-8.41;
   (d) If any fee is not paid within thirty (30) days of its due date, a late fee surcharge of $30.00 will be assessed.
9. In the event that the inspection(s) of a rental unit indicates the need for maintenance and/or repairs, such property shall not thereafter be registered, nor shall a license be issued, and the owner of the property, or his agent, shall not lease or rent such property, nor shall any tenant occupy the property until the necessary maintenance, repairs and corrections have been made so as to bring the property and rental unit into compliance with the applicable Code(s) and the property is thereafter subsequently re-inspected, approved, registered and licensed. In the event that such property is occupied when such conditions are discovered, all such corrections shall be made within sixty (60) days, and if not made within that time period, the owner shall be deemed in violation of this Ordinance and every day that the violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct violation, subject to the penalty provisions of section 18 of this Ordinance.
10. No license will be issued for any property containing a rental unit unless all Municipal taxes, water and sewer charges and any other Municipal assessments are paid on a current basis.
11. Any person who violates any of the provisions of this ordinance, unless another penalty is provided, shall upon conviction thereof, pay a fine of up to $2,000.00 or imprisonment for any term, not exceeding 90 days, or a period of community service not exceeding 90 days, for the violation thereof.
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New Rules & Requirements (9/20/06)
Landlord Registration Program | page top

1. We request a copy of your valid drivers license or any form of ID bearing your date of birth, if it has not already been received. Please mail, bring in a copy or come to the office to have a copy made for your file.
2. The purchase procedures for all owner-occupied and rental properties are as follows: Regardless if it is vacant or occupied, prior to settlement sellers / buyers must obtain two (2) approved inspections, one by the Code Enforcement / Landlord Registration Division and another by the Fire Official. A “Housing Code Certification” and a “Fire Prevention Certification” will be issued following approval. A copy of these forms is required for the file of all rental properties. The property must be Registered immediately after settlement.
3. All requests to remove a rental property from the Registration Program must be submitted in writing, and the dwelling must be vacant prior to the next renewal expiration date.
4. All renewal fees must be paid by the due date, regardless of whether the property is vacant, occupied or has been inspected. Failure to do so may result in the voiding of the Registration, necessitating the owners to re-Register the property.
   
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5. A Late Fee may be assessed, (refer to Ordinance Number (15.20.180 (k).1), to all Fees that are not paid in full on or before the due date. Please place “LLD Registration Dept.” on the front of the envelope.
6. Payment for all Inspection or and Re-Inspection Fees are now required in advance or on the day of your Inspection. The Inspectors will not accept Cash, only Checks or Money Orders. Cash will still be accepted at our Office.
7. All Rental Units are required to to be Inspected once each calendar year and prior to any change of occupancy. If the property remains vacant for a maximum of six (6) months after the yearly Inspection or after and Inspection for Change of Occupancy, another Inspection may be required prior to occupancy.
8. All periodic / yearly Inspections will be scheduled and must have the Initial Inspection prior to November 30th of each year.
   
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9. All requests for Extensions must be made in writing and approved by the Supervisor.
10. Requests for Inspections may not be possible with less than 48 hours notice, without prior approval.
11. Cancellations must be made with no less than 48 hours' notice before your scheduled Appointment to avoid additional charges.
12. All unexcused missed Appointments will be assessed a $15.00 Fee, payable prior to your next Appointment.
    
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13. No Occupancy Permit will be issued or become valid and no person may occupy a vacant Rental Unit until all paperwork is completed, submitted and all Requirements fulfilled. The City of Burlington does not issue temporary or conditional Certificates of Occupancy for Residential Rental Units.
14. All illegible, inaccurate and/or incomplete Applications will be returned for corrections, which may cause processing delays. Please do not omit any required information.
15. Any changes in the current Certificate of Occupancy or owner information must be provided to our office within twenty (20) days. This includes, but is not limited to, additions and subtractions of current tenants and any changes in your Initial Registration information.

Your cooperation will be appreciated. We are here to help, so if you are not sure, please call us first.

Sincerely,

Jim Lowrie, Supervisor
Chief Code Enforcement Officer
Landlord Registration, Licensing Program, Code Enforcement Division
Call Pam for appointments...
TEL: 609-386-0200 Ext. 142
FAX: 609-386-0214
E-mail: jlowrie@burlingtonnj.us

Print your own blank Rental Facility Registration & License Application Form – (download and print in Acrobat® PDF format)

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