Agent Insights

New Jersey Transactions · October 28, 2026

New Jersey items to handle before you list

Several steps in a New Jersey sale are unique to the state or to individual towns. Raising them at the listing appointment keeps closings on schedule and shows sellers you have done this before. This is general guidance for agents, not legal advice; the transaction attorneys and the municipality have the final word.

Smoke and carbon monoxide alarm certificate

Under the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code, a certificate of smoke alarm compliance is required before a one or two family home is sold, leased or otherwise changes occupancy, and it can only be obtained through the municipality where the home is located. The certificate is valid for six months from issue, according to the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety.

Requirements and fees are set locally, so check the town's current checklist. Some municipalities note that portable fire extinguishers are no longer required for resale inspections effective February 3, 2025, as Sayreville's resale requirements state, while other towns still publish older checklists. Confirm before the inspector arrives.

Radon records

New Jersey law requires the seller to give the buyer, at the time the contract of sale is entered into, a copy of the results of any radon testing and information on any remediation, according to the NJDEP Radon Program. Ask sellers for those records at the start.

If a buyer contracts for a test, a DEP certified radon business must perform it. The NJDEP notes that neither the buyer, the homeowner nor the real estate agent can perform any part of that test, including closing it, picking it up or sending it to a laboratory.

Attorney review

Contracts prepared by licensees for homes with one to four units must state that they become final within three business days, during which either party may consult an attorney who can review and cancel the contract. Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays are not counted, per N.J.A.C. 11:5-6.2. Prepare sellers for the possibility that terms will be revisited during this window.

Municipal resale inspections

Many New Jersey towns have their own resale or certificate of occupancy requirements in addition to the smoke alarm certificate. Call the municipal office as soon as the listing is signed. Find inspectors, attorneys and radon specialists in the Vendor Directory.