The short answer
New Jersey's 2021 lead law requires most rental units in buildings built before 1978 to be inspected for lead-based paint hazards and receive a lead-safe certification. The first inspection deadline passed in July 2024; after that, an inspection is required at each tenant turnover. Certificates are generally valid for two years.
Who is covered
Single-family, two-family, and multiple rental dwellings built before 1978 are covered, with exceptions — including units certified lead-free, multiple dwellings already on a cyclical state inspection program that have a valid certificate, and seasonal rentals of under six months. Check with the municipality, which administers the program.
How the inspection works
- A certified lead evaluation contractor or the municipality's inspector performs a visual assessment, and in some towns dust-wipe sampling.
- If no hazards are found, the unit receives a lead-safe certification.
- If hazards are found, they must be remediated — through abatement or approved interim controls — before certification.
- A fee of $20 per unit is collected for the state's lead-hazard control fund, in addition to inspection fees.
Fitting it into turnover
The inspection must happen at tenant turnover, which competes with cleaning, repairs, and the municipal certificate of occupancy. We schedule all three together so a unit isn't sitting vacant waiting on paperwork.
Common questions
Does the lead law apply to my rental built in 1985?
No. The certification requirement covers dwellings built before 1978, when lead-based paint was banned for residential use.
What are the penalties for not complying?
Municipalities can impose fines for each violation, and failing to comply can also complicate evictions and insurance claims. Check your town's enforcement rules.
General information about New Jersey rules as of October 2026, not legal advice. Laws and municipal requirements change — confirm specifics with your attorney or the municipality before acting.
Reviewed October 2026 by Comet Management, Hamburg, NJ.