Property Maintenance

Highland Park prides itself on maintaining a safe and welcoming community for residents and visitors. We appreciate the cooperation of our residents in managing their property.

Enforcement includes but is not limited to:

  • Rental Registration
  • Change of occupancy Rental Inspections
  • Lead Based Paint Visual Inspections
  • Resale Inspections
  • Temporary Resale Inspections
  • Damaged Sidewalks
  • Lack of essential heat/cool
  • Lack of maintenance, deteriorating structures
  • Overcrowding of residences
  • Registration of vacant properties
  • Suspected Infestations
  • Trash, litter or debris
  • Unsanitary conditions
  • Overgrown weeds/Snow Removal

Visit the Municipal Code for more information on housing and property maintenance

Report a concern

Residents may anonymously report concerns on a property by clicking on the link below.

Resale Application

The owner of any residential building or unit, single or multiple that is to be sold must receive a Resale Certificate before the change/transfer in ownership.

It is the owner’s/realtor's responsibility to submit all necessary applications.

Failure to apply for a resale certificate will result in a fine of no less than or more than $500.00 per day.

For a Resale, all open Building Permits must be closed prior to closing.

Open permits may be requested through our construction department at (732) 777-6013. If you are not the owner of the property an Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request must be submitted to the clerk’s office to obtain that information.

The Smoke Detector/Carbon Monoxide Detector Inspection which is required under the NJ Uniform Fire Code N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.3 and the Middlesex County Fire Marshall Ordinance 10-1811 when a change in occupancy or ownership occurs will be conducted by Middlesex County Office of the Fire Marshal.

Middlesex County Fire Marshal
1001 Fire Academy Drive Sayreville NJ 08879
Phone: (732) 316-7171 | Email: firemarshal@co.middlesex.nj.us

A copy of the certificate must be provided to the code enforcement office.


The final reading for the water meter must be completed and scheduled with the tax/water department. For scheduling contact information is below.

Tax/Water Department
Mildred Ramos Phone: 732-819-3787 | Email: mramos@hpboro.com

Failure to comply will result in fines and summons.  

Temporary Re-Sale Application

If the property is in an inhabitable condition and wishes to close, a temporary resale certificate may be requested. Also, if the buyer acknowledges that the property has prior violations and is going to do major renovations a temporary resale certificate is required. The temporary certification is only valid for up to 3 months. An extension may be requested if the property owner shows proof that the work is being completed. It is the property owner’s responsibility to schedule an initial resale inspection.

Failure to comply will result in fines and summons.

Rental Inspection Procedure

1. Registration

 The current registration form must be submitted

2. Lead-Based Paint Visual Inspection

These inspections will occur every (2) years at the expiration of the lead-safe certificate. You may use the Borough’s inspector ($145) or a certified lead evaluation contractor to obtain this certification.

3. Rental Liability Insurance

  • P.L. 2022, c. 92, signed into law on August 5, 2022, institutes a new minimum liability insurance requirement for owners of businesses and rental units (whether residential or non-residential). The law will require the owner of a business, or one or more rental units, to maintain liability insurance for negligent acts and omissions in an amount of no less than $500,000 for combined property damage and bodily injury to or death of one or more persons in any one accident or occurrence.

  • Rental Liability Insurance Form

 4. Rental Change of Occupancy inspection

  • Rental certificate inspections are required every time there is a change of tenancy or every five years if no change in tenancy has occurred. Re- Inspections are required when a unit has failed an initial inspection. It is the owner's responsibility to contact the scheduling inspector in the code enforcement department within 10 days after the initial inspection has failed. Emergency inspections are available but inspection fees may vary.

  • Rental Application
  • Rental Field Report sample

ALL FOUR APPLICATIONS/FORMS; Registration, Lead-based paint, liability insurance, and rental applications MUST BE SUBMITTED AND PAID IN FULL to SCHEDULE AN INSPECTION AND OBTAIN A RENTAL CERTIFICATE.

All rental units must be empty before inspection.

Failure to comply will result in fines and summons.

Rent Control

On December 20, 2022, Borough Council passed an ordinance updating rent control regulations in Highland Park. These regulations apply to all rental dwellings in the Borough including single-, two-, three-, and four-family dwelling units. The allowable rent increase is calculated in October of each year to be effective January 1st of the following year.

Failure to comply will result in fines and summons

To Tenants

If your landlord is trying to increase your rent more than the allowable rent increase, please share with them the memo from the Department of Code Enforcement. If they continue to insist on the rent increase, you may fill out a Tenant Complaint Form and submit it either via email to rentcontrol@hpboro.com

Request a Hardship Rent Increase
If you are a property owner seeking a Hardship Rent Increase under §321-31, click HERE to access the application. All properties must be registered with the Department of Code Enforcement before applying for a Hardship Rental Increase.

Vacant Property Registration

  • The Borough of Highland Park has passed an ordinance regarding vacant properties in town. All vacant properties are now required to be registered with the Borough's Code Enforcement Department.

  • As per Ordinance 303-15: (a) Effective August 1, 2017, the owner of any vacant or abandoned property as defined herein shall register with the Borough of Highland Park under 303-12 of this ordinance.

  • Vacant Registration Application

Failure to comply will result in fines and summons.

NOTE

Our code enforcement officer has a set schedule. The inspector will only allow a grace period of 10 minutes after the scheduled inspection time. Keep in mind that our inspector will not call to confirm any inspections. The time of the inspection given at the office is the time that the inspector will be there. The inspector will only call if he’s running late or needs to reschedule due to an emergency. (This does not apply to the building, electric, fire, and plumbing inspectors.)

The code enforcement inspector may also arrive 5-10 minutes earlier for inspections. If you cannot make it, please make arrangements to reschedule or have a representative 18 years or older for access to the building.

It is the owner's responsibility to reschedule. Additional fees may be incurred to reschedule.

Note: All fees must be paid in full through check, cash (exact change), and money order. No credit cards or online payments are available at this time.

All checks should be made payable to BOROUGH OF HIGHLAND PARK.