What does lead-safe certification cost in Hamilton Township, NJ?

$200/unit inspection fee (Township Code Enforcement Bureau); $0 if landlord hires own DCA-certified contractor; $50/unit certification filing fee; plus $20/unit state fee

Who inspects rental units for lead-safe certification in Hamilton Township?

Either (municipality or owner-hired contractor)

Hamilton Township lead-safe certification for rentals (2026)

Q: What lead-safe inspection method does Hamilton Township use?

Visual assessment. Ordinance 2045-2023 (adopted 6/5/2023), run by the Housing Inspection & Landlord Compliance Office. All pre-1978 rentals had to complete an initial lead certification by July 2025, and a Change of Occupancy application is not accepted without a lead certification on file. Township materials confirm 3-year validity. Sourced only from hamiltonnj.com (Mercer), not Hamilton Twp, Atlantic County.

Mercer County — lead-safe rental certification under P.L.2021, c.182, as amended by P.L.2024, c.74.

Summary

Inspection method: Visual assessment (state 2025-26 list: "Visual Inspection")
Who inspects: Either (municipality or owner-hired contractor)
Municipal fee: $200/unit inspection fee (Township Code Enforcement Bureau); $0 if landlord hires own DCA-certified contractor; $50/unit certification filing fee; plus $20/unit state fee
Registration: yes - landlord registration (initial $50 fee; $50/unit for 4+ unit buildings, collected annually over 5 years) plus a $200 Landlord License renewed every 5 years; separate from the lead law
Contact phone: 609-890-3665
Program / contact page: https://www.hamiltonnj.com/206/Housing-Inspection-Landlord-Compliance-O
Research completeness: filled
Last verified: 2026-09-23

Notes

Ordinance 2045-2023 (adopted 6/5/2023), run by the Housing Inspection & Landlord Compliance Office. All pre-1978 rentals had to complete an initial lead certification by July 2025, and a Change of Occupancy application is not accepted without a lead certification on file. Township materials confirm 3-year validity. Sourced only from hamiltonnj.com (Mercer), not Hamilton Twp, Atlantic County.

Statewide 3-year certification rule applies here too

Regardless of Hamilton Township's specific process above, the certificate itself is valid three years statewide (P.L.2024, c.74) — not the two years some older DCA guidance still states. See the lead-safe hub for the full statewide timeline, deadlines, and landlord checklist.

Sources

Hamilton's rent control page →

Email me before my lead-safe certificate expires

We'll send a one-time confirmation email first (double opt-in) — no reminder is sent until you click the link in it. There's no scheduled reminder sender wired up yet on our end beyond that confirmation, so treat this as staking a place in line; see the disclaimer below.

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Certificate issue date (optional)

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This page is informational, not legal advice, and does not review your specific situation. NJ Rent Control is an independent reference site, not a law firm or a government agency. Confirm current requirements with your municipality's code enforcement or health office, and consult a licensed New Jersey attorney about your rights or obligations.