N.J. Stat. Ann. § 55:13B-1 et seq. § 55:13B-15
Local governments or officers; authorization to inspect; reports; preemption of regulations; supplying information
Operative Text
a. Any county or municipality in this State may be authorized by the commissioner to perform such inspection within its corporate limits as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this act, subject to the control and supervision of the commissioner and in accordance with any rules and regulations promulgated by him governing the conduct of such inspections. Every county or municipality so authorized shall furnish the commissioner with such reports and information as he may require. b. No owner or operator subject to the provisions of this act shall also be subject to regulation by any county or municipality of this State for the same purpose or end, except for construction regulations issued by a municipality pursuant to the "State Uniform Construction Code Act," P.L.1975, c. 217 (C. 52:27D-119 et seq.). c. Any municipal tax assessor, tax collector, or official charged with responsibility for enforcing a housing or property maintenance ordinance or code, county recorder of deeds or local enforcing agency established pursuant to the "State Uniform Construction Code Act," shall, upon request of the commissioner provide him with such information as will assist him in determining the location of any building or structure subject to the provisions of this act. L.1979, c. 496, s. 15.
Section 55:13B-15 of New Jersey's rooming and boarding house law establishes a layered inspection and information-sharing framework between the state and local governments. Under subsection (b), once a property owner or operator falls under this state law, local counties and municipalities generally cannot impose their own parallel regulations for the same purpose — with a specific carve-out allowing municipal construction regulations under the State Uniform Construction Code Act. Local officials such as tax assessors, tax collectors, housing code enforcers, and county recorders of deeds are required by subsection (c) to share relevant property information with the state commissioner upon request.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Owners and operators of properties covered by N.J.S.A. 55:13B-15 should be aware that state oversight under this act generally preempts duplicative local regulation for the same purpose, meaning they are not expected to comply with a separate county or municipal licensing or inspection regime aimed at the same ends. However, municipal construction regulations issued under the State Uniform Construction Code Act remain applicable and are not displaced by this provision. Compliant operators typically cooperate with state-authorized inspections and understand that local officials may be sharing property records and location information with the commissioner as part of routine administration.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in rooming houses, boarding houses, or similar facilities covered by N.J.S.A. 55:13B-15 benefit from a state-level inspection framework that coordinates with — and in many cases supersedes — local regulatory efforts, helping to ensure consistent oversight of their housing. Because local officials are required to share property information with the state commissioner under subsection (c), there is a built-in mechanism for the state to identify and track regulated buildings. Tenants who have concerns about conditions in a covered facility may consider reaching out to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, consulting a tenant-rights organization, or exploring whether a complaint can be filed at the state level given the preemption structure this provision establishes.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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