N.J. Stat. Ann. § 55:13B-1 et seq. § 55:13B-9

Inspection, review of records; violations

In Force
Verified 10/6/2026 · Next check 11/5/2026
effective 10/6/2026New JerseyPeriodic Inspections

Operative Text

N.J. Stat. Ann. § 55:13B-1 et seq. § 55:13B-9
9. The commissioner shall ensure that each rooming or boarding house whose owner possesses a valid license is inspected and its records reviewed at least once each year for the purpose of determining whether the owner or operator is complying with standards promulgated pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1979, c.496 (C.55:13B-1 et seq.), except that in the case of a cooperative sober living residence, the commissioner shall ensure that an unannounced inspection and record review of a licensed cooperative sober living residence is conducted at least twice each year for the purpose of determining whether the owner or operator is complying with standards promulgated pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1979, c.496 (C.55:13B-1 et seq.). If the commissioner determines, as a result of any such inspection and review of records, that an owner or operator is in violation of such standards, he shall serve the owner or operator of the facility with a written notice thereof, which shall fix a date by which the owner or operator shall enter into compliance. The commissioner shall not be required to perform annual inspections of facilities licensed and inspected by a municipality pursuant to P.L.1993, c.290 (C.40:52-9 et seq.), but shall have the authority to oversee and ensure the enforcement of the "Rooming and Boarding House Act of 1979," P.L.1979, c.496 (C.55:13B-1 et seq.), and the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto in those facilities. A municipality shall file with the commissioner a copy of an inspection report prepared following an inspection of a rooming or boarding house performed by the municipality pursuant to P.L.1993, c.290 (C.40:52-9 et seq.). The commissioner may prescribe a standard inspection report format to be used by the municipality.

The Department of Community Affairs shall post on its Internet website each inspection report prepared following an inspection performed on behalf of or filed with the commissioner pursuant to this section, along with any other inspection report prepared by or on behalf of the department for a rooming or boarding house.

If an inspection reveals a serious health and safety violation at a rooming or boarding house, the department shall post the inspection report, including the name of the rooming or boarding house and the owner of the rooming or boarding house, on its website no later than 72 hours following the inspection. If a license of a rooming or boarding house is suspended, the department shall post the suspension on its website no later than 72 hours following the suspension. The department shall update its website to reflect the correction of a serious health and safety violation, and the lifting of a suspension.

The department shall notify, as soon as possible, the Commissioner of Human Services, or the commissioner's designee, and the director of the county board of social services or county welfare agency, as appropriate, in the county in which a rooming or boarding house is located, of a serious health and safety violation at the rooming or boarding house and of any suspension of a license to operate such rooming or boarding house.

L.1979, c.496, s.9; amended 1999, c.241, s.3; 2015, c.6, s.2; 2025, c.60, s.3.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Under N.J.S.A. 55:13B-9, New Jersey's Commissioner of Community Affairs is required to ensure that licensed rooming and boarding houses are inspected and their records reviewed at least once per year, while licensed cooperative sober living residences must receive at least two unannounced inspections annually. When an inspection uncovers a violation of applicable standards, the owner or operator must receive written notice specifying a deadline to come into compliance. Serious health and safety violations and license suspensions must be publicly posted on the Department of Community Affairs website within 72 hours, and relevant county social services officials must be notified as soon as possible.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 14, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Operators of licensed rooming or boarding houses subject to N.J.S.A. 55:13B-9 can generally expect at least one state or municipal inspection per year—and, for cooperative sober living residences, at least two unannounced inspections. Compliant operators typically maintain up-to-date records that are readily available for review and promptly address any written notices of violation within the deadline set by the commissioner. Because serious violations and license suspensions are publicly posted on the Department of Community Affairs website within 72 hours, maintaining ongoing compliance with the standards under P.L.1979, c.496 is central to protecting a facility's operating license and public standing.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Residents of rooming or boarding houses in New Jersey have a right to know that their facility is subject to mandatory inspections under N.J.S.A. 55:13B-9, and that serious health and safety violations as well as license suspensions must be publicly disclosed on the Department of Community Affairs website within 72 hours. Tenants can check that website to review posted inspection reports and learn whether their facility has any outstanding violations or suspensions. Those who believe a serious violation has not been properly addressed may consider contacting the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs directly, reaching out to the county board of social services, or consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with the Rooming and Boarding House Act of 1979.

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.

Effective Timeline

Current
Oct 6, 2026
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