Michael Perna – Housing Inspector
Phone: 609-499-2130 ext. 124
Email: housing@florence-nj.gov

Jodie Hein – Technical Assistant
Phone: 609-499-2130 ext. 131
Email: techassist2@florence-nj.gov

Frequently Asked Questions: Housing Department

Look on your tax bill, water bill or click here (enter your address in the “Property Location” box and click “Search”).

All buildings MUST be numbered so that emergency personnel can see your address from the street.  If on an alley, front and back needs to be numbered.

Owners of multi-family dwellings are required to register with the Nj Bureau of Housing. To register, please click here (https://njdcaportal.dynamics365portals.us/) to access the DCA Service Portal

No. As long as the tank is still being used and it is not leaking, or has been previously abandoned in place (with permits and it has passed inspection), it may remain in place. A prospective buyer may want the tank removed, but that is a contractual negotiation between you and the buyer. 

Florence Township does not have surveys. A survey is a private transaction, typically ordered by the buyer at the time of purchase of a property. If a survey was provided to the construction or zoning department as part of a project, there is a chance that it will be in the permit file.

A Continued Certificate of Occupancy (CCO) is always required in Florence Township when selling or purchasing a property, when there is a change in occupancy of a property, or when a property is to be rented out. This includes purchasing a bank owned/foreclosed parcel or deeded transfers from one person to another, even when the receiving party may have been living in the premises at the time of the transfer.

The housing inspection ensures that buyers and/or tenants moving into properties have a safe environment. All items inspected have an effect on life safety, health, and welfare of occupants or users of buildings. Property records are also checked for work done without permits and permitted work that was never inspected.

Florence Township Housing Department does not issue Temporary Certificate of Occupancy. If your home is under construction, only the building department who can issue a temp Certificate of occupancy for the homeowner to occupy.

The Township will provide you with a Letter of No Occupancy that you can bring to closing.  You may not occupy the residence until the property has been inspected and a CCO is issued.  The information required can be found in the resale housing application packet.

Once the housing application form is completely filled out and paid for, an inspection will be provided for the next available appointment time. The Township allows for the use of lock boxes for entry into vacant properties.  If a lock box is not available at the property, someone over the age of 18 must be present to let the inspectors onto the property.

Please allow at least 2 weeks for scheduling your initial inspection appointment.  During our busy times, we can be up to 4 weeks out.

You may request public records of any property.  Please submit an OPRA Form to the Municipal Clerk.

An inspection can be done if the unit is vacant and there is no tenant ready to move in, but the inspection is only valid for 90 days.  The CCO will not be issued until the tenant’s name is provided.

Beginning Friday, July 22, 2022, lead paint inspection and remediation is required for residential rental properties upon tenant turnover or by July 24, 2024 (if there is no tenant turnover). After the initial inspection, all units shall be inspected for lead-based paint hazards every three years.

Properties Subject to New Lead Paint Law:  Homes Built Before 1978

Required dust wipe sampling inspection must be performed by a certified Lead Evaluation Contractor. Dust wipe sampling is collected by wiping a representative surface, including floors (both carpeted and uncarpeted), interior windowsills, and other similar surfaces, and testing in accordance with a method approved by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These samples must be undertaken properly to ensure that results are accurate. If lead-based paint hazards are identified, then the owner of the dwelling shall remediate the hazards through abatement or lead-based paint hazard control mechanisms.

For further information, please see the DCA website: https://www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/codes/resources/leadpaint.html

We ask that you notify us at least 24 hours in advance if you should need to cancel or reschedule your appointment to avoid any fees. If you need to cancel and the Township has already closed for the evening or weekend, please call our office and leave a message. As long as you tried to contact us we will honor the 24-hour agreement.

A “No-Show” inspection is any scheduled inspection in which no one arrives for the inspection; cancels with less than 24 hours notice; arrives more than 15 minutes late and is consequently unable to have the inspection. Our housing inspector may also cancel an inspection if the property is not ready for the inspection (it is not in “move-in ready condition); if we are asked to go in on a lockbox and the property contains any type of belongings or someone is sick at the property.

Michael Perna – Housing Inspector
Phone: 609-499-2130 ext. 124
Email: housing@florence-nj.gov

Jodie Hein – Technical Assistant
Phone: 609-499-2130 ext. 131
Email: techassist2@florence-nj.gov

Frequently Asked Questions: Housing Department

Look on your tax bill, water bill or click here (enter your address in the “Property Location” box and click “Search”).

All buildings MUST be numbered so that emergency personnel can see your address from the street.  If on an alley, front and back needs to be numbered.

Owners of multi-family dwellings are required to register with the Nj Bureau of Housing. To register, please click here (https://njdcaportal.dynamics365portals.us/) to access the DCA Service Portal

No. As long as the tank is still being used and it is not leaking, or has been previously abandoned in place (with permits and it has passed inspection), it may remain in place. A prospective buyer may want the tank removed, but that is a contractual negotiation between you and the buyer. 

Florence Township does not have surveys. A survey is a private transaction, typically ordered by the buyer at the time of purchase of a property. If a survey was provided to the construction or zoning department as part of a project, there is a chance that it will be in the permit file.

A Continued Certificate of Occupancy (CCO) is always required in Florence Township when selling or purchasing a property, when there is a change in occupancy of a property, or when a property is to be rented out. This includes purchasing a bank owned/foreclosed parcel or deeded transfers from one person to another, even when the receiving party may have been living in the premises at the time of the transfer.

The housing inspection ensures that buyers and/or tenants moving into properties have a safe environment. All items inspected have an effect on life safety, health, and welfare of occupants or users of buildings. Property records are also checked for work done without permits and permitted work that was never inspected.

Florence Township Housing Department does not issue Temporary Certificate of Occupancy. If your home is under construction, only the building department who can issue a temp Certificate of occupancy for the homeowner to occupy.

The Township will provide you with a Letter of No Occupancy that you can bring to closing.  You may not occupy the residence until the property has been inspected and a CCO is issued.  The information required can be found in the resale housing application packet.

Once the housing application form is completely filled out and paid for, an inspection will be provided for the next available appointment time. The Township allows for the use of lock boxes for entry into vacant properties.  If a lock box is not available at the property, someone over the age of 18 must be present to let the inspectors onto the property.

Please allow at least 2 weeks for scheduling your initial inspection appointment.  During our busy times, we can be up to 4 weeks out.

You may request public records of any property.  Please submit an OPRA Form to the Municipal Clerk.

An inspection can be done if the unit is vacant and there is no tenant ready to move in, but the inspection is only valid for 90 days.  The CCO will not be issued until the tenant’s name is provided.

Beginning Friday, July 22, 2022, lead paint inspection and remediation is required for residential rental properties upon tenant turnover or by July 24, 2024 (if there is no tenant turnover). After the initial inspection, all units shall be inspected for lead-based paint hazards every three years.

Properties Subject to New Lead Paint Law:  Homes Built Before 1978

Required dust wipe sampling inspection must be performed by a certified Lead Evaluation Contractor. Dust wipe sampling is collected by wiping a representative surface, including floors (both carpeted and uncarpeted), interior windowsills, and other similar surfaces, and testing in accordance with a method approved by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These samples must be undertaken properly to ensure that results are accurate. If lead-based paint hazards are identified, then the owner of the dwelling shall remediate the hazards through abatement or lead-based paint hazard control mechanisms.

For further information, please see the DCA website: https://www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/codes/resources/leadpaint.html

We ask that you notify us at least 24 hours in advance if you should need to cancel or reschedule your appointment to avoid any fees. If you need to cancel and the Township has already closed for the evening or weekend, please call our office and leave a message. As long as you tried to contact us we will honor the 24-hour agreement.

A “No-Show” inspection is any scheduled inspection in which no one arrives for the inspection; cancels with less than 24 hours notice; arrives more than 15 minutes late and is consequently unable to have the inspection. Our housing inspector may also cancel an inspection if the property is not ready for the inspection (it is not in “move-in ready condition); if we are asked to go in on a lockbox and the property contains any type of belongings or someone is sick at the property.