North Jersey Town Guides
Local guides from Irma Brainard, Weichert Realtors, for buyers and sellers in Morris, Essex, Hudson and Bergen counties. Each guide covers what the town requires before you sell, property taxes, schools, commuting to NYC, useful local links and a few of my favorite things about living there.
Rockaway Borough
My hometown: a walkable small town with Main Street, Park Lake and the Dark Lake Spooktacular, plus bus service to Manhattan.
Read the Rockaway Borough guide →
Rockaway Township
Lake communities like White Meadow Lake and Lake Telemark, larger lots, a bus straight to Manhattan and the Christ Church Easter egg hunt.
Read the Rockaway Township guide →
Denville
The “Hub of Morris County”: a lively downtown, lake communities, a train station in town and the Great Denville Duck Race every September.
Read the Denville guide →Randolph
Big parks, quick highway access and the Randolph Freedom Festival every July.
Read the Randolph guide →Montclair
Six train stations, busy downtowns in Montclair Center and Upper Montclair, and the Montclair Film Festival every October.
Read the Montclair guide →West Orange
Where I lived for more than ten years: South Mountain Reservation, Thomas Edison's lab and a free jitney to the train.
Read the West Orange guide →Bloomfield
Two train stations, Brookdale Park and Bloomfield Harvest Fest filling downtown every October.
Read the Bloomfield guide →Jersey City
Waterfront high-rises, brownstones and walk-ups, four PATH stations, the ferry and JCAST every October.
Read the Jersey City guide →Lyndhurst
A new train station on the Main Line, Passaic River parks and the Mt. Carmel Feast every July.
Read the Lyndhurst guide →North Jersey seller checklist
Every town sets its own rules before you can close. Here's what each guide town requires, plus a simple timeline.
- Before you list: get a comparative market analysis, close out any open permits, test smoke and CO alarms, and have a kitchen fire extinguisher (2A:10B:C, 10 lbs or less).
- As soon as you have a contract: apply for your town's smoke / CO / fire extinguisher certificate (or CCO, where required). Fees go up the closer you are to closing.
- About two weeks before closing: schedule a final water reading if your town requires one, and make sure taxes and water / sewer bills are paid through closing.
| Town | What you need | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Rockaway Borough | Fire Prevention Certificate, final water reading, taxes paid in full | $55 to $200, depending on notice |
| Rockaway Township | Smoke / CO / extinguisher certificate (apply and pay first; valid 6 months) | $45 to $161, depending on notice |
| Denville | Smoke detector inspection; close out open permits | $35 to $125, depending on notice |
| Randolph | Smoke / CO / extinguisher certificate (Monday mornings only) | $100; $150 alternate day |
| Montclair | Smoke / CO / extinguisher certificate (email the application and an electrician's letter 10+ days before closing); close out open permits | $75 |
| West Orange | Certificate of Continued Occupancy (CCO) | $200 to $350, by number of units; $75 re-inspection |
| Bloomfield | Certificate of Transfer of Property Title from the Fire Department (apply 30+ days before closing) | $200 to $320, by property type; $25 re-inspection |
| Jersey City | Smoke / CO / extinguisher certificate; lead-safe inspection for pre-1978 rentals | $75 |
| Lyndhurst | Smoke / CO / extinguisher certificate | $45 to $161, depending on notice |
Fees from each town's official website or application; confirm before you schedule. Want a printable one-page copy? Call or text me at 201-575-5013 or email [email protected] and I'll send it over.
Looking at a different town?
I work with buyers and sellers across Morris, Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Bergen counties. Call or text me at 201-575-5013 and I'll give you the same local rundown for the town you're considering.
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Irma Brainard is a licensed real estate salesperson in the State of New Jersey, affiliated with Weichert Realtors®. All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Equal Housing Opportunity.