1. a. In any case in which a change of occupancy of any dwelling unit in a building with fewer than three dwelling units is subject to a municipal ordinance requiring the issuance of a certificate of occupancy, certificate of inspection or other documentary certification of compliance with laws and regulations relating to the safety, healthfulness and upkeep of the premises, no such certificate shall issue until the officer or agency responsible for its issuance has determined that: (1) the dwelling unit is equipped with one or more carbon monoxide sensor devices, or (2) that there is no potential carbon monoxide hazard in the dwelling unit. Any such determination shall be made in accordance with rules adopted by the Commissioner of Community Affairs.

b. In the case of an initial occupancy or a change of occupancy of any dwelling unit in a building with fewer than three dwelling units to which the provisions of subsection a. of this section do not apply, no owner shall sell, lease or otherwise permit occupancy for residential purposes of that dwelling unit without first obtaining from the relevant enforcing agency under the”Uniform Fire Safety Act,” P.L.1983, c.383 (C. 52:27D-192 et seq.) a certificate indicating: (1) that the dwelling unit is equipped with one or more carbon monoxide sensor devices, or (2) that there is no potential carbon monoxide hazard in the dwelling unit. Any such determination shall be made in accordance with rules adopted by the Commissioner of Community Affairs.

c. The local governing body having jurisdiction over the enforcing agency or, where the Division of Fire Safety is the enforcing agency, the Commissioner of Community Affairs, may establish a fee which covers the cost of inspection and of issuance of the certificate; however, if an inspection is being made and a certificate is being issued evidencing compliance with section 2 of P.L.1991, c.92 (C. 52:27D-198.2), the fee authorized therein shall cover the costs of complying with this section.

d. For the purposes of this section:

“Carbon monoxide sensor device” means a carbon monoxide alarm or detector that bears the label of a nationally recognized testing laboratory, and has been tested and listed as complying with the most recent Underwriters Laboratories standard 2034 or its equivalent.

“Dwelling unit” means a structure, or a room or group of rooms within a structure, used or intended for use, in whole or in part, for residential purposes.

e An owner who sells, leases or otherwise permits occupancy of a dwelling unit without complying with the provisions of this section shall be subject to a fine of not more than $100, which may be collected and enforced by the local enforcing agency by summary proceedings pursuant to “The Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999,” P.L.1999, c.274 (C. 2A:58-10 et seq.).

f. This section shall become operative on the 61st day after enactment of P.L.2003, c.44 (C. 52:27D-133.5 et al.).

L.1999,c.15,s.1; amended 2003, c.44, s.1.