Which buildings?
"Covered buildings": residential condominium or cooperative buildings whose primary load-bearing system is concrete, masonry, steel or a hybrid. Height is not a test, so a three-story masonry co-op counts as much as a waterfront tower. Typical wood-frame construction is excluded, as are mainly rental buildings and single-family homes. A frame building that sits on a concrete podium deck is not excluded for the podium. The full list of exclusions.
When is the first inspection due?
| Certificate of occupancy issued | First inspection due |
|---|---|
| 15 or more years before January 8, 2024 | Within two years of the law, so by January 8, 2026 |
| Between one day and just under 15 years before January 8, 2024 | Within one year after the building's 15th anniversary |
| On or after January 8, 2024 | By the 15th anniversary |
| Any building with observable damage to the load-bearing system | Within 60 days of the damage, if sooner |
And after that?
The inspector's written report sets the date of the next inspection, which may not come more than 10 years after the initial one, or later than 60 days after observable damage. The statute also caps the gap between certain follow-up inspections at five years; read the report and the statute together, or ask the engineer to spell out the next date in writing.
Who does it?
The building owner, meaning the association, retains a post-occupancy structural inspector: in practice an engineer licensed in New Jersey with the qualifications the construction code asks of engineers working for an enforcing agency. The report follows ASCE protocols or a similar nationally recognized method and describes required maintenance and any corrective work in reasonable detail.
How it fits with the reserve study
The reserve study has to carry estimates for periodic structural inspections and the cost of keeping the structure sound. Ordering both together, or giving the study firm the inspection report, keeps the two in step. That is the point of the two-track schedule on our home page.
From section 3 of P.L.2023, c.214 (N.J.S.A. 52:27D-132.4) and the DCA FAQ, read November 6, 2026. Exact dates run from the day on the certificate; check with the association's attorney.