Middlesex is younger than most of North and Central Jersey. Only 57% of its housing predates 1980, and in the southern townships the number drops sharply. In Plainsboro it's 26%, in Monroe 28%, in Cranbury 34%.
The old half runs along the Raritan. Perth Amboy has 12,296 renter households and 31% of its homes date from before 1940. New Brunswick is 79% renter. South Amboy (38% pre-1940), Highland Park, Dunellen and Carteret all have a large share of older housing.
That split changes how to approach compliance here. In the older towns, expect most rentals to need a certificate. In the southern suburbs, check the build year first.
None of Middlesex's 25 municipalities is on NJ DCA's 2025-26 dust wipe list, so rental inspections here are visual assessments: an examination of painted surfaces for deteriorated paint, and of floors and sills for visible dust, chips and debris.
| Town | Renter households | Built before 1980 | Built before 1940 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edison | 15,020 | 56% | 6% |
| Woodbridge | 12,513 | 70% | 11% |
| New Brunswick | 12,322 | 62% | 26% |
| Perth Amboy | 12,296 | 70% | 31% |
| Old Bridge | 7,633 | 59% | 5% |
| Plainsboro | 5,158 | 26% | 2% |
| Highland Park | 3,843 | 73% | 27% |
The list is reissued, so a town's method can change. Check the current version for your address.
Sources: NJ DCA 2025-26 Lead-Based Paint Inspection Methodology list; N.J.A.C. 5:28A (inspection cycle, tenant turnover and exemptions); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates.
Edison and Woodbridge together hold more than 27,000 renter households. Their housing was built across several decades: 56% of Edison's and 70% of Woodbridge's predates 1980. The law cuts off at 1978, so one complex can be fully covered while another nearby is fully exempt.
Before requesting quotes for a large property list, sort it by each building's year built. Only the pre-1978 buildings need inspections.
$125 to $150 per unit, with bulk pricing from five units. A Perth Amboy three-family is $375 to $450. A six-unit New Brunswick building is $750 to $900 before bulk pricing. Exempt units don't need an inspection at all.
More on inspection pricing: the NJ lead inspection cost breakdown.
Neighboring counties: Union, Monmouth and Mercer. Full statute: NJ lead law reference.
Share the property list with build years and unit counts.