The short version
- Runnemede Borough had 8,324 people in the 2020 Census. The 08078 ZIP code lies entirely inside the borough.
- To sell a house you need a Certificate of Continued Occupancy (CCO). The application is $100, with a $25 fee after the first reinspection, and it must be in at least 10 working days before settlement.
- For a single-family sale, the CCO checklist covers 21 items outside the house, from a 4-inch house number to level sidewalks, guardrails, gutters, outdoor GFCI outlets and a chimney cap.
- All work must be done, and any open permits closed, before the borough issues the CCO. The application expires 90 days after the inspection.
- The fire office issues a separate smoke and carbon monoxide alarm certificate. The alarms you need depend on the year the house was built.
What are Runnemede's houses and neighborhoods like?
Mostly single detached houses, many built in the decades after World War II, plus some apartment complexes. Rowhomes are rare here. The Black Horse Pike is the main street, and Borough Hall sits on it at 24 N. Black Horse Pike. The New Jersey Turnpike cuts through town as well.
The borough's history page goes back to John Ashbrook, its first settler, whose will is dated 1727, and to Clement's Bridge on the road west toward Deptford, rebuilt in 1928. Runnemede's neighbors are Barrington, Bellmawr, Magnolia and Gloucester Township, where Glendora is, plus Deptford Township across the county line in Gloucester County.
In single homes this age, the items that tend to cost money are roofs, heating and cooling systems, older electrical service, wet basements and sump pumps, and old driveways and sidewalks. Several of those show up on the borough's resale checklist.
What does Runnemede require to sell a house?
A Certificate of Continued Occupancy from the Office of Code Enforcement at 24 N. Black Horse Pike (856-939-2815). The borough's application lays out the rules:
- Apply at least 10 working days before settlement. The residential application is $100, with a $25 fee after the first reinspection.
- Pass the exterior inspection. For a single-family sale, the inspector works from the borough's 21-item exterior checklist.
- Finish the work and close your permits. All work must be completed before a certificate is issued. Any open construction permits must be closed out, and work done without permits needs permits.
- Watch the clock. The application expires 90 days after the inspection if the certificate has not been issued.
- Get the alarm certificate. The Bureau of Fire Prevention (856-939-2817) handles the smoke and carbon monoxide alarm inspection separately.
If the house has a pool, the application includes a swimming pool affidavit and a bonding and grounding certificate from a licensed New Jersey electrician, dated within 30 days of the application.
What does the Runnemede checklist look for?
| Area | What the borough wants |
|---|---|
| Front of the house | A house number visible from the street, at least 4 inches tall. Steps with no cracks or trip hazards. |
| Sidewalks, aprons and driveways | Level, with no lifts or cracks over half an inch. Parking areas must be paved: no gravel or crushed stone. |
| Rails | A graspable handrail on any steps with 4 or more risers. Guardrails at least 36 inches high where a porch, landing or stairs are more than 30 inches above the ground. |
| Water | Gutters on all roof edges that shed water, attached and clear, with splash blocks or diverters at the downspouts. |
| Openings | Foundation openings sealed, basement windows unbroken and sealed, Bilco doors working and dry, crawlspace access sealed against pests. |
| Electrical | GFCI protection on outdoor outlets, including garages and sheds. Service cable secured, and damaged wiring or fixtures replaced. |
| Everything else | No peeling paint or rust, an approved chimney cap, unbroken window glass, and abandoned tanks and wells removed with a permit. |
Rentals and sales of multi-family buildings get a longer list that adds the inside of the house: plumbing leaks, the electric panel, windows that open and lock, working heat, sump pumps that do not drain into the sewer, and a pest control certificate if there are signs of pests. The borough's rental checklist also notes that permits stay with the property, so a new owner takes on work a past owner did without permits.
What smoke and carbon monoxide alarms does a Runnemede sale need?
It depends on when the house was built. The fire office's rules say alarms must still meet the requirements from when the house was built or last renovated with permits. For example, a house built before 1977 needs a smoke alarm on each level, including the basement, and within 10 feet of bedroom doors, and where there are none, or when old battery alarms are replaced, they should be 10-year sealed battery alarms. A house built in March 1991 or later needs hardwired, interconnected alarms with battery backup on every level and in each bedroom. Carbon monoxide alarms go outside each sleeping area, within 10 feet of the bedrooms.
Two newer points from the borough's fire office: since February 2025, a change in the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code means a fire extinguisher is no longer required for this certificate when a home is sold or rented. And if the house has solar panels, a generator or battery storage, it needs a printed "CAUTION: MULTIPLE SOURCES OF POWER" style label within 18 inches of the main electric panel and meter.
Can I sell a Runnemede house as-is?
Yes, though Runnemede's rules shape how. The borough's form says all work must be finished before it issues the certificate, so the checklist still has to be handled even in an as-is sale. The difference is who does it. When you sell to us, you do not fix the sidewalk, pull the old tank or chase down a contractor, and we go over how the borough's list will be handled before you sign. Our guide to selling a house as-is explains more.
How does a cash offer compare with listing?
A cash, as-is offer is usually lower than what the house would sell for after repairs on the open market. It has to account for the repairs, the risk of problems we cannot see, the carrying costs while we work, and the cost of selling again. You avoid the repair bills, the showings, the agent commission and any fees from us, and you pick the day you close. We pay all the closing costs, and your written offer shows exactly what you walk away with before you sign.
If your house would pass the CCO inspection today and you have time to wait for a buyer, listing may net you more, and we will tell you that. See how we calculate our offer or our cash sale vs listing comparison.
Where are probate and sheriff sales handled?
A Runnemede estate goes through the Camden County Surrogate's Court at 509 Lakeland Road in Blackwood, by appointment. Camden County sheriff sales take place the first and third Wednesday of each month at noon in the Camden City Council Chambers, 520 Market Street. Our Camden County, NJ page has more on both.
Who sells to us in Runnemede?
For landlords, Runnemede's rental checklist covers the inside and outside of the house, and some owners would rather sell than keep up with it; see selling a house with tenants. Heirs handling a parent's house through the Surrogate can read our guide to selling an inherited house in New Jersey. If the mortgage is behind and a sheriff sale is coming, our New Jersey foreclosure guide covers your options, including ones that do not involve selling.
How does selling to us work here?
- Reach out. Call or text (267) 551-5554, or send the form. A real local person answers.
- Show us the house. As it is, belongings and all.
- Get your written cash offer, usually within 24 hours, with no pressure.
- Pick the closing day. We plan the CCO and alarm inspections into the schedule so settlement is not held up.
Get my cash offer Text or call (267) 551-5554
What nearby areas do we also buy in?
Bellmawr, Magnolia, Glendora and the rest of Gloucester Township, and Deptford Township across the county line, plus:
Questions Runnemede sellers ask
Do I need a CCO to sell my house in Runnemede?
Yes. The borough requires a Certificate of Continued Occupancy for the sale of a single-family house. The residential application is $100, with a $25 fee after the first reinspection, and the work must be finished and open permits closed before the certificate is issued.
How far ahead should I apply?
At least 10 working days before settlement, and earlier if you can, so there is time to fix anything that fails. The application expires 90 days after the inspection if no certificate has been issued.
Do I still need a fire extinguisher to sell?
Not anymore, according to the borough's fire office. Since February 2025, a change in the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code removed the fire extinguisher from the smoke and carbon monoxide alarm certificate for a change of ownership or tenancy. You still need the right smoke and carbon monoxide alarms for your house's age.
Is Glendora part of Runnemede?
No. Glendora, ZIP 08029, is part of Gloucester Township, so Gloucester Township's rules apply there, not Runnemede's. We buy in Glendora too.
This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. For your situation, talk to a New Jersey attorney or tax professional.
Sources
- Borough of Runnemede: Construction and Code Enforcement
- Borough of Runnemede: Exterior Compliance Requirements for a Certificate of Continued Occupancy (single-family sale)
- Borough of Runnemede: Certificate of Continued Occupancy Application, Residential Dwelling
- Borough of Runnemede: CCO Requirements for Rental and Multi-Family Properties
- Borough of Runnemede: Fire Prevention and Inspections
- Borough of Runnemede: Requirements for Smoke Alarms for One- and Two-Family Residences
- Borough of Runnemede: History
- Camden County, NJ: Surrogate Court
- Camden County, NJ Sheriff: Foreclosure Sales Information
- U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb: 2020 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas