TRENTON, NJ – A new bill introduced in New Jersey focuses on the installation of rain sensors in automatic lawn sprinkler systems. The legislation requires that every contract of sale for real property with a lawn sprinkler system installed on or before September 8, 2000, must include a provision mandating the installation of an operational automatic rain sensor device or switch.
Current law already requires that all automatic lawn sprinkler systems installed after September 8, 2000, be equipped with an automatic rain sensor device or switch that overrides the irrigation cycle when sufficient rainfall has occurred. This bill seeks to expand this requirement to include automatic lawn sprinkler systems installed prior to September 8, 2000, according to specific timeframes and conditions outlined in the legislation.
Under this bill, the closing of title on the sale of any real property cannot proceed unless documentation is provided to demonstrate the installation of an operational automatic rain sensor device or switch. Both the buyer and seller must certify in writing at the closing that this requirement has been met. Non-compliance with these requirements would not invalidate or impair the conveyed title. However, these provisions would not apply to the closing of title for property within a common interest community, which includes various types of property ownership structures such as condominiums and cooperatives.
Any property owner who sells, leases, rents, or allows occupancy of a property without meeting these requirements would be subject to a fine of up to $500.
Furthermore, within 24 months after the bill’s enactment, any automatic lawn sprinkler system installed on or before September 8, 2000, in a common interest community would need to be retrofitted with an operational automatic rain sensor device or switch.
Lastly, within 12 months after the bill’s enactment, any automatic lawn sprinkler system installed on or before September 8, 2000, on commercial, retail, or industrial properties would need to be retrofitted with an operational automatic rain sensor device or switch.
It is important to note that this bill is currently in the legislative process and has not yet become law. If passed, it would impose new requirements regarding rain sensors for existing automatic lawn sprinkler systems in New Jersey.