Essex County, New Jersey · Loan
Essex County Home Improvement Program
Run by Essex County Division of Housing and Community Development
Essex County gives low- and moderate-income owners of 1-3 family homes deferred loans for repairs such as a heating system, roofing, plumbing and electrical work, repaid only if the home is sold or transferred within 10 years. It covers 18 towns, including Montclair, Maplewood and South Orange, but not Newark, East Orange, Irvington or Bloomfield.
Amounts
How much you get
A deferred loan for the approved repairs. A lien is recorded on the property and has to be paid off only if the home is sold or ownership is transferred within 10 years. The county doesn't publish a maximum loan amount.
Eligibility
Do I qualify?
You need to meet all 3 of these, plus one that applies only in some cases.
Your home is in Essex County, New Jersey.
Low- and moderate-income homeowners who meet the program's income guidelines (the county doesn't publish the limits online).
Homeowners who live in a 1 to 3 family home.
- Only in some cases
Only homeowners in Belleville, Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Fairfield, Glen Ridge, Livingston, Maplewood, Millburn, Montclair, North Caldwell, Nutley, Orange, Roseland, South Orange, Verona, West Caldwell and West Orange. Bloomfield, East Orange, Irvington and Newark run their own programs.
Equipment
What equipment counts
Applying
How to apply
You apply by phone.
- Call the Division of Housing and Community Development at 973-655-0200 to request an application.
- Return the Request for Home Improvement Program Application with your household size and income.
- The county checks eligibility and the repairs needed.
- A lien is recorded; it's paid off only if you sell or transfer the home within 10 years.
Forms and instructionsEssex County Home Improvement Program flier (2022) · Essex County Home Improvement Program brochure (2019)
Stacking
Use it with
Your address
Next steps
Check that it covers your address. Then, if you want, ask for a contractor quote.
Is it available at your address?
Before anything else
Your quote request is in If a contractor we work with serves your ZIP, they can contact you. We take one request per person; contact us to change it.
Get an email if this program changes
We'll write if its amount, status or deadline changes. Nothing else.
FAQ
Questions
How much does Essex County Home Improvement Program pay?
Amount not published. A deferred loan for the approved repairs. A lien is recorded on the property and has to be paid off only if the home is sold or ownership is transferred within 10 years. The county doesn't publish a maximum loan amount.
Is there an income limit?
Low- and moderate-income homeowners who meet the program's income guidelines (the county doesn't publish the limits online).
Do renters qualify?
Homeowners who live in a 1 to 3 family home.
Is it still available?
Yes. It was open when we last checked, on October 25, 2026.
Plain words
Words used on this page
References
Sources
This page is built from these official pages, run by the program itself.
- Essex County Home Improvement Program (Essex County help center)
- Essex County Home Improvement Program flier (2022)
- Essex County Home Improvement Program brochure (2019)
When one of these pages changes, we re-check this page against it.
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