Howell Farm Property Inspections Start This Week: Officials

Howell, NJ -- If you own farm property in Howell Township, you should expect a visit from the property inspector in the coming days and weeks.

The Howell Township Tax Assessor's Office issued a notice saying Realty Data Systems has been contracted to perform the inspections.

The RDS inspectors will be working from 9 a.m. to dusk Mondays through Saturdays, officials said on the township police department's Facebook page.

If a residential dwelling does not exist (farm only or commercial farm, farm stand) , inspections may take place on Sundays between 9 a.m. and dusk, officials said.

All inspectors wear RDS logo shirts and high-visibility vests with “PROPERTY INSPECTOR” printed on the tail, and carry photo ID badges, the notice said.

The inspection consists of taking photographs (with a tablet), knocking on doors of farmhouse or commercial structure to make the inspectors' presence and purpose is known, then walking the properties (including through farmland and/or woodlands) to perform exterior inspection, as well as noting/photographing/sketching the farm structures (i.e. barn).

If there is no answer at the door, the inspector will continue the exterior inspection, including entering the farmland portion of the property.

Inspectors will not go through locked gates, but will enter an unlocked gate/fence to access the property. If a gate/fence is blocking access, the inspector will photograph as part of the inspection, the notice said.

Residents who have questions about the inspections should contact the tax assessor's office. Information can be found by clicking here.

Summer stalks, by Jason Jenkins, via Flickr under Creative Commons license