N.J. Stat. § 40A:21-16
No exemption or abatement shall be granted pursuant to this act except upon written application therefor filed with and approved by the assessor of the taxing district wherein the improvement, conversion alteration or construction is made. Every application shall be on a form prescribed by the Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury, and provided for the use of claimants by the governing body of the municipality constituting the taxing district, and shall be filed with the assessor within 30 days, including Saturdays and Sundays, following the completion of the improvement, conversion alteration or construction. Every application for exemption, or exemption and abatement, within a municipality adopting the provisions of this act which is filed within the time specified, shall be approved and allowed by the assessor to the degree that the application is consistent with the provisions of the adopting ordinance or the tax agreement, provided that the improvement, conversion alteration or construction for which the application is made qualifies as an improvement, a conversion alteration or construction pursuant to the provisions of this act and the tax agreement, if any. The granting of an exemption, or exemption and abatement, shall relate back to, and take effect as of, the date of completion of the project, or portion or stage of the project for which the exemption, or exemption and abatement, is granted, and shall continue for five annual periods from that date. The grant of the exemption, or exemption and abatement, or tax agreement shall be recorded and made a permanent part of the official tax records of the taxing district, which record shall contain a notice of the termination date thereof.
N.J.S. § 40A:21-16