Jersey City officials are looking to embark on an aggressive new plan to ensure homes are compliant with local zoning rules.

But the measure, up for initial approval at tonight's Planning Board meeting, would be a "disaster" if implemented, according to critics who say it would bring the city's real-estate market to a standstill.

The plan would require most property owners to obtain a zoning certificate of compliance before they can sell their properties, obtain building or demolition permits or perform any kind of site improvements. The certificate would be issued by a zoning officer who certifies that the property complies with city zoning codes.

Ward B City Councilman Khemraj "Chico" Ramchal is pushing for the measure, saying it would help the city to locate illegal apartments and other code violations, as well as offer protection for home buyers.

Ramchal said the plan would halt what he says is a widespread practice of home owners duping buyers into purchasing homes without telling them about code violations like illegal parking spots or rental units.

Each certificate would cost $150. Ramchal estimates the added revenue would exceed $250,000 annually.

Ramchal said not all homes would have to be inspected — the city's chief zoning officer would know if a certain house has violations or not, he said — and that one or two more zoning officers would be needed to carry out the extra inspections.

Real-estate agents say it would create an unacceptable "lag" during a house sale.

"It would reduce the number of sales in Jersey City by maybe 25, 30 percent," said Joe Hottendorf, executive director of the Liberty Board of Realtors, a group representing agents countywide.

Both Hottendorf and Laura Skolar, Liberty Board's president, also doubt that the city's outdated record-keeping will help.

A certificate of compliance may not be issued quickly enough to prevent a mortgage commitment from expiring, they said.

Properties sold between husbands and wives and between parents and children would be exempt from the new proposal.