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Rent Control Laws in New Jersey

New Jersey has no statewide rent cap and lets municipalities adopt rent control; the state's 2026 survey lists 120 municipalities with a rent control ordinance, including Newark, Jersey City, and Hoboken.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

New Jersey at a glance

Statewide rent cap
No
Local rent control banned
No
State law lets new multiple dwellings be exempt from local rent increase limits for up to 30 years after construction.
Local rent control
120 municipalities, incl. Newark, Jersey City
The DCA 2026 survey lists 120 towns, including Newark, Jersey City, Hoboken, Paterson, Elizabeth, Trenton, and Bayonne.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in New Jersey

Does New Jersey have a statewide rent cap?

No. Statewide rent cap in New Jersey: no.

Does New Jersey law ban cities from adopting rent control?

No. Local rent control banned in New Jersey: no. State law lets new multiple dwellings be exempt from local rent increase limits for up to 30 years after construction.

Which cities in New Jersey have rent control?

Local rent control in New Jersey: 120 municipalities, incl. Newark, Jersey City. The DCA 2026 survey lists 120 towns, including Newark, Jersey City, Hoboken, Paterson, Elizabeth, Trenton, and Bayonne.

Where do the New Jersey rent control laws come from?

The rules above come from N.J.S.A. 2A:42-84.2. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

Limits differ by town; many ordinances apply only to buildings with a minimum number of units. For example, Jersey City and Bayonne cover buildings with 5 or more units.

What this means in practice

Even where there is no rent control, a landlord usually cannot raise the rent during a fixed-term lease unless the lease allows it. Increases normally take effect at renewal or after written notice for a month-to-month tenancy, and notice periods are set by state law.

Rent caps and rent stabilization rules commonly have exemptions, such as buildings built in recent years, owner-occupied duplexes, or units owned by individuals rather than companies. A unit can sit in a covered city and still be exempt, so read the coverage section of the law closely.

Local rent control ordinances change through ballot measures and council votes more often than state law does. If you rent or own property in a city that regulates rent, check the city or county housing department for the current allowable increase and any registration requirements.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.