Local landlord and tenant rules in Bayonne, New Jersey
Bayonne, New Jersey has local rules on rent regulation (Bayonne Code ch. 16, §§ 16-1, 16-4.1, 16-5.4, 16-9 (Ord. O-23-31, 2023)), rental registration (Bayonne Rent Control Office) and other landlord obligations (Bayonne Municipal Code ch. 33, art. XX, §§ 33-20.1 to 33-20.4 (Ord. Nos. O-24-12, O-24-37)), on top of New Jersey law.
Local rules in Bayonne, New Jersey
Rent regulation
Bayonne’s rent control now covers only units still occupied by a tenant who has lived there since June 30, 2011, in buildings of five or more units. For those units the landlord applies to the Rent Control Office for a CPI increase — the twelve-month CPI change, capped at 5.5% of the base rent — no sooner than a year after the last one. When the tenant leaves voluntarily or is lawfully evicted, the landlord may apply to decontrol the unit permanently; a unit offered to a new tenant is normally no longer controlled. A late-rent surcharge on a controlled unit may not exceed $35. The chapter has been renewed by ordinance for set periods (Ord. O-22-43 ran it through December 31, 2023) — confirm it is in force with the Rent Control Office.
Source: Bayonne Code ch. 16, §§ 16-1, 16-4.1, 16-5.4, 16-9 (Ord. O-23-31, 2023). Checked on November 11, 2026.
Office: Bayonne Rent Control Office, (201) 858-6065 (website).
Bayonne Registry of Rent-Controlled Tenants — December 1
On or before December 1 every year, the landlord of a dwelling with any rent-controlled units files the completed Registry of Rent-Controlled Tenants with the Rent Control Office and gives a copy to every tenant listed in it (added by Ordinance O-23-31, 2023).
Source: Bayonne Rent Control Office. Checked on November 4, 2026.
Other landlord obligations
In Bayonne a home may be rented for 60 consecutive days or fewer only by its owner, and only with a short-term rental permit from the Department of Planning, Zoning and Development obtained before the unit is rented or advertised. The permit is applied for every year, with a zoning compliance certificate; the renewal fee is $750, the permit number must appear in every advertisement, and the permit ends automatically when the property changes ownership.
Source: Bayonne Municipal Code ch. 33, art. XX, §§ 33-20.1 to 33-20.4 (Ord. Nos. O-24-12, O-24-37). Checked on November 12, 2026.
New Jersey rules that apply in Bayonne
| Rule | New Jersey |
|---|---|
| How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in New Jersey? | 30 days |
| How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in New Jersey? | 1.5 months of rent |
| Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in New Jersey? | Deposit must sit in an interest-bearing New Jersey account; interest is paid or credited annually. |
| How much notice does a landlord have to give before raising the rent in New Jersey? | 30 days |
| How much notice must a landlord give to end a tenancy in New Jersey? | 30 days |
| How many days does a tenant get to pay late rent in New Jersey? | No general statutory period |
| Is there a grace period for paying rent in New Jersey? | 5 business days (some tenants only) |
| How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee in New Jersey? | $50 for all application fees together (not one- and two-family houses) |
Every New Jersey rule Seayora publishes.
The homes these rules cover in Bayonne
63.8% of the occupied homes in Bayonne are rented, about 18,468 households, a share higher than across New Jersey (36.2%).
The median gross rent is $1,682 a month, not measurably different from New Jersey as a whole ($1,720); that is what households report paying, utilities included, not the asking rent for a vacant apartment.
46.7% of renters there pay 30% or more of their income on rent.
78.6% of the homes were built before 1980, and the federal lead-paint disclosure rule covers housing built before 1978.
| Bayonne | Hudson County | New Jersey | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that rent | 63.8% (±2.3 points) | 69.3% | 36.2% |
| Median gross rent | $1,682 (±$47) | $1,894 | $1,720 |
| Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent | 46.7% (±4.2 points) | 46.4% | 51.6% |
| Median income of renter households | $68,157 (±$7,997) | $75,879 | $62,674 |
| Homes built before 1980 | 78.6% (±4.0 points) | 61.9% | 62.8% |
| Homes in buildings of five or more units | 34.2% (±2.5 points) | 52.7% | 21.8% |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.6% (±1.0 points) | 4.4% | 3.5% |
| Households that moved in since 2020 | 25.4% (±2.2 points) | 33.0% | 21.2% |
All housing figures for Bayonne: rent by bedrooms, home values, property taxes, commute.
Source: US Census Bureau, Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — undefined. This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Rentals and records in Bayonne
Rent control office: Bayonne Rent Control Office, (201) 858-6065 (website).
Questions about Bayonne’s local rules
Does Bayonne have rent control?
Bayonne’s rent control now covers only units still occupied by a tenant who has lived there since June 30, 2011, in buildings of five or more units. For those units the landlord applies to the Rent Control Office for a CPI increase — the twelve-month CPI change, capped at 5.5% of the base rent — no sooner than a year after the last one. When the tenant leaves voluntarily or is lawfully evicted, the landlord may apply to decontrol the unit permanently; a unit offered to a new tenant is normally no longer controlled. A late-rent surcharge on a controlled unit may not exceed $35. The chapter has been renewed by ordinance for set periods (Ord. O-22-43 ran it through December 31, 2023) — confirm it is in force with the Rent Control Office. (Bayonne Code ch. 16, §§ 16-1, 16-4.1, 16-5.4, 16-9 (Ord. O-23-31, 2023))
How much can a landlord raise the rent in Bayonne?
5% of the base rent — no sooner than a year after the last one. (Bayonne Code ch. 16, §§ 16-1, 16-4.1, 16-5.4, 16-9 (Ord. O-23-31, 2023))
Do landlords have to register rentals in Bayonne?
On or before December 1 every year, the landlord of a dwelling with any rent-controlled units files the completed Registry of Rent-Controlled Tenants with the Rent Control Office and gives a copy to every tenant listed in it (added by Ordinance O-23-31, 2023). (Bayonne Rent Control Office)
What else does Bayonne require of landlords?
In Bayonne a home may be rented for 60 consecutive days or fewer only by its owner, and only with a short-term rental permit from the Department of Planning, Zoning and Development obtained before the unit is rented or advertised. The permit is applied for every year, with a zoning compliance certificate; the renewal fee is $750, the permit number must appear in every advertisement, and the permit ends automatically when the property changes ownership. (Bayonne Municipal Code ch. 33, art. XX, §§ 33-20.1 to 33-20.4 (Ord. Nos. O-24-12, O-24-37))
This is a summary of the local rules Seayora has read from each place’s own code, not legal advice. Ordinances change and a rule may have exceptions; check the citation and the office named before acting.