Local landlord and tenant rules in Belleville Township, New Jersey
Belleville Township, New Jersey has local rules on rent regulation (Belleville Code ch. 12, §§ 12-12.3, 12-12.9, 12-12.12, 12-12.17 (amended through Ord. 04-26, 2026)), inspections before a new tenant (Belleville Township Code ch. 12 (Building and Housing), §§ 12-16.2 to 12-16.4 (as amended by Ord. No. 17-26, March 24, 2026)) and other landlord obligations (Belleville Township Code ch. 39 (Rental Property), § 39-1 (Short-Term Rental Property), §§ 39-1.1 to 39-1.3, 39-1.7 (Ord. No. 34-23)), on top of New Jersey law.
Local rules in Belleville Township, New Jersey
Rent regulation
In Belleville the rent for a unit in a covered multiple dwelling may not rise more than 5% in any twelve consecutive months, whatever the number of tenants. One-, two- and three-family dwellings, and four-family dwellings where the owner’s parent, spouse or child lives in one unit, are exempt; new construction is exempt for 36 months from first occupancy. After a voluntary vacancy the landlord may agree a new rent with the next tenant only on an approved vacancy decontrol certificate — application ($100 a unit), the vacating tenant’s non-coercion statement and a code-compliance inspection — and the unit is then controlled again (a unit permanently decontrolled before December 10, 2019 must be disclosed to the tenant as not rent controlled). File the annual rent statement between August 1 and October 15 ($15 a unit); without it no rent in the building may rise for twelve months.
Source: Belleville Code ch. 12, §§ 12-12.3, 12-12.9, 12-12.12, 12-12.17 (amended through Ord. 04-26, 2026). Checked on November 11, 2026.
Office: Belleville Rent Leveling Board, (973) 450-3300 (website).
Inspections before a new tenant
No Belleville home may be re-rented or re-leased, and no landlord may let a new tenant move in, until the owner has a certificate of inspection for re-rental from the Construction Code Official — required on every change of tenant, whether or not the home stood vacant, and before a home that was owner-occupied is first rented. The Construction Code Enforcement Department inspects the visible parts of the structure and allows no occupancy until every item it lists is corrected; the fee is $50 for a rental unit and $25 for a reinspection.
Source: Belleville Township Code ch. 12 (Building and Housing), §§ 12-16.2 to 12-16.4 (as amended by Ord. No. 17-26, March 24, 2026). Checked on November 12, 2026.
Other landlord obligations
In Belleville a short-term rental — 30 consecutive days or less — is allowed only in one unit of a two- to five-family building whose owner lives there as their principal residence, with on-site parking for each unit and no stay shorter than three days. Single-family homes, condominiums, townhomes, buildings of six or more units and single rooms are excluded. The owner needs a yearly permit from the Building and Construction Code Department ($500 the first year, which covers the rental certificate of habitability, then $250 with a new inspection each renewal), proof of $500,000 of liability insurance, and the permit ends when the property is sold; fines reach $2,000 a day.
Source: Belleville Township Code ch. 39 (Rental Property), § 39-1 (Short-Term Rental Property), §§ 39-1.1 to 39-1.3, 39-1.7 (Ord. No. 34-23). Checked on November 12, 2026.
New Jersey rules that apply in Belleville Township
| 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 Belleville Township
44.1% of the occupied homes in Belleville Township are rented, about 6,326 households, a share higher than across New Jersey (36.2%).
The median gross rent is $1,639 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.
53.6% of renters there pay 30% or more of their income on rent.
83.2% of the homes were built before 1980, and the federal lead-paint disclosure rule covers housing built before 1978.
| Belleville Township | Essex County | New Jersey | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that rent | 44.1% (±3.2 points) | 55.1% | 36.2% |
| Median gross rent | $1,639 (±$84) | $1,531 | $1,720 |
| Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent | 53.6% (±7.3 points) | 55.1% | 51.6% |
| Median income of renter households | $64,403 (±$12,731) | $51,273 | $62,674 |
| Homes built before 1980 | 83.2% (±5.7 points) | 74.2% | 62.8% |
| Homes in buildings of five or more units | 22.8% (±3.1 points) | 31.1% | 21.8% |
| Households that moved in since 2020 | 19.7% (±3.0 points) | 23.0% | 21.2% |
All housing figures for Belleville Township: 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 Belleville Township
Rent control office: Belleville Rent Leveling Board, (973) 450-3300 (website).
Questions about Belleville Township’s local rules
Does Belleville Township have rent control?
In Belleville the rent for a unit in a covered multiple dwelling may not rise more than 5% in any twelve consecutive months, whatever the number of tenants. One-, two- and three-family dwellings, and four-family dwellings where the owner’s parent, spouse or child lives in one unit, are exempt; new construction is exempt for 36 months from first occupancy. After a voluntary vacancy the landlord may agree a new rent with the next tenant only on an approved vacancy decontrol certificate — application ($100 a unit), the vacating tenant’s non-coercion statement and a code-compliance inspection — and the unit is then controlled again (a unit permanently decontrolled before December 10, 2019 must be disclosed to the tenant as not rent controlled). File the annual rent statement between August 1 and October 15 ($15 a unit); without it no rent in the building may rise for twelve months. (Belleville Code ch. 12, §§ 12-12.3, 12-12.9, 12-12.12, 12-12.17 (amended through Ord. 04-26, 2026))
How much can a landlord raise the rent in Belleville Township?
In Belleville the rent for a unit in a covered multiple dwelling may not rise more than 5% in any twelve consecutive months, whatever the number of tenants. (Belleville Code ch. 12, §§ 12-12.3, 12-12.9, 12-12.12, 12-12.17 (amended through Ord. 04-26, 2026))
Does Belleville Township require an inspection or certificate before a new tenant moves in?
No Belleville home may be re-rented or re-leased, and no landlord may let a new tenant move in, until the owner has a certificate of inspection for re-rental from the Construction Code Official — required on every change of tenant, whether or not the home stood vacant, and before a home that was owner-occupied is first rented. The Construction Code Enforcement Department inspects the visible parts of the structure and allows no occupancy until every item it lists is corrected; the fee is $50 for a rental unit and $25 for a reinspection. (Belleville Township Code ch. 12 (Building and Housing), §§ 12-16.2 to 12-16.4 (as amended by Ord. No. 17-26, March 24, 2026))
What else does Belleville Township require of landlords?
In Belleville a short-term rental — 30 consecutive days or less — is allowed only in one unit of a two- to five-family building whose owner lives there as their principal residence, with on-site parking for each unit and no stay shorter than three days. Single-family homes, condominiums, townhomes, buildings of six or more units and single rooms are excluded. The owner needs a yearly permit from the Building and Construction Code Department ($500 the first year, which covers the rental certificate of habitability, then $250 with a new inspection each renewal), proof of $500,000 of liability insurance, and the permit ends when the property is sold; fines reach $2,000 a day. (Belleville Township Code ch. 39 (Rental Property), § 39-1 (Short-Term Rental Property), §§ 39-1.1 to 39-1.3, 39-1.7 (Ord. No. 34-23))
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.
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