Local landlord and tenant rules in Camden, New Jersey
Camden, New Jersey has local rules on rent regulation (Camden Code ch. 650, §§ 650-1, 650-2, 650-10, 650-26 (amended through Ord. MC-5610, 2026)), rental registration (Camden Code § 650-26) and inspections before a new tenant (Camden Housing Bureau), on top of New Jersey law.
Local rules in Camden, New Jersey
Rent regulation
In Camden the rent may rise at the end of a lease by the lesser of the average CPI (Philadelphia metropolitan area) for the preceding twelve months or 6% of the most recent rent — never more than 2% in twelve months for a senior citizen or a person with a disability. A unit vacated voluntarily may be re-let at the rent of comparable units in the same complex, and is then controlled again. Units substantially rehabilitated after the chapter took effect, units in the Downtown District, public housing and state- or federally subsidized units are exempt. Every rental unit is registered with the Office of Rent Control each year ($50 a unit). For a mobile home pad, the state’s 3.5% cap (P.L. 2025, c. 85) preempts the CPI formula for tenancies that began after it took effect.
Source: Camden Code ch. 650, §§ 650-1, 650-2, 650-10, 650-26 (amended through Ord. MC-5610, 2026). Checked on November 11, 2026.
Office: Camden Office of Rent Control, (856) 757-7278 (website).
Camden rental unit registration — January 31
Every owner registers every rental dwelling unit with the Department of Code Enforcement's Office of Rent Control each year ($50 per unit), renewing by January 31: the address of each unit, the on-site manager, the person authorized to receive notices and service, the rent charged, the housing services provided, and every vacant unit with the date it became vacant. The City also requires the property to be registered with the Municipal Clerk.
Source: Camden Code § 650-26. Checked on November 4, 2026.
Camden Rental Approval Certificate before a new tenant
A rental property is inspected at every change of ownership or occupancy and must hold a Rental Approval Certificate before anyone moves in; a multiple dwelling of three or more units also needs a license. Before the inspection, property taxes must be current (the City refuses the certificate on a tax-delinquent property, Code § 644-1), the utilities must be on, the inspection must be paid when it is scheduled, and the property must be registered with Rent Control and the Municipal Clerk.
Source: Camden Housing Bureau. Checked on November 4, 2026.
New Jersey rules that apply in Camden
| 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 Camden
65.6% of the occupied homes in Camden are rented, about 16,025 households, a share higher than across New Jersey (36.2%).
The median gross rent is $1,226 a month, lower than across New Jersey ($1,720); that is what households report paying, utilities included, not the asking rent for a vacant apartment.
60.1% of renters there pay 30% or more of their income on rent.
80.9% of the homes were built before 1980, and the federal lead-paint disclosure rule covers housing built before 1978.
| Camden | Camden County | New Jersey | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that rent | 65.6% (±3.0 points) | 35.3% | 36.2% |
| Median gross rent | $1,226 (±$49) | $1,402 | $1,720 |
| Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent | 60.1% (±4.6 points) | 54.5% | 51.6% |
| Median income of renter households | $33,195 (±$2,142) | $49,624 | $62,674 |
| Homes built before 1980 | 80.9% (±4.3 points) | 71.0% | 62.8% |
| Homes in buildings of five or more units | 18.5% (±2.1 points) | 20.1% | 21.8% |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.4% (±1.2 points) | 3.7% | 3.5% |
| Households that moved in since 2020 | 20.9% (±2.2 points) | 21.0% | 21.2% |
All housing figures for Camden: 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 Camden
Rent control office: Camden Office of Rent Control, (856) 757-7278 (website).
Questions about Camden’s local rules
Does Camden have rent control?
In Camden the rent may rise at the end of a lease by the lesser of the average CPI (Philadelphia metropolitan area) for the preceding twelve months or 6% of the most recent rent — never more than 2% in twelve months for a senior citizen or a person with a disability. A unit vacated voluntarily may be re-let at the rent of comparable units in the same complex, and is then controlled again. Units substantially rehabilitated after the chapter took effect, units in the Downtown District, public housing and state- or federally subsidized units are exempt. Every rental unit is registered with the Office of Rent Control each year ($50 a unit). For a mobile home pad, the state’s 3.5% cap (P.L. 2025, c. 85) preempts the CPI formula for tenancies that began after it took effect. (Camden Code ch. 650, §§ 650-1, 650-2, 650-10, 650-26 (amended through Ord. MC-5610, 2026))
How much can a landlord raise the rent in Camden?
In Camden the rent may rise at the end of a lease by the lesser of the average CPI (Philadelphia metropolitan area) for the preceding twelve months or 6% of the most recent rent — never more than 2% in twelve months for a senior citizen or a person with a disability. 85) preempts the CPI formula for tenancies that began after it took effect. (Camden Code ch. 650, §§ 650-1, 650-2, 650-10, 650-26 (amended through Ord. MC-5610, 2026))
Do landlords have to register rentals in Camden?
Every owner registers every rental dwelling unit with the Department of Code Enforcement's Office of Rent Control each year ($50 per unit), renewing by January 31: the address of each unit, the on-site manager, the person authorized to receive notices and service, the rent charged, the housing services provided, and every vacant unit with the date it became vacant. The City also requires the property to be registered with the Municipal Clerk. (Camden Code § 650-26)
Does Camden require an inspection or certificate before a new tenant moves in?
A rental property is inspected at every change of ownership or occupancy and must hold a Rental Approval Certificate before anyone moves in; a multiple dwelling of three or more units also needs a license. Before the inspection, property taxes must be current (the City refuses the certificate on a tax-delinquent property, Code § 644-1), the utilities must be on, the inspection must be paid when it is scheduled, and the property must be registered with Rent Control and the Municipal Clerk. (Camden Housing Bureau)
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.