Local landlord and tenant rules in East Orange, New Jersey
East Orange, New Jersey has local rules on rent regulation (East Orange Code ch. 218, §§ 218-8, 218-10, 218-14 (amended through Ord. 30-2023)), rental registration (East Orange Department of Property Maintenance), inspections before a new tenant (East Orange City Code ch. 218 (Rent Control and Conversions), §§ 218-14, 218-27; City of East Orange, Annual Rent Filing application (June 30, 2025)) and 1 more kind of rule, on top of New Jersey law.
Local rules in East Orange, New Jersey
Rent regulation
In East Orange an existing tenant’s rent may rise by no more than 4% of the prior rent for each twelve months the lease has run (4% for a periodic tenant; 2% for a qualified senior or disabled tenant), never in the first twelve months of a tenancy and never twice in twelve months. A new tenant’s first rent may include an increase of no more than the lesser of 5% over the former tenant’s rent or the CPI change, charged within 60 days of move-in, and the new tenant must be told the prior rent in writing — unless the Rent Regulation Officer approves a vacancy decontrol application filed before the new tenancy. No increase is allowed without a current rent roll on file. A vacant unit must be reported on the 31st day and re-rented within 60 days.
Source: East Orange Code ch. 218, §§ 218-8, 218-10, 218-14 (amended through Ord. 30-2023). Checked on November 11, 2026.
Office: East Orange Division of Rent Leveling, (973) 266-5320 (website).
East Orange registered rent roll
File the registered rent roll with the Department of Property Maintenance every year — a rent increase application without it is denied automatically — and file an updated rent roll within 30 days of any change.
Source: East Orange Department of Property Maintenance. Checked on November 4, 2026.
Inspections before a new tenant
An East Orange landlord must obtain a certificate of habitability from the Housing Inspection Division for each new tenancy before the tenant moves in. Where the rent to a new tenant is higher than the last tenant paid and no certificate was obtained, the Rent Leveling Board, on a complaint, bars the landlord from collecting more than the former rent until the first day of the month after the certificate is issued, and the excess already paid must be refunded.
Source: East Orange City Code ch. 218 (Rent Control and Conversions), §§ 218-14, 218-27; City of East Orange, Annual Rent Filing application (June 30, 2025). Checked on November 12, 2026.
Other landlord obligations
East Orange has regulated short-term rentals by permit since June 10, 2024. The owner applies with the property’s full certificate of conformity and full certificate of habitability — an application resting on a conditional certificate of conformity or a temporary certificate of habitability is rejected — and a permit ends automatically when the property changes ownership.
Source: East Orange City Code ch. 228 (Short-Term Rentals), Ord. No. 14-2024. Checked on November 12, 2026.
New Jersey rules that apply in East Orange
| 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 East Orange
69.0% of the occupied homes in East Orange are rented, about 19,537 households, a share higher than across New Jersey (36.2%).
The median gross rent is $1,441 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.
58.0% of renters there pay 30% or more of their income on rent.
76.0% of the homes were built before 1980, and the federal lead-paint disclosure rule covers housing built before 1978.
| East Orange | Essex County | New Jersey | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that rent | 69.0% (±2.3 points) | 55.1% | 36.2% |
| Median gross rent | $1,441 (±$67) | $1,531 | $1,720 |
| Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent | 58.0% (±4.5 points) | 55.1% | 51.6% |
| Median income of renter households | $47,579 (±$4,287) | $51,273 | $62,674 |
| Homes built before 1980 | 76.0% (±4.6 points) | 74.2% | 62.8% |
| Homes in buildings of five or more units | 49.3% (±3.7 points) | 31.1% | 21.8% |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.8% (±1.2 points) | 2.7% | 3.5% |
| Households that moved in since 2020 | 23.3% (±2.6 points) | 23.0% | 21.2% |
All housing figures for East Orange: 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 East Orange
Rent control office: East Orange Division of Rent Leveling, (973) 266-5320 (website).
Questions about East Orange’s local rules
Does East Orange have rent control?
In East Orange an existing tenant’s rent may rise by no more than 4% of the prior rent for each twelve months the lease has run (4% for a periodic tenant; 2% for a qualified senior or disabled tenant), never in the first twelve months of a tenancy and never twice in twelve months. A new tenant’s first rent may include an increase of no more than the lesser of 5% over the former tenant’s rent or the CPI change, charged within 60 days of move-in, and the new tenant must be told the prior rent in writing — unless the Rent Regulation Officer approves a vacancy decontrol application filed before the new tenancy. No increase is allowed without a current rent roll on file. A vacant unit must be reported on the 31st day and re-rented within 60 days. (East Orange Code ch. 218, §§ 218-8, 218-10, 218-14 (amended through Ord. 30-2023))
How much can a landlord raise the rent in East Orange?
In East Orange an existing tenant’s rent may rise by no more than 4% of the prior rent for each twelve months the lease has run (4% for a periodic tenant; 2% for a qualified senior or disabled tenant), never in the first twelve months of a tenancy and never twice in twelve months. A new tenant’s first rent may include an increase of no more than the lesser of 5% over the former tenant’s rent or the CPI change, charged within 60 days of move-in, and the new tenant must be told the prior rent in writing — unless the Rent Regulation Officer approves a vacancy decontrol application filed before the new tenancy. (East Orange Code ch. 218, §§ 218-8, 218-10, 218-14 (amended through Ord. 30-2023))
Do landlords have to register rentals in East Orange?
File the registered rent roll with the Department of Property Maintenance every year — a rent increase application without it is denied automatically — and file an updated rent roll within 30 days of any change. (East Orange Department of Property Maintenance)
Does East Orange require an inspection or certificate before a new tenant moves in?
An East Orange landlord must obtain a certificate of habitability from the Housing Inspection Division for each new tenancy before the tenant moves in. Where the rent to a new tenant is higher than the last tenant paid and no certificate was obtained, the Rent Leveling Board, on a complaint, bars the landlord from collecting more than the former rent until the first day of the month after the certificate is issued, and the excess already paid must be refunded. (East Orange City Code ch. 218 (Rent Control and Conversions), §§ 218-14, 218-27; City of East Orange, Annual Rent Filing application (June 30, 2025))
What else does East Orange require of landlords?
East Orange has regulated short-term rentals by permit since June 10, 2024. The owner applies with the property’s full certificate of conformity and full certificate of habitability — an application resting on a conditional certificate of conformity or a temporary certificate of habitability is rejected — and a permit ends automatically when the property changes ownership. (East Orange City Code ch. 228 (Short-Term Rentals), Ord. No. 14-2024)
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.
Related
- Local rules across Essex County
- New Jersey landlord and tenant rules
- Housing data for East Orange: rent, renters, home values
- Local rules in Belleville Township
- Local rules in Bloomfield Township
- Local rules in Irvington Township
- Local rules in Maplewood Township
- Local rules in Montclair Township
- Local rules in Newark
- All renting rules by state
- Rentals by city