Local landlord and tenant rules in Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth, New Jersey has local rules on rent regulation (Elizabeth Code ch. 5.70, §§ 5.70.010, 5.70.070, 5.70.080, 5.70.230) and rental registration (Elizabeth Code § 5.70.050), on top of New Jersey law.
Local rules in Elizabeth, New Jersey
Rent regulation
In Elizabeth the base rent may rise by no more than 3% over the base rent of the prior twelve months, once in twelve months. When a tenant leaves voluntarily or is lawfully evicted the landlord may raise the rent for the first year by up to 20% of the prior twelve months’ base rent — once in twelve months, on a statement filed with the Fair Rental Housing Board that the tenant was not pressured out. Motels, hotels, rooming houses, buildings of two units or fewer and owner-occupied three- and four-unit buildings are exempt; new construction is exempt as N.J.S.A. 2A:42-84.2 allows. A unit still vacant 30 days after a tenancy ends must be reported.
Source: Elizabeth Code ch. 5.70, §§ 5.70.010, 5.70.070, 5.70.080, 5.70.230. Checked on November 11, 2026.
Office: Elizabeth Bureau of Rent Control, (908) 820-4181 (website).
Elizabeth Rent Control Property Registration — March 1
Every non-owner-occupied property built before 1996 with three or more residential units is registered with the Bureau of Rent Control each year, reporting as of January 1, by March 1 (online through the City's GovPilot portal or on Form RC-002). No rent increase may be charged or collected until the registration is filed, and the Bureau does not accept rent rolls. An owner who lives in the building sends the Affidavit Proof of Residence instead.
Source: Elizabeth Code § 5.70.050. Checked on November 4, 2026.
New Jersey rules that apply in Elizabeth
| 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 Elizabeth
74.4% of the occupied homes in Elizabeth are rented, about 34,327 households, a share higher than across New Jersey (36.2%).
The median gross rent is $1,523 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.
53.6% of renters there pay 30% or more of their income on rent.
72.6% of the homes were built before 1980, and the federal lead-paint disclosure rule covers housing built before 1978.
| Elizabeth | Union County | New Jersey | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that rent | 74.4% (±1.7 points) | 42.6% | 36.2% |
| Median gross rent | $1,523 (±$42) | $1,730 | $1,720 |
| Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent | 53.6% (±3.3 points) | 51.4% | 51.6% |
| Median income of renter households | $53,328 (±$3,176) | $64,756 | $62,674 |
| Homes built before 1980 | 72.6% (±3.6 points) | 78.2% | 62.8% |
| Homes in buildings of five or more units | 33.1% (±2.3 points) | 20.4% | 21.8% |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.8% (±0.7 points) | 3.1% | 3.5% |
| Households that moved in since 2020 | 26.4% (±1.9 points) | 22.4% | 21.2% |
All housing figures for Elizabeth: 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 Elizabeth
Rent control office: Elizabeth Bureau of Rent Control, (908) 820-4181 (website).
Questions about Elizabeth’s local rules
Does Elizabeth have rent control?
In Elizabeth the base rent may rise by no more than 3% over the base rent of the prior twelve months, once in twelve months. When a tenant leaves voluntarily or is lawfully evicted the landlord may raise the rent for the first year by up to 20% of the prior twelve months’ base rent — once in twelve months, on a statement filed with the Fair Rental Housing Board that the tenant was not pressured out. Motels, hotels, rooming houses, buildings of two units or fewer and owner-occupied three- and four-unit buildings are exempt; new construction is exempt as N.J.S.A. 2A:42-84.2 allows. A unit still vacant 30 days after a tenancy ends must be reported. (Elizabeth Code ch. 5.70, §§ 5.70.010, 5.70.070, 5.70.080, 5.70.230)
How much can a landlord raise the rent in Elizabeth?
In Elizabeth the base rent may rise by no more than 3% over the base rent of the prior twelve months, once in twelve months. When a tenant leaves voluntarily or is lawfully evicted the landlord may raise the rent for the first year by up to 20% of the prior twelve months’ base rent — once in twelve months, on a statement filed with the Fair Rental Housing Board that the tenant was not pressured out. (Elizabeth Code ch. 5.70, §§ 5.70.010, 5.70.070, 5.70.080, 5.70.230)
Do landlords have to register rentals in Elizabeth?
Every non-owner-occupied property built before 1996 with three or more residential units is registered with the Bureau of Rent Control each year, reporting as of January 1, by March 1 (online through the City's GovPilot portal or on Form RC-002). No rent increase may be charged or collected until the registration is filed, and the Bureau does not accept rent rolls. An owner who lives in the building sends the Affidavit Proof of Residence instead. (Elizabeth Code § 5.70.050)
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.