Local landlord and tenant rules in Franklin Township (Somerset County), New Jersey
Franklin Township (Somerset County), New Jersey has local rules on rent regulation (Franklin Township (Somerset) Code ch. 294, art. I, §§ 294-2, 294-3 (Ord. 1672)), rental registration (Franklin Township Code § 183-16) and inspections before a new tenant (Franklin Township Code § 183-19), on top of New Jersey law.
Local rules in Franklin Township (Somerset County), New Jersey
Rent regulation
Franklin Township’s chapter limits a covered tenant’s increase at the end of a lease to the landlord’s increased utility costs plus 3.5% of the rental income for each twelve months rented where the landlord supplies heat (3% where the tenant pays for it). After a voluntary, uncoerced vacancy the landlord may set the next rent, filing the vacating tenant’s non-coercion statement with the Rent Leveling Administrator and having told the tenant of these rights in the lease and when they give notice. The chapter exempts motels, hotels, commercial space, single-family homes, owner-occupied two-family homes and units first occupied on or after January 1, 1982; the DCA survey describes coverage as apartments in complexes of 21 or more units and mobile homes — confirm coverage with the Board.
Source: Franklin Township (Somerset) Code ch. 294, art. I, §§ 294-2, 294-3 (Ord. 1672). Checked on November 11, 2026.
Office: Franklin Township Rent Leveling Board, (732) 873-2500 ext- 6274 (website).
Franklin Township rental registration before a tenant moves in
Every rental unit is registered with the Township on the official form ($10 per unit) before any tenant occupies it. Report any change of ownership or occupancy on a new form within 20 days. One- and two-family rentals are inspected on a recurring cycle (§ 183-17).
Source: Franklin Township Code § 183-16. Checked on November 4, 2026.
Franklin Township certificate of continued building compliance before a new tenant
A unit may not be re-rented until a certificate (or temporary certificate) of continued building compliance is issued and the Township Water Department has been told of the change. Schedule the inspection at least ten business days before the change of tenant — later costs more — and give the tenant the second copy of the certificate, which is valid for 90 days. A cyclical inspection passed within the last year can stand in. Changes of occupancy in multifamily dwellings fall under Chapter 151 instead.
Source: Franklin Township Code § 183-19. Checked on November 4, 2026.
New Jersey rules that apply in Franklin Township (Somerset County)
| 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 Franklin Township (Somerset County)
30.7% of the occupied homes in Franklin Township (Somerset County) are rented, about 8,148 households, a share lower than across New Jersey (36.2%).
The median gross rent is $2,115 a month, higher than across New Jersey ($1,720); that is what households report paying, utilities included, not the asking rent for a vacant apartment.
43.7% of renters there pay 30% or more of their income on rent.
36.4% of the homes were built before 1980, and the federal lead-paint disclosure rule covers housing built before 1978.
| Franklin Township (Somerset County) | Somerset County | New Jersey | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that rent | 30.7% (±2.4 points) | 25.7% | 36.2% |
| Median gross rent | $2,115 (±$94) | $2,033 | $1,720 |
| Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent | 43.7% (±6.4 points) | 49.0% | 51.6% |
| Median income of renter households | $94,602 (±$11,686) | $82,470 | $62,674 |
| Homes built before 1980 | 36.4% (±3.3 points) | 46.3% | 62.8% |
| Homes in buildings of five or more units | 23.2% (±2.7 points) | 17.8% | 21.8% |
| Households that moved in since 2020 | 21.7% (±2.3 points) | 20.2% | 21.2% |
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 Franklin Township (Somerset County)
Rent control office: Franklin Township Rent Leveling Board, (732) 873-2500 ext- 6274 (website).
Questions about Franklin Township (Somerset County)’s local rules
Does Franklin Township (Somerset County) have rent control?
Franklin Township’s chapter limits a covered tenant’s increase at the end of a lease to the landlord’s increased utility costs plus 3.5% of the rental income for each twelve months rented where the landlord supplies heat (3% where the tenant pays for it). After a voluntary, uncoerced vacancy the landlord may set the next rent, filing the vacating tenant’s non-coercion statement with the Rent Leveling Administrator and having told the tenant of these rights in the lease and when they give notice. The chapter exempts motels, hotels, commercial space, single-family homes, owner-occupied two-family homes and units first occupied on or after January 1, 1982; the DCA survey describes coverage as apartments in complexes of 21 or more units and mobile homes — confirm coverage with the Board. (Franklin Township (Somerset) Code ch. 294, art. I, §§ 294-2, 294-3 (Ord. 1672))
How much can a landlord raise the rent in Franklin Township (Somerset County)?
5% of the rental income for each twelve months rented where the landlord supplies heat (3% where the tenant pays for it). (Franklin Township (Somerset) Code ch. 294, art. I, §§ 294-2, 294-3 (Ord. 1672))
Do landlords have to register rentals in Franklin Township (Somerset County)?
Every rental unit is registered with the Township on the official form ($10 per unit) before any tenant occupies it. Report any change of ownership or occupancy on a new form within 20 days. One- and two-family rentals are inspected on a recurring cycle (§ 183-17). (Franklin Township Code § 183-16)
Does Franklin Township (Somerset County) require an inspection or certificate before a new tenant moves in?
A unit may not be re-rented until a certificate (or temporary certificate) of continued building compliance is issued and the Township Water Department has been told of the change. Schedule the inspection at least ten business days before the change of tenant — later costs more — and give the tenant the second copy of the certificate, which is valid for 90 days. A cyclical inspection passed within the last year can stand in. Changes of occupancy in multifamily dwellings fall under Chapter 151 instead. (Franklin Township Code § 183-19)
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.