Local landlord and tenant rules in Hackensack, New Jersey
Hackensack, New Jersey has local rules on rent regulation (Hackensack Code ch. 134, §§ 134-2, 134-3, 134-6, 134-14 (Ord. 10-2026)), on top of New Jersey law.
Local rules in Hackensack, New Jersey
Rent regulation
Hackensack’s rent stabilization (restated by Ord. 10-2026, June 16, 2026) covers rental units first offered for rent on or before August 2, 1982: no sooner than twelve months after the last increase, the rent may rise by no more than 5% where the landlord provides heat and 4.5% where the tenant pays for it — 4% and 3.5% for a qualified senior tenant (household income at or below Bergen County’s per-capita figure). A vacant unit is decontrolled until it is reoccupied, and is then fully subject to the chapter. Public housing, rooming and boarding houses, hotels, motels and units whose rent other law regulates are exempt.
Source: Hackensack Code ch. 134, §§ 134-2, 134-3, 134-6, 134-14 (Ord. 10-2026). Checked on November 11, 2026.
Office: Hackensack Rent Stabilization Board, (201) 646-3920 x2020 (website).
New Jersey rules that apply in Hackensack
| 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 Hackensack
63.4% of the occupied homes in Hackensack are rented, about 12,808 households, a share higher than across New Jersey (36.2%).
The median gross rent is $1,911 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.
51.4% of renters there pay 30% or more of their income on rent.
69.3% of the homes were built before 1980, and the federal lead-paint disclosure rule covers housing built before 1978.
| Hackensack | Bergen County | New Jersey | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that rent | 63.4% (±2.7 points) | 34.7% | 36.2% |
| Median gross rent | $1,911 (±$50) | $1,914 | $1,720 |
| Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent | 51.4% (±4.5 points) | 50.8% | 51.6% |
| Median income of renter households | $70,698 (±$8,482) | $74,953 | $62,674 |
| Homes built before 1980 | 69.3% (±4.6 points) | 73.8% | 62.8% |
| Homes in buildings of five or more units | 64.3% (±3.5 points) | 22.4% | 21.8% |
| Households that moved in since 2020 | 29.6% (±2.9 points) | 19.6% | 21.2% |
All housing figures for Hackensack: 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 Hackensack
Rent control office: Hackensack Rent Stabilization Board, (201) 646-3920 x2020 (website).
Questions about Hackensack’s local rules
Does Hackensack have rent control?
Hackensack’s rent stabilization (restated by Ord. 10-2026, June 16, 2026) covers rental units first offered for rent on or before August 2, 1982: no sooner than twelve months after the last increase, the rent may rise by no more than 5% where the landlord provides heat and 4.5% where the tenant pays for it — 4% and 3.5% for a qualified senior tenant (household income at or below Bergen County’s per-capita figure). A vacant unit is decontrolled until it is reoccupied, and is then fully subject to the chapter. Public housing, rooming and boarding houses, hotels, motels and units whose rent other law regulates are exempt. (Hackensack Code ch. 134, §§ 134-2, 134-3, 134-6, 134-14 (Ord. 10-2026))
How much can a landlord raise the rent in Hackensack?
5% for a qualified senior tenant (household income at or below Bergen County’s per-capita figure). (Hackensack Code ch. 134, §§ 134-2, 134-3, 134-6, 134-14 (Ord. 10-2026))
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 Bergen County
- New Jersey landlord and tenant rules
- Housing data for Hackensack: rent, renters, home values
- Local rules in Edgewater Borough
- Local rules in Englewood
- Local rules in Fairview Borough
- Local rules in Fort Lee Borough
- Local rules in Palisades Park Borough
- All renting rules by state
- Rentals by city