Local landlord and tenant rules in Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City, New Jersey has local rules on rent regulation (Jersey City Code ch. 260, Rent Control (§ 260-2F registration, § 260-3 allowable increases, and the chapter’s vacancy, new-dwelling and fee provisions; Ord. C-14A as amended)) and rental registration (Jersey City Office of Landlord/Tenant Relations (Tyler portal)), on top of New Jersey law.
Local rules in Jersey City, New Jersey
Rent regulation
In Jersey City a rent may rise at the end of a lease by the lesser of 4% or the CPI change from three months before the lease began to three months before it ends; a periodic tenant gets at most one increase in twelve months. The Office of Landlord/Tenant Relations treats buildings of one to four units as exempt. A vacant unit stays controlled, but the base rent may rise by $1.35 a month per $100 of capital improvements made to it (up to $5,000; $1.55 per $100 above that), registered with the Bureau of Rent Leveling with its application fee. A newly constructed dwelling sets its first rent freely if it is registered. File the landlord registration statement between January 1 and March 3 every year ($10 per housing space in buildings of five or more units).
Source: Jersey City Code ch. 260, Rent Control (§ 260-2F registration, § 260-3 allowable increases, and the chapter’s vacancy, new-dwelling and fee provisions; Ord. C-14A as amended). Checked on November 11, 2026.
Office: Jersey City Office of Landlord/Tenant Relations, (201) 547-5127 (website).
Jersey City Annual Landlord Registration Statement
File the Annual Landlord Registration Statement with the Office of Landlord/Tenant Relations through the City's Tyler self-service portal: the non-owner-occupied 1–4 unit registration (no fee), or for five or more units the two-part registration with the tenancy information and rent roll. Since February 28, 2023 every annual statement must include proof of liability insurance (N.J.S.A. 40A:10A-1). Buildings with six or more units without an on-site superintendent need a Superintendent Exemption Request. All 1–4 unit properties are exempt from Jersey City rent control (Chapter 260).
Source: Jersey City Office of Landlord/Tenant Relations (Tyler portal). Checked on November 4, 2026.
Jersey City — tenant signs for the landlord registration form
File the landlord registration form with the City Clerk for a non-owner-occupied dwelling with fewer than three units, or with DCA's Bureau of Housing Inspection for more than two (DCA forwards a copy to the Clerk). Give each new tenant a copy; the tenant signs and dates it as received, and the signed copy goes in the tenant's file.
Source: Jersey City City Clerk (1–2 units) · NJ DCA (3+ units). Checked on November 4, 2026.
New Jersey rules that apply in Jersey City
| 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 Jersey City
72.1% of the occupied homes in Jersey City are rented, about 90,256 households, a share higher than across New Jersey (36.2%).
The median gross rent is $2,007 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.
44.4% of renters there pay 30% or more of their income on rent.
55.8% of the homes were built before 1980, and the federal lead-paint disclosure rule covers housing built before 1978.
| Jersey City | Hudson County | New Jersey | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that rent | 72.1% (±1.1 points) | 69.3% | 36.2% |
| Median gross rent | $2,007 (±$39) | $1,894 | $1,720 |
| Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent | 44.4% (±1.7 points) | 46.4% | 51.6% |
| Median income of renter households | $81,896 (±$3,159) | $75,879 | $62,674 |
| Homes built before 1980 | 55.8% (±1.6 points) | 61.9% | 62.8% |
| Homes in buildings of five or more units | 54.0% (±1.3 points) | 52.7% | 21.8% |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.1% (±0.7 points) | 4.4% | 3.5% |
| Households that moved in since 2020 | 38.4% (±1.4 points) | 33.0% | 21.2% |
All housing figures for Jersey City: 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 Jersey City
Rent control office: Jersey City Office of Landlord/Tenant Relations, (201) 547-5127 (website).
Questions about Jersey City’s local rules
Does Jersey City have rent control?
In Jersey City a rent may rise at the end of a lease by the lesser of 4% or the CPI change from three months before the lease began to three months before it ends; a periodic tenant gets at most one increase in twelve months. The Office of Landlord/Tenant Relations treats buildings of one to four units as exempt. A vacant unit stays controlled, but the base rent may rise by $1.35 a month per $100 of capital improvements made to it (up to $5,000; $1.55 per $100 above that), registered with the Bureau of Rent Leveling with its application fee. A newly constructed dwelling sets its first rent freely if it is registered. File the landlord registration statement between January 1 and March 3 every year ($10 per housing space in buildings of five or more units). (Jersey City Code ch. 260, Rent Control (§ 260-2F registration, § 260-3 allowable increases, and the chapter’s vacancy, new-dwelling and fee provisions; Ord. C-14A as amended))
How much can a landlord raise the rent in Jersey City?
In Jersey City a rent may rise at the end of a lease by the lesser of 4% or the CPI change from three months before the lease began to three months before it ends; a periodic tenant gets at most one increase in twelve months. (Jersey City Code ch. 260, Rent Control (§ 260-2F registration, § 260-3 allowable increases, and the chapter’s vacancy, new-dwelling and fee provisions; Ord. C-14A as amended))
Do landlords have to register rentals in Jersey City?
File the Annual Landlord Registration Statement with the Office of Landlord/Tenant Relations through the City's Tyler self-service portal: the non-owner-occupied 1–4 unit registration (no fee), or for five or more units the two-part registration with the tenancy information and rent roll. Since February 28, 2023 every annual statement must include proof of liability insurance (N.J.S.A. 40A:10A-1). Buildings with six or more units without an on-site superintendent need a Superintendent Exemption Request. All 1–4 unit properties are exempt from Jersey City rent control (Chapter 260). (Jersey City Office of Landlord/Tenant Relations (Tyler portal)) File the landlord registration form with the City Clerk for a non-owner-occupied dwelling with fewer than three units, or with DCA's Bureau of Housing Inspection for more than two (DCA forwards a copy to the Clerk). Give each new tenant a copy; the tenant signs and dates it as received, and the signed copy goes in the tenant's file. (Jersey City City Clerk (1–2 units) · NJ DCA (3+ units))
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.