Local landlord and tenant rules in Lakewood Township, New Jersey
Lakewood Township, New Jersey has local rules on rent regulation (Lakewood Code ch. 14, §§ 14-1.2 – 14-1.4), rental registration (Lakewood Township Code § 14-1.16) and inspections before a new tenant (Lakewood Township Code § 15-3.3), on top of New Jersey law.
Local rules in Lakewood Township, New Jersey
Rent regulation
In Lakewood a covered unit’s rent may rise once a year, at the end of a lease and at least a year after the last increase, by a flat 6.5% over the previous base rent where the landlord supplies heat and 5% where it does not; by agreement at the start of a tenancy a two-year lease may carry 9.75% (heat supplied) or 7.5%. An increase not taken can be taken later, prorated. The chapter covers multiple dwellings of three or more apartments; new construction is exempt for seven years from its first certificate of occupancy (or as N.J.S.A. 2A:42-84.1 allows), and a rehabilitation that raises the assessment 50% can qualify a building for exemption.
Source: Lakewood Code ch. 14, §§ 14-1.2 – 14-1.4. Checked on November 11, 2026.
Office: Lakewood Rent Control Board, (732) 364-2500 (website).
Lakewood rent list — by July 1
Each landlord of a rent-controlled building files with the Township Clerk, on or before July 1 every year, a list of the rent paid for each unit.
Source: Lakewood Township Code § 14-1.16. Checked on November 4, 2026.
Lakewood Certificate of Occupancy before a new tenant
In a multiple dwelling or a single-family rental, no apartment or house may be rented to a new tenant until the owner has a Certificate of Occupancy from the Department of Code Enforcement and Zoning, issued after the vacated unit is inspected.
Source: Lakewood Township Code § 15-3.3. Checked on November 4, 2026.
New Jersey rules that apply in Lakewood Township
| 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 Lakewood Township
48.5% of the occupied homes in Lakewood Township are rented, about 15,248 households, a share higher than across New Jersey (36.2%).
The median gross rent is $1,774 a month, not measurably different from New Jersey as a whole ($1,720); that is what households report paying, utilities included, not the asking rent for a vacant apartment.
66.7% of renters there pay 30% or more of their income on rent.
34.9% of the homes were built before 1980, and the federal lead-paint disclosure rule covers housing built before 1978.
| Lakewood Township | Ocean County | New Jersey | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that rent | 48.5% (±2.1 points) | 19.3% | 36.2% |
| Median gross rent | $1,774 (±$64) | $1,755 | $1,720 |
| Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent | 66.7% (±5.5 points) | 58.4% | 51.6% |
| Median income of renter households | $50,616 (±$4,517) | $58,423 | $62,674 |
| Homes built before 1980 | 34.9% (±2.8 points) | 48.3% | 62.8% |
| Homes in buildings of five or more units | 19.0% (±2.0 points) | 8.3% | 21.8% |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.9% (±1.5 points) | 3.1% | 3.5% |
| Households that moved in since 2020 | 22.2% (±1.9 points) | 18.3% | 21.2% |
All housing figures for Lakewood Township: 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 Lakewood Township
Rent control office: Lakewood Rent Control Board, (732) 364-2500 (website).
Questions about Lakewood Township’s local rules
Does Lakewood Township have rent control?
In Lakewood a covered unit’s rent may rise once a year, at the end of a lease and at least a year after the last increase, by a flat 6.5% over the previous base rent where the landlord supplies heat and 5% where it does not; by agreement at the start of a tenancy a two-year lease may carry 9.75% (heat supplied) or 7.5%. An increase not taken can be taken later, prorated. The chapter covers multiple dwellings of three or more apartments; new construction is exempt for seven years from its first certificate of occupancy (or as N.J.S.A. 2A:42-84.1 allows), and a rehabilitation that raises the assessment 50% can qualify a building for exemption. (Lakewood Code ch. 14, §§ 14-1.2 – 14-1.4)
How much can a landlord raise the rent in Lakewood Township?
5%. 1 allows), and a rehabilitation that raises the assessment 50% can qualify a building for exemption. (Lakewood Code ch. 14, §§ 14-1.2 – 14-1.4)
Do landlords have to register rentals in Lakewood Township?
Each landlord of a rent-controlled building files with the Township Clerk, on or before July 1 every year, a list of the rent paid for each unit. (Lakewood Township Code § 14-1.16)
Does Lakewood Township require an inspection or certificate before a new tenant moves in?
In a multiple dwelling or a single-family rental, no apartment or house may be rented to a new tenant until the owner has a Certificate of Occupancy from the Department of Code Enforcement and Zoning, issued after the vacated unit is inspected. (Lakewood Township Code § 15-3.3)
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.