Local landlord and tenant rules in Orange, New Jersey
Orange, New Jersey has local rules on rent regulation (Orange Code ch. 166, §§ 166-3, 166-8, 166-12, 166-16 (2021)), rental registration (Orange Code §§ 166-34, 166-35) and inspections before a new tenant (Orange Code § 156-23), on top of New Jersey law.
Local rules in Orange, New Jersey
Rent regulation
In Orange the rent may rise at the end of a lease or periodic tenancy by no more than 5% a year — 4% where the tenant supplies the heat — and 2% for a qualified senior tenant (65 or older) named on the lease. Hotels, motels, buildings of three or fewer units, owner-occupied four-family houses, income-based and directly subsidized units are exempt; new construction and substantial rehabilitation are exempt from the annual limit for three years. After a voluntary, uncoerced vacancy the landlord may set the next rent within HUD’s Fair Market Rent for that year, on a vacancy decontrol filing; the unit is then controlled again.
Source: Orange Code ch. 166, §§ 166-3, 166-8, 166-12, 166-16 (2021). Checked on November 11, 2026.
Office: Orange Office of Rent Leveling, (973) 952-6100 (website).
Orange rental property registration — September 1
Register every single-family rental ($50) and every multi-family rental property ($100) with the Division of Code Enforcement each year on September 1. The registration also counts as the state landlord registration and the rent control registration (Chapter 166), and the posting the Division provides goes up near the primary entrance.
Source: Orange Code §§ 166-34, 166-35. Checked on November 4, 2026.
Orange multi-family registration update — July 1, and within seven days of a change
Owners of multi-family rental properties update the registration — lease and tenant summary included — every year on July 1, and amend it within seven days of anything that changes its information, such as a new tenant.
Source: Orange Code § 166-34. Checked on November 4, 2026.
Orange certificate of habitability before a new tenant
No dwelling unit may be rented or occupied until the Public Officer has inspected it and issued a certificate of habitability, required before each rental and then every year. In a building of more than two units, notify the Public Officer in writing at least 15 days before a tenant's expected move-out and request the inspection (or as soon as an unannounced vacancy is found), and within 30 days of the new tenancy give the Public Officer the new tenant's name, unit and lease term.
Source: Orange Code § 156-23. Checked on November 4, 2026.
New Jersey rules that apply in Orange
| 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 Orange
74.5% of the occupied homes in Orange are rented, about 9,042 households, a share higher than across New Jersey (36.2%).
The median gross rent is $1,550 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.
59.8% of renters there pay 30% or more of their income on rent.
75.3% of the homes were built before 1980, and the federal lead-paint disclosure rule covers housing built before 1978.
| Orange | Essex County | New Jersey | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that rent | 74.5% (±3.5 points) | 55.1% | 36.2% |
| Median gross rent | $1,550 (±$69) | $1,531 | $1,720 |
| Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent | 59.8% (±6.5 points) | 55.1% | 51.6% |
| Median income of renter households | $44,195 (±$6,431) | $51,273 | $62,674 |
| Homes built before 1980 | 75.3% (±7.5 points) | 74.2% | 62.8% |
| Homes in buildings of five or more units | 50.1% (±5.6 points) | 31.1% | 21.8% |
| Households that moved in since 2020 | 27.3% (±4.2 points) | 23.0% | 21.2% |
All housing figures for Orange: 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 Orange
Rent control office: Orange Office of Rent Leveling, (973) 952-6100 (website).
Questions about Orange’s local rules
Does Orange have rent control?
In Orange the rent may rise at the end of a lease or periodic tenancy by no more than 5% a year — 4% where the tenant supplies the heat — and 2% for a qualified senior tenant (65 or older) named on the lease. Hotels, motels, buildings of three or fewer units, owner-occupied four-family houses, income-based and directly subsidized units are exempt; new construction and substantial rehabilitation are exempt from the annual limit for three years. After a voluntary, uncoerced vacancy the landlord may set the next rent within HUD’s Fair Market Rent for that year, on a vacancy decontrol filing; the unit is then controlled again. (Orange Code ch. 166, §§ 166-3, 166-8, 166-12, 166-16 (2021))
How much can a landlord raise the rent in Orange?
In Orange the rent may rise at the end of a lease or periodic tenancy by no more than 5% a year — 4% where the tenant supplies the heat — and 2% for a qualified senior tenant (65 or older) named on the lease. (Orange Code ch. 166, §§ 166-3, 166-8, 166-12, 166-16 (2021))
Do landlords have to register rentals in Orange?
Register every single-family rental ($50) and every multi-family rental property ($100) with the Division of Code Enforcement each year on September 1. The registration also counts as the state landlord registration and the rent control registration (Chapter 166), and the posting the Division provides goes up near the primary entrance. (Orange Code §§ 166-34, 166-35) Owners of multi-family rental properties update the registration — lease and tenant summary included — every year on July 1, and amend it within seven days of anything that changes its information, such as a new tenant. (Orange Code § 166-34)
Does Orange require an inspection or certificate before a new tenant moves in?
No dwelling unit may be rented or occupied until the Public Officer has inspected it and issued a certificate of habitability, required before each rental and then every year. In a building of more than two units, notify the Public Officer in writing at least 15 days before a tenant's expected move-out and request the inspection (or as soon as an unannounced vacancy is found), and within 30 days of the new tenancy give the Public Officer the new tenant's name, unit and lease term. (Orange Code § 156-23)
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 Essex County
- New Jersey landlord and tenant rules
- Housing data for Orange: rent, renters, home values
- Local rules in Belleville Township
- Local rules in Bloomfield Township
- Local rules in East Orange
- Local rules in Irvington Township
- Local rules in Maplewood Township
- Local rules in Montclair Township
- All renting rules by state
- Rentals by city