Local landlord and tenant rules in Passaic, New Jersey
Passaic, New Jersey has local rules on inspections before a new tenant (Passaic Code §§ 125-9 – 125-12) and other landlord obligations (Passaic City Code ch. 165 (Heating of Residential Property), §§ 165-1 to 165-3, 165-6), on top of New Jersey law.
Local rules in Passaic, New Jersey
Passaic — re-rent within 60 days and tell the Rent Leveling Board about a vacancy
A unit must be rented and occupied by a new tenant within 60 days of the last tenant leaving. If it is still vacant 30 days after the tenancy ended, notify the Rent Leveling Board within five days; within 30 days of that report, tell the Board the unit is rented, with the new tenant's name and terms. A waiver (up to 180 days in all) must be applied for within ten days of the tenancy ending. Units in owner-occupied buildings of four or fewer units, new construction on first rental and hotel or rooming units are exempt.
Source: Passaic Code §§ 125-9 – 125-12. Checked on November 4, 2026.
Other landlord obligations
When a Passaic tenant has told the landlord there is no heat and nothing has been done, the City’s Health Officer may act as the landlord’s agent — ordering up to 100 gallons of fuel oil, having the burner refired or contracting for repairs — once 12 hours have passed since the tenant complained to the City with the outside temperature between 33°F and 55°F, or four hours at 32°F or below. The fuel dealer may bill the landlord directly, and a landlord whose failure to act made the City step in is liable to a civil penalty of up to $300 for each affected unit. Owner-occupied rental buildings of five or fewer units are not covered.
Source: Passaic City Code ch. 165 (Heating of Residential Property), §§ 165-1 to 165-3, 165-6. Checked on November 12, 2026.
Rent control, as the state’s survey lists it
The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs’ 2026 Rent Control Survey lists Passaic as having a rent control ordinance. Units covered, in the survey’s words: 2+. Increase limit, in the survey’s words: Percentage increase of CPI over most recent 12 month period. Capped at 6% plus a property tax increase fee. Maximum increase of $25 per month if a dwelling unit is occupied by no more than 2 individuals, with at least on being 65 years of age or older; and the total annual income of the 65+ occupants does not exceed $50,000. Seayora has not yet read the ordinance itself; confirm the current rule with the office before relying on it.
Source: NJ DCA Rent Control Survey (2026).
New Jersey rules that apply in Passaic
| 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 Passaic
76.2% of the occupied homes in Passaic are rented, about 16,123 households, a share higher than across New Jersey (36.2%).
The median gross rent is $1,465 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.
57.7% of renters there pay 30% or more of their income on rent.
86.5% of the homes were built before 1980, and the federal lead-paint disclosure rule covers housing built before 1978.
| Passaic | Passaic County | New Jersey | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that rent | 76.2% (±1.9 points) | 46.9% | 36.2% |
| Median gross rent | $1,465 (±$40) | $1,621 | $1,720 |
| Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent | 57.7% (±3.9 points) | 57.0% | 51.6% |
| Median income of renter households | $46,129 (±$2,174) | $51,907 | $62,674 |
| Homes built before 1980 | 86.5% (±3.6 points) | 77.3% | 62.8% |
| Homes in buildings of five or more units | 44.8% (±3.0 points) | 21.1% | 21.8% |
| Rental vacancy rate | 1.1% (±0.5 points) | 2.1% | 3.5% |
| Households that moved in since 2020 | 19.0% (±2.0 points) | 19.0% | 21.2% |
All housing figures for Passaic: 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 Passaic
Rent control office: Rent Leveling Board, (973) 833-8610 (website).
Questions about Passaic’s local rules
Does Passaic require an inspection or certificate before a new tenant moves in?
A unit must be rented and occupied by a new tenant within 60 days of the last tenant leaving. If it is still vacant 30 days after the tenancy ended, notify the Rent Leveling Board within five days; within 30 days of that report, tell the Board the unit is rented, with the new tenant's name and terms. A waiver (up to 180 days in all) must be applied for within ten days of the tenancy ending. Units in owner-occupied buildings of four or fewer units, new construction on first rental and hotel or rooming units are exempt. (Passaic Code §§ 125-9 – 125-12)
What else does Passaic require of landlords?
When a Passaic tenant has told the landlord there is no heat and nothing has been done, the City’s Health Officer may act as the landlord’s agent — ordering up to 100 gallons of fuel oil, having the burner refired or contracting for repairs — once 12 hours have passed since the tenant complained to the City with the outside temperature between 33°F and 55°F, or four hours at 32°F or below. The fuel dealer may bill the landlord directly, and a landlord whose failure to act made the City step in is liable to a civil penalty of up to $300 for each affected unit. Owner-occupied rental buildings of five or fewer units are not covered. (Passaic City Code ch. 165 (Heating of Residential Property), §§ 165-1 to 165-3, 165-6)
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.