Local landlord and tenant rules in Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson, New Jersey has local rules on rent regulation (Paterson Code ch. 381, §§ 381-3, 381-11, 381-13, 381-24), rental registration (Paterson City Code ch. 371 (Property Registration), §§ 371-1 to 371-3), inspections before a new tenant (Paterson Code § 175-3) and 1 more kind of rule, on top of New Jersey law.
Local rules in Paterson, New Jersey
Rent regulation
In Paterson a landlord may, without going to the Board, raise the rent once in twelve months by no more than 5% of the existing rent — 3.5% for a head of household who is 65 or older or disabled under Social Security — and a lease of more than a year may step up by the same percentages each year. No increase is allowed while the dwelling is out of substantial compliance or unregistered. Buildings with only one rented unit, motels, hotels and multiple dwellings built after December 23, 1999 (for up to 30 years) are exempt; units in a rehabilitated property from the vacant and abandoned list are decontrolled for the new tenant’s first rental, no more than once in three years.
Source: Paterson Code ch. 381, §§ 381-3, 381-11, 381-13, 381-24. Checked on November 11, 2026.
Office: Paterson Rent Leveling Board, (973) 321-1242 ext- 2285 (website).
Rental registration
Any owner of real property in Paterson who does not live at a residential property they own must register the street address where they actually live with the City Clerk. A first conviction for not registering carries a fine of up to $500, and a later one at least $1,000.
Source: Paterson City Code ch. 371 (Property Registration), §§ 371-1 to 371-3. Checked on November 12, 2026.
Paterson Certificate of Re-Rental Approval
Immediately before a new tenant takes possession of a unit, obtain a Certificate of Re-Rental Approval. The unit is inspected while vacant, no more than 30 days before the new tenant moves in, against the Housing-Property Maintenance code (Chapter 271); the City must inspect within three business days of the request, or the landlord holds a temporary certificate. Give the tenant a copy (§ 175-12). A two-family house where the owner lives in the other unit is not covered.
Source: Paterson Code § 175-3. Checked on November 4, 2026.
Other landlord obligations
A Paterson owner must obtain a lead certificate of inspection from the Division of Health immediately before letting a new tenant occupy a home, after a licensed lead inspector/risk assessor employed by the Division has inspected the unit, the common areas and any accessory structures; an inspection more than 365 days before the new tenancy does not count. The fee is $300 for the first unit and $150 for each further unit inspected the same day, and where lead paint is found the Division tells the proposed tenants in writing. Owner-occupied one-family homes and buildings built entirely after 1980 are exempt, on a certificate of exemption.
Source: Paterson City Code ch. 351 (Paint, Lead-Based), §§ 351-2, 351-3, 351-4, 351-5, 351-6 (as amended by Ord. Nos. 23-054 and 25-015). Checked on November 12, 2026.
New Jersey rules that apply in Paterson
| 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 Paterson
73.1% of the occupied homes in Paterson are rented, about 36,441 households, a share higher than across New Jersey (36.2%).
The median gross rent is $1,548 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.
59.3% of renters there pay 30% or more of their income on rent.
76.8% of the homes were built before 1980, and the federal lead-paint disclosure rule covers housing built before 1978.
| Paterson | Passaic County | New Jersey | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that rent | 73.1% (±1.6 points) | 46.9% | 36.2% |
| Median gross rent | $1,548 (±$25) | $1,621 | $1,720 |
| Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent | 59.3% (±2.9 points) | 57.0% | 51.6% |
| Median income of renter households | $45,802 (±$3,051) | $51,907 | $62,674 |
| Homes built before 1980 | 76.8% (±3.1 points) | 77.3% | 62.8% |
| Homes in buildings of five or more units | 25.2% (±1.6 points) | 21.1% | 21.8% |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.4% (±0.6 points) | 2.1% | 3.5% |
| Households that moved in since 2020 | 20.6% (±1.4 points) | 19.0% | 21.2% |
All housing figures for Paterson: 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 Paterson
Rent control office: Paterson Rent Leveling Board, (973) 321-1242 ext- 2285 (website).
Questions about Paterson’s local rules
Does Paterson have rent control?
In Paterson a landlord may, without going to the Board, raise the rent once in twelve months by no more than 5% of the existing rent — 3.5% for a head of household who is 65 or older or disabled under Social Security — and a lease of more than a year may step up by the same percentages each year. No increase is allowed while the dwelling is out of substantial compliance or unregistered. Buildings with only one rented unit, motels, hotels and multiple dwellings built after December 23, 1999 (for up to 30 years) are exempt; units in a rehabilitated property from the vacant and abandoned list are decontrolled for the new tenant’s first rental, no more than once in three years. (Paterson Code ch. 381, §§ 381-3, 381-11, 381-13, 381-24)
How much can a landlord raise the rent in Paterson?
5% for a head of household who is 65 or older or disabled under Social Security — and a lease of more than a year may step up by the same percentages each year. (Paterson Code ch. 381, §§ 381-3, 381-11, 381-13, 381-24)
Do landlords have to register rentals in Paterson?
Any owner of real property in Paterson who does not live at a residential property they own must register the street address where they actually live with the City Clerk. A first conviction for not registering carries a fine of up to $500, and a later one at least $1,000. (Paterson City Code ch. 371 (Property Registration), §§ 371-1 to 371-3)
Does Paterson require an inspection or certificate before a new tenant moves in?
Immediately before a new tenant takes possession of a unit, obtain a Certificate of Re-Rental Approval. The unit is inspected while vacant, no more than 30 days before the new tenant moves in, against the Housing-Property Maintenance code (Chapter 271); the City must inspect within three business days of the request, or the landlord holds a temporary certificate. Give the tenant a copy (§ 175-12). A two-family house where the owner lives in the other unit is not covered. (Paterson Code § 175-3)
What else does Paterson require of landlords?
A Paterson owner must obtain a lead certificate of inspection from the Division of Health immediately before letting a new tenant occupy a home, after a licensed lead inspector/risk assessor employed by the Division has inspected the unit, the common areas and any accessory structures; an inspection more than 365 days before the new tenancy does not count. The fee is $300 for the first unit and $150 for each further unit inspected the same day, and where lead paint is found the Division tells the proposed tenants in writing. Owner-occupied one-family homes and buildings built entirely after 1980 are exempt, on a certificate of exemption. (Paterson City Code ch. 351 (Paint, Lead-Based), §§ 351-2, 351-3, 351-4, 351-5, 351-6 (as amended by Ord. Nos. 23-054 and 25-015))
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.