Local landlord and tenant rules in Perth Amboy, New Jersey

Perth Amboy, New Jersey has local rules on rent regulation (Perth Amboy Code ch. 353, §§ 353-1 – 353-4, 353-6, 353-9.1 (2024)), rental registration (Perth Amboy Code §§ 337-2 – 337-4) and other landlord obligations (Perth Amboy City Code ch. 369 (Short-Term Rentals), §§ 369-1 to 369-3, 369-7 (Ord. No. 2169-2024)), on top of New Jersey law.

Local rules in Perth Amboy, New Jersey

Rent regulation

In Perth Amboy the rent may rise at the end of a lease by no more than 3% where the rent includes water service and 2.5% where it does not; a periodic tenant’s rent may not rise until the tenancy passes twelve months. The calculation goes to the tenant by certified or registered mail first, or the increase is void. A unit is decontrolled when the tenant vacates only if the landlord tells the Rent Leveling Board in writing within 60 days, with the old and new rents — otherwise the increase is void. Motels, hotels and owner-occupied buildings of three or fewer units are exempt; rooming houses and resident hotels are covered.

Source: Perth Amboy Code ch. 353, §§ 353-1 – 353-4, 353-6, 353-9.1 (2024). Checked on November 11, 2026.

Office: Perth Amboy Rent Leveling Board, (732) 826-1690 ext- 4322 (website).

Perth Amboy rental registration, annual inspection and certificate of habitability

Every residential rental unit is registered with the Director of Environmental Control and inspected at least once a year against the Property Maintenance Code; a completed registration and a passed inspection earn a certificate of habitability valid for one year from its date. File an amended form within 20 days of any change (§ 337-7) and give each tenant a copy of the registration form (§ 337-8).

Source: Perth Amboy Code §§ 337-2 – 337-4. Checked on November 4, 2026.

Other landlord obligations

In Perth Amboy a short-term rental — 28 or fewer consecutive days — needs a permit from the Department of Code Enforcement before it is rented or advertised: $250 to register and $200 to renew, with proof of ownership and $500,000 of liability insurance. It is allowed only where the owner lives on the property as their principal residence — their own home, an association unit whose governing documents permit it, up to two units of a two-, three- or four-unit building the owner lives in, or up to three rooms of an owner-occupied bed and breakfast — and never in a building whose rents are set by HUD, a State agency or an agreement with the owner or developer. Fines run from $100 to $2,000 a violation for each day, after 30 days to cure.

Source: Perth Amboy City Code ch. 369 (Short-Term Rentals), §§ 369-1 to 369-3, 369-7 (Ord. No. 2169-2024). Checked on November 12, 2026.

New Jersey rules that apply in Perth Amboy

RuleNew 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 Perth Amboy

64.6% of the occupied homes in Perth Amboy are rented, about 12,296 households, a share higher than across New Jersey (36.2%).

The median gross rent is $1,688 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.

64.4% of renters there pay 30% or more of their income on rent.

70.4% of the homes were built before 1980, and the federal lead-paint disclosure rule covers housing built before 1978.

2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, with the 90% margin of error for Perth Amboy
Perth AmboyMiddlesex CountyNew Jersey
Households that rent64.6% (±3.1 points)36.4%36.2%
Median gross rent$1,688 (±$62)$1,871$1,720
Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent64.4% (±5.7 points)48.1%51.6%
Median income of renter households$49,106 (±$6,151)$76,035$62,674
Homes built before 198070.4% (±5.8 points)57.4%62.8%
Homes in buildings of five or more units27.8% (±3.4 points)24.0%21.8%
Households that moved in since 202022.9% (±2.8 points)21.3%21.2%

All housing figures for Perth Amboy: 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 Perth Amboy

Rent control office: Perth Amboy Rent Leveling Board, (732) 826-1690 ext- 4322 (website).

Questions about Perth Amboy’s local rules

Does Perth Amboy have rent control?

In Perth Amboy the rent may rise at the end of a lease by no more than 3% where the rent includes water service and 2.5% where it does not; a periodic tenant’s rent may not rise until the tenancy passes twelve months. The calculation goes to the tenant by certified or registered mail first, or the increase is void. A unit is decontrolled when the tenant vacates only if the landlord tells the Rent Leveling Board in writing within 60 days, with the old and new rents — otherwise the increase is void. Motels, hotels and owner-occupied buildings of three or fewer units are exempt; rooming houses and resident hotels are covered. (Perth Amboy Code ch. 353, §§ 353-1 – 353-4, 353-6, 353-9.1 (2024))

How much can a landlord raise the rent in Perth Amboy?

5% where it does not; a periodic tenant’s rent may not rise until the tenancy passes twelve months. (Perth Amboy Code ch. 353, §§ 353-1 – 353-4, 353-6, 353-9.1 (2024))

Do landlords have to register rentals in Perth Amboy?

Every residential rental unit is registered with the Director of Environmental Control and inspected at least once a year against the Property Maintenance Code; a completed registration and a passed inspection earn a certificate of habitability valid for one year from its date. File an amended form within 20 days of any change (§ 337-7) and give each tenant a copy of the registration form (§ 337-8). (Perth Amboy Code §§ 337-2 – 337-4)

What else does Perth Amboy require of landlords?

In Perth Amboy a short-term rental — 28 or fewer consecutive days — needs a permit from the Department of Code Enforcement before it is rented or advertised: $250 to register and $200 to renew, with proof of ownership and $500,000 of liability insurance. It is allowed only where the owner lives on the property as their principal residence — their own home, an association unit whose governing documents permit it, up to two units of a two-, three- or four-unit building the owner lives in, or up to three rooms of an owner-occupied bed and breakfast — and never in a building whose rents are set by HUD, a State agency or an agreement with the owner or developer. Fines run from $100 to $2,000 a violation for each day, after 30 days to cure. (Perth Amboy City Code ch. 369 (Short-Term Rentals), §§ 369-1 to 369-3, 369-7 (Ord. No. 2169-2024))

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.

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