Local landlord and tenant rules in Somerville Borough, New Jersey
Somerville Borough, New Jersey has local rules on rental registration (Somerville Borough Code ch. 132 (Residential Rental Units), §§ 132-3 to 132-5, 132-7, 132-13, 132-14 (Ord. No. 2035, as amended by Ord. No. 2743, October 7, 2024)), on top of New Jersey law.
Local rules in Somerville Borough, New Jersey
Rental registration
No home in the Borough of Somerville may be rented until the owner has filed a registration statement with the Borough Clerk — the owner’s and any local manager’s contact details, the number of rental units, the maximum number of occupants for each and the person authorized to order repairs — renewed every year by December 1. A new owner reports the change before taking possession, the owner shows the certificate to a current or prospective tenant who asks, and failing to register can bring a $500 fine. Government-owned and State-licensed or State-inspected buildings, rooming houses and owner-occupied two-family houses are exempt.
Source: Somerville Borough Code ch. 132 (Residential Rental Units), §§ 132-3 to 132-5, 132-7, 132-13, 132-14 (Ord. No. 2035, as amended by Ord. No. 2743, October 7, 2024). Checked on November 12, 2026.
Somerville rental registration — December 1
No dwelling unit may be rented without a registration statement on file with the Borough Clerk; it is renewed every year on or before December 1, one statement covering a building whose units share an owner. A new owner gives the Clerk the changed information before taking possession.
Source: Somerville Borough Clerk. Checked on November 4, 2026.
New Jersey rules that apply in Somerville Borough
| 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 Somerville Borough
57.0% of the occupied homes in Somerville Borough are rented, about 3,411 households, a share higher than across New Jersey (36.2%).
The median gross rent is $1,802 a month, higher than across New Jersey ($1,720); that is what households report paying, utilities included, not the asking rent for a vacant apartment.
41.9% of renters there pay 30% or more of their income on rent.
76.1% of the homes were built before 1980, and the federal lead-paint disclosure rule covers housing built before 1978.
| Somerville Borough | Somerset County | New Jersey | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that rent | 57.0% (±4.4 points) | 25.7% | 36.2% |
| Median gross rent | $1,802 (±$49) | $2,033 | $1,720 |
| Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent | 41.9% (±9.1 points) | 49.0% | 51.6% |
| Median income of renter households | $85,880 (±$4,019) | $82,470 | $62,674 |
| Homes built before 1980 | 76.1% (±7.7 points) | 46.3% | 62.8% |
| Homes in buildings of five or more units | 40.0% (±5.8 points) | 17.8% | 21.8% |
| Households that moved in since 2020 | 36.8% (±5.8 points) | 20.2% | 21.2% |
All housing figures for Somerville Borough: 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.
Questions about Somerville Borough’s local rules
Do landlords have to register rentals in Somerville Borough?
No home in the Borough of Somerville may be rented until the owner has filed a registration statement with the Borough Clerk — the owner’s and any local manager’s contact details, the number of rental units, the maximum number of occupants for each and the person authorized to order repairs — renewed every year by December 1. A new owner reports the change before taking possession, the owner shows the certificate to a current or prospective tenant who asks, and failing to register can bring a $500 fine. Government-owned and State-licensed or State-inspected buildings, rooming houses and owner-occupied two-family houses are exempt. (Somerville Borough Code ch. 132 (Residential Rental Units), §§ 132-3 to 132-5, 132-7, 132-13, 132-14 (Ord. No. 2035, as amended by Ord. No. 2743, October 7, 2024)) No dwelling unit may be rented without a registration statement on file with the Borough Clerk; it is renewed every year on or before December 1, one statement covering a building whose units share an owner. A new owner gives the Clerk the changed information before taking possession. (Somerville Borough Clerk)
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.