Local landlord and tenant rules in Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton, New Jersey has local rules on rent regulation (Trenton Code ch. 222, §§ 222-2, 222-6, 222-15 (2024)), rental registration (Trenton City Code ch. 132, art. X, § 132-79), inspections before a new tenant (City of Trenton) and 1 more kind of rule, on top of New Jersey law.
Local rules in Trenton, New Jersey
Rent regulation
In Trenton the rent may rise at the end of a lease or periodic tenancy by no more than 4% — 2% for a senior citizen or disabled tenant — once in twelve months. After a vacancy the landlord may raise the new tenant’s rent without going to the Board, but a new tenant charged more than 25% above the last rent may ask the Board to reduce it. Owner-occupied one- and two-family homes, public and federally subsidized housing, transient premises and commercial space are exempt, and newly created units set their first rent.
Source: Trenton Code ch. 222, §§ 222-2, 222-6, 222-15 (2024). Checked on November 11, 2026.
Office: Trenton Rent Stabilization Board, (609) 989-3507 (website).
Rental registration
In Trenton an owner who does not live in a structure that is rented out for people to live in must register it every year with the Department of Inspections and pay a non-refundable fee of $110 a structure plus $35 for each dwelling unit, which covers the registration permit and the necessary inspections; the fee is not prorated for part of a year.
Source: Trenton City Code ch. 132, art. X, § 132-79. Checked on November 12, 2026.
Trenton — registration statement and certificate of occupancy attached to the lease
A copy of the landlord identity registration statement and the certificate of occupancy, initialed or signed by the tenant, is attached to every written lease as an appendix (or handed to the tenant when there is no written lease). Repeated violations can cost the certificate of occupancy for future rentals.
Source: City of Trenton. Checked on November 4, 2026.
Other landlord obligations
Trenton requires every short-term rental — a unit rented for fewer than 30 consecutive days — to be registered with the City every year, in addition to the state landlord registration. Registration costs $300 and $150 for each yearly renewal, the City collects a 1% municipal occupancy tax, the registration number must appear on any listing, and a new owner must register again.
Source: Trenton City Code ch. 228, §§ 228-1, 228-2, 228-8, 228-10 (Ord. No. 19-72). Checked on November 12, 2026.
New Jersey rules that apply in Trenton
| 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 Trenton
62.1% of the occupied homes in Trenton are rented, about 19,900 households, a share higher than across New Jersey (36.2%).
The median gross rent is $1,294 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.
58.4% of renters there pay 30% or more of their income on rent.
79.3% of the homes were built before 1980, and the federal lead-paint disclosure rule covers housing built before 1978.
| Trenton | Mercer County | New Jersey | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that rent | 62.1% (±2.4 points) | 37.8% | 36.2% |
| Median gross rent | $1,294 (±$52) | $1,623 | $1,720 |
| Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent | 58.4% (±4.8 points) | 50.0% | 51.6% |
| Median income of renter households | $37,816 (±$3,202) | $61,039 | $62,674 |
| Homes built before 1980 | 79.3% (±4.2 points) | 64.2% | 62.8% |
| Homes in buildings of five or more units | 25.5% (±2.5 points) | 23.1% | 21.8% |
| Rental vacancy rate | 4.3% (±1.1 points) | 2.9% | 3.5% |
| Households that moved in since 2020 | 22.8% (±2.4 points) | 21.8% | 21.2% |
All housing figures for Trenton: 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 Trenton
Rent control office: Trenton Rent Stabilization Board, (609) 989-3507 (website).
Questions about Trenton’s local rules
Does Trenton have rent control?
In Trenton the rent may rise at the end of a lease or periodic tenancy by no more than 4% — 2% for a senior citizen or disabled tenant — once in twelve months. After a vacancy the landlord may raise the new tenant’s rent without going to the Board, but a new tenant charged more than 25% above the last rent may ask the Board to reduce it. Owner-occupied one- and two-family homes, public and federally subsidized housing, transient premises and commercial space are exempt, and newly created units set their first rent. (Trenton Code ch. 222, §§ 222-2, 222-6, 222-15 (2024))
How much can a landlord raise the rent in Trenton?
In Trenton the rent may rise at the end of a lease or periodic tenancy by no more than 4% — 2% for a senior citizen or disabled tenant — once in twelve months. After a vacancy the landlord may raise the new tenant’s rent without going to the Board, but a new tenant charged more than 25% above the last rent may ask the Board to reduce it. (Trenton Code ch. 222, §§ 222-2, 222-6, 222-15 (2024))
Do landlords have to register rentals in Trenton?
In Trenton an owner who does not live in a structure that is rented out for people to live in must register it every year with the Department of Inspections and pay a non-refundable fee of $110 a structure plus $35 for each dwelling unit, which covers the registration permit and the necessary inspections; the fee is not prorated for part of a year. (Trenton City Code ch. 132, art. X, § 132-79)
Does Trenton require an inspection or certificate before a new tenant moves in?
A copy of the landlord identity registration statement and the certificate of occupancy, initialed or signed by the tenant, is attached to every written lease as an appendix (or handed to the tenant when there is no written lease). Repeated violations can cost the certificate of occupancy for future rentals. (City of Trenton)
What else does Trenton require of landlords?
Trenton requires every short-term rental — a unit rented for fewer than 30 consecutive days — to be registered with the City every year, in addition to the state landlord registration. Registration costs $300 and $150 for each yearly renewal, the City collects a 1% municipal occupancy tax, the registration number must appear on any listing, and a new owner must register again. (Trenton City Code ch. 228, §§ 228-1, 228-2, 228-8, 228-10 (Ord. No. 19-72))
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.