Rent Control in Jersey City, NJ

Last updated: January 2026

A practical guide to understanding who is covered, key exemptions, and how to check your building's status.

Want to skip straight to checking your own building? Use the RentCheckMe address checker.

1. Overview of Rent Control in Jersey City

Jersey City, located in Hudson County, New Jersey, has a local rent control ordinance that provides rent stabilization and tenant protection for many residential rental units. The ordinance is administered by the Jersey City Rent Control Board.

This article is a high‑level guide based on public resources and the municipality's rent control ordinance. It is not legal advice. For specific questions about your situation, consult with a qualified attorney or contact the local rent control office.

2. Who Is Covered by Rent Control in Jersey City?

The rent control ordinance in Jersey City applies to specific types of properties based on the number of units and other criteria:

• Minimum units requirement: The ordinance applies to buildings with 5 or more units.

3. Rent Increase Limits

The rent control ordinance in Jersey City limits annual rent increases to 4.0%. Lesser of 4% and percentage difference between CPI 3 months prior to expiration/termination of lease and 3 months prior to commencement of lease term.

4. Exemptions and Exceptions

The following properties or situations may be exempt from rent control in Jersey City:

• Dwellings with 4 or less units, low rent public housing, motels, hotels, commercial and industrial space, newly constructed dwellings with 25+ units within a redevelopment area, all buildings, structures, motels, hotels, and guesthouse which are converted from nonpermanent dwelling to a dwelling on or after 10.1.83, first-time rentals (until re-rented), and any new dwelling constructed between 6/25/87 and 6/25/92 and not constructed for occupation by seniors (for the lesser of 30 years and the period of amortization of any initial mortgage loan). Vacancy Decontrol for buyers of multifamily dwellings covered by this chapter which are certified by the Division of Tenant/Landlord Relation to be vacant as of 7/1/98.

5. How to Check Your Building's Status

To determine if your building is covered by rent control in Jersey City, you can:

• Use RentCheckMe: Enter your address in the RentCheckMe address checker to see if your building is likely covered by rent control.
• Contact the Rent Control Board: Reach out to the Jersey City Rent Control Board for information about your specific building.
• Call for assistance: (201) 547-5127

6. Additional Resources

• Rent Control Ordinance: View the full text of the ordinance
• Rent Control Board Website: https://www.jerseycitynj.gov/cityhall/housinganddevelopment/housingpreservation/landlordtenantrelations
• New Jersey Department of Community Affairs: https://www.nj.gov/dca/

Frequently Asked Questions

Note: This article provides general information about rent control in Jersey City. Rent control laws can be complex and may change over time. For specific questions about your situation, consult with a qualified attorney or contact the local rent control office.