How Cherry Hill Handles Rental Property Rules: A Practical Guide
Cherry Hill maintains 93 local ordinances across all categories, and 4 of those deal specifically with rental property rules. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Cherry Hill falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.
Repairs & Habitability
Cherry Hill Township bars renting out any dwelling unit, including apartments, houses, duplexes and condos, without a Rental Housing Certificate of Occupancy showing the unit meets the Property Maintenance Code, the state Housing Code and the Uniform Construction Code.
Key details: Certificate required by: § 15-70, before every rental. Habitability standard: § 15-71.1 (local + state codes). Inspection fee: $65, plus $65 per reinspection. Penalty for occupying without one: $100 to $500 per day. Landlord registration: With Township Clerk, N.J.S.A. 46:8-28.
Occupying a rental dwelling unit without a valid Rental Housing Certificate of Occupancy carries a fine of $100 to $500, and/or up to 30 days imprisonment, and/or up to 90 days community service, for each day the unit is occupied without one, under Section 15-75.
This is one of the stricter rules in Cherry Hill's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.
Rental Registration
Cherry Hill Township landlords of one- and two-unit non-owner-occupied rentals must register with the Township Clerk under state law, and owners of multi-family buildings must file their state Bureau of Housing Inspection registration with the Clerk as well.
Key details: Who must register: Landlords of 1- or 2-unit non-owner-occupied rentals. Where filed: Township Clerk of Cherry Hill. State authority: N.J.S.A. 46:8-28. Multi-family rule: File state Bureau of Housing Inspection certificate. Penalty for noncompliance: $100.00-$500.00 per day.
Renting or continuing to rent a single or two-unit dwelling without filing the required landlord registration, or occupying a dwelling unit without the Certificate of Occupancy that Article X ties to it, exposes the owner to a fine of not less than $100.00 and not more than $500.00, and/or up to 30 days' imprisonment, and/or up to 90 days of community service, for each day of noncompliance under § 15-75.
Rent Increase Notice
Before a Cherry Hill landlord's rent-increase petition can be heard, § 14-1.6f requires the landlord to serve every tenant and each tenants' association president with a copy of the petition and the hearing date within two business days of filing, plus proof of service within ten days.
Key details: Notice deadline after filing: 2 business days. Proof of service deadline: 10 days after service. Who must be served: every unit + tenants' association president. Service methods: certified mail or personal service. Hearing scheduling window: 45 to 90 days from petition.
A landlord who files a rent-increase petition without serving every unit and the tenants' association president, or without filing timely proof of service, exposes the petition to rejection at the Board's preliminary review under § 14-1.6a-b, and the underlying failure to notify is itself a violation of the Article, punishable under § 14-1.14 by a fine of up to $500 or imprisonment of up to 30 days.
Rent Control
Cherry Hill Township has run rent control since the 1970s through its Rent Review Board. Landlords holding seven or more units cannot charge rent above the level in effect on September 1, 1994 except through a Board-approved petition, and any unauthorized increase is void under § 14-3.1a.
Key details: Covered landlords: 7 or more concurrent leases. Rent base date: September 1, 1994 level. Administering body: Cherry Hill Rent Review Board. New construction/vacant units: exempt from rent control. Violation penalty: up to $500 fine or 30 days.
Charging rent above the controlled level, or above a Board-approved increase, is void under § 14-3.1a and constitutes a violation of the Article. Section 14-1.14 sets the penalty at up to $500 or 30 days' imprisonment, or both, for any violation including a material misstatement of fact in a Board filing, and retaliatory action by a landlord against a tenant for exercising rights under the chapter carries a separate fine of up to $500 or 90 days' imprisonment.
This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Cherry Hill actively enforces its rent control requirements.
The Bottom Line
Cherry Hill is tougher than many cities when it comes to rental property rules. Out of the 4 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Cherry Hill, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.
Keep in mind that Cherry Hill can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.