Short-Term Rentals in Ridgewood, NJ: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Ridgewood or are thinking about moving there, short-term rentals are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Ridgewood has 4 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of short-term rentals, and some of them might surprise you.

Permit Requirements

Ridgewood Village bans rentals of dwelling units for periods of 30 days or less, making short-term rental permits unavailable for hosts seeking Airbnb-style operations within Village limits.

Key details: Minimum Rental Period: More than 30 days. Permit Available: No permits issued. Maximum Fine: $1,000 per violation. Code Section: Chapter 117, Article IX. Daily Penalty: Each day a separate offense.

Violators face fines up to $1,000 per violation. Each day a violation continues after written notice constitutes a new and separate offense, allowing penalties to compound rapidly.

This is one of the stricter rules in Ridgewood's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Taxes & Fees

The Village of Ridgewood prohibits short-term rentals entirely under Code Chapter 117, Article IX, so there is no local STR registration fee, license, or hotel tax to pay — because operating a paid STR under 30 days is itself unlawful. If a property is rented for 30+ days (the only legal compensated rental in Ridgewood), no NJ transient-accommodation taxes apply. Bergen County does not impose a separate hotel/lodging tax. The only Ridgewood-specific charge an STR operator would face is the violation penalty: up to $1,000 per day under §117 Art. IX.

Key details: Local STR Tax: None — STRs prohibited. Local Registration Fee: None. NJ Sales Tax (marketplace): 6.625%. NJ State Occupancy Fee: 5%. Direct-Booked 30+ Day Lease: Tax-exempt.

Operating any compensated rental under 31 days in Ridgewood violates Code §117 Art. IX. Penalty: a fine not to exceed $1,000 per violation, and each day the violation continues after written notice from the Village constitutes a new and separate violation under §117 Art. IX. Listing or advertising a prohibited rental — including on Airbnb, Vrbo, or any marketplace — is itself a violation under the section's anti-facilitation language ('No person shall undertake, maintain, authorize, aid, facilitate, solicit and advertise any rental activity that violates any part or provisions of this article'). Failure to remit NJ sales/occupancy taxes on any otherwise-taxable rental can carry NJ Division of Taxation penalties of 5% per month up to 25% plus interest under N.J.S.A. 54:49-4.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Ridgewood actively enforces its taxes & fees requirements.

Noise Rules

Because compensated short-term rentals are prohibited in Ridgewood under Code Chapter 117, Article IX, there is no STR-specific noise standard — but every occupant of a Ridgewood dwelling, including any 30+ day tenant, must comply with Code Chapter 201 (Noise). Chapter 201 prohibits any unreasonable and unnecessary loud or disturbing noise, and §201 specifically bars yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling, or singing on public streets between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Chapter 222 separately restricts power tools and motorized landscaping equipment, including a full ban on commercial power-tool use Sundays and federal holidays.

Key details: STR-Specific Quiet Hours: None — STRs prohibited. Citywide Quiet Hours (street noise): 11 PM – 7 AM. General Noise Standard: No unreasonable/unnecessary noise. Power Tools (Sun/Holidays): Prohibited (Ch. 222). Noise Code: Ridgewood Code Chapter 201.

Chapter 201 noise violations are heard in Ridgewood Municipal Court; general code violations under Code Chapter 1 carry fines up to $2,000 and/or community service per occurrence, with the actual amount set by the court. Sunday/holiday power-tool use under Chapter 222 carries similar municipal-court penalties. Where the noise originates at a prohibited compensated rental, the Village can also pursue the §117 Art. IX penalty of up to $1,000 per day against the owner, separate from the citation against the noisy occupant.

Parking Rules

Compensated short-term rentals are prohibited in Ridgewood under Code Chapter 117, Article IX, so there is no STR guest-parking program. For any lawful 30+ day rental, Ridgewood's Village-wide overnight parking ban applies: no vehicle may be parked on any public street or public parking lot in the Village between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. (Code §265-36). Overnight Parking Permits are sold only to Central Business District residents who lack landlord-provided parking; transient guests cannot obtain them. Tenants needing more than five nights of overnight parking must apply individually for a waiver from the Chief of Police.

Key details: Off-Street Parking Required for STR: N/A — STRs prohibited. Village-Wide Overnight Ban: 2 AM – 6 AM (all streets/lots). Overnight Ban Code: Ridgewood Code §265-36. ONPP Eligibility: CBD residents only. ONPP Permit Hours: 8 PM – 8 AM.

Overnight parking violations under §265-36 are issued by Ridgewood Police; specific ticket amounts are set by the Ridgewood Municipal Court schedule (general Chapter 1 code-violation cap is $2,000). Vehicles can be towed at owner's expense after notice. Where the parked vehicle belongs to a guest of a compensated rental under 31 days, the Village can pursue the underlying §117 Art. IX violation against the host (up to $1,000 per day, each day a separate offense). Falsely claiming residency to obtain an ONPP is a separate offense that can result in permit revocation and municipal-court penalties.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Ridgewood actively enforces its parking rules requirements.

The Bottom Line

Ridgewood is tougher than many cities when it comes to short-term rentals. Out of the 4 rules covered here, 3 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Ridgewood, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

This guide is based on Ridgewood's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.