Short-Term Rentals in Clifton, NJ (2026)

8 verified short-term rentals rules for Clifton, New Jersey, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Short-Term Rental Permits

No one may operate or advertise a short-term rental in Clifton without a permit from the Department of Engineering. Chapter 378A requires annual permit renewal, a Certificate of Code Compliance, and bars issuance to owners with unpaid taxes, open code violations, or recent Noise Ordinance convictions.

Clifton Short-Term Rental Permit Required

Significant Restrictions

Clifton Code § 378A-3B

No person or entity shall operate a STRP, or advertise a residential property for use as a STRP, without the owner/operator of the property first having obtained a STR permit issued by the City of Clifton Department of Engineering. The failure to obtain a valid STR permit prior to advertising the short-term rental property in any print, digital, or internet advertisement or web-based platform, ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Noise Rules

A Noise Ordinance conviction can cost a Clifton short-term rental its permit. Chapter 378A denies or bars renewal of STR permits for owners with a Municipal Court noise violation within the past two years, and separately requires all occupants to obey the City's noise and nuisance ordinances during every stay.

Clifton STR Noise Violation Bars Permit

Significant Restrictions

Clifton Code § 378A-3A(2)

For existing short-term rentals, the applicant must have no violations of the City of Clifton's Noise Ordinance within the last two years. A violation of the Noise Ordinance means a documented violation by the City of Clifton Municipal Court; and

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Taxes & Fees

Every short-term rental owner in Clifton pays a $500 non-refundable annual registration fee to the Department of Engineering. Set by Chapter 378A, the fee covers both the permit application and the required Certificate of Code Compliance, and must be paid again each year at renewal.

Clifton Short-Term Rental Registration Fee

Some Restrictions

Clifton Code § 378A-3C

An owner of property, intended to serve as a short-term rental property, as defined herein, or any agent acting on behalf of the owner, shall submit to the City of Clifton Department of Engineering, a short-term rental permit application provided by the City, along with an annual application/registration fee of $500. Said fee shall be non-refundable, including in the event that the application ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Clifton short-term rental applicants must disclose every parking space at the property and cap renters at one vehicle per two occupants. Chapter 378A also requires owners to certify they will work to prevent overflow parking from disrupting the surrounding neighborhood.

Clifton STR Parking Space Rules

Some Restrictions

Clifton Code § 378A-4A(8) and (9)

The number and location of all parking spaces available to the premises, which shall include the number of legal off-street parking spaces and whether or not on-street parking spaces directly adjacent to the premises exist. The owner shall certify that every effort will be made to avoid and/or mitigate issues with on-street parking in the neighborhood... The owner's agreement that all renters o...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Insurance Requirements

Clifton requires every short-term rental owner to carry at least $500,000 in general liability insurance before a permit issues. Chapter 378A makes proof of insurance, ownership and written duty certifications from the property agent and responsible party mandatory attachments to the permit application.

Clifton STR $500,000 Liability Insurance

Some Restrictions

Clifton Code § 378A-4E

Attached to and concurrent with submission of the permit application described in this section, the owner shall provide: (1) Proof of the owner's current ownership of the short-term rental unit; (2) Proof of general liability insurance in a minimum amount of $500,000; and (3) Written certifications from the short-term rental property agent and responsible party that they agree to perform all of...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

Clifton only allows short-term rentals in homes where the owner actually lives. Chapter 378A limits STR permits to single-family houses, one unit of a two-family home, or units in a multi-family building where the owner occupies another unit and calls it their principal residence, and bars any non-owner-occupied dwelling, condo or investment property from renting short-term.

Clifton Short-Term Rental Residence Rule

Significant Restrictions

Clifton Code § 378A-2B

Short-term rentals shall be permitted to be conducted in the following classifications of property in the City of Clifton: (1) Individually or collectively owned single-family residences, which one of the owners legally identifies as the address of his or her principal residence, as that term is defined herein; and (2) One unit within a two-family residential dwelling, where the other unit is o...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Repeat Violator Strikes

Two substantiated complaints can end a Clifton short-term rental permit for good. Chapter 378A lets the City Manager revoke an STR permit once a property draws two or more substantiated civil or criminal complaints, and bars the owner from reapplying for that address for a full year.

Clifton STR Permit Revoked After Two Complaints

Significant Restrictions

Clifton Code § 378A-6G

If the STRP is the subject of two or more substantiated civil and/or criminal complaints, the City Manager or his designee may revoke the short-term rental permit issued for the property, in which case, the STRP may not be the subject of a new STRP permit application for one year following the date of revocation of the permit.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Host Platform Liability

Clifton bars booking services like Airbnb or Vrbo from collecting a fee on a Clifton short-term rental unless they first verify the listing's registration number through the City's verification system. Platforms that skip verification, or that miss annual reporting, face civil penalties of up to $2,000 per transaction under Section 378A-7.

Clifton Booking Platforms Must Verify STR Registration

Some Restrictions

Clifton Code § 378A-7

It shall be unlawful for a booking service to charge, collect or receive a fee from a person in connection with a short-term rental property unless such booking service has used the verification system maintained by the City to: (1) Verify that the dwelling unit or housing accommodation that is the subject of such short-term rental is associated with the short-term rental registration number su...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Looking for Passaic County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Clifton city rules.

Short-Term Rentals in Passaic County →