Rental Property Rules in Elizabeth, NJ (2026)
4 verified rental property rules for Elizabeth, New Jersey, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Rent Control
Elizabeth caps most annual rent increases at 3% over the prior year's base rent through its Fair Rental Housing Board, applying to buildings with five or more units (owner-occupied buildings of four or fewer units are exempt). Landlords may raise rent only once every 12 months.
Elizabeth Rent Control: 3% Annual Increase Cap
Heavy RestrictionsElizabeth City Code § 5.70.060(A)
At the expiration of a lease, termination of a lease of a periodic tenant or at the anniversary date of the building, no landlord shall request or receive any increase in base rent in excess of three percent over the base rent received for the twelve (12) months prior.
Rental Registration
Elizabeth landlords covered by the rent control chapter must register every rental dwelling annually with the Fair Rental Housing Board by March 1st, listing rents, services, and ownership details. No rent increase can be charged or collected until that registration is filed.
Elizabeth Rental Property Registration Requirement
Significant RestrictionsElizabeth City Code § 5.70.050(A), (C)
All dwellings subject to this chapter shall be registered annually with the board. Registrations on forms provided by the fair rental housing board shall be filed annually in the office of the board according to the street address of the dwelling. ... No increase in rent in any dwelling shall be charged or collected unless the landlord of the dwelling shall have complied with Section 5.70.050(A...
Rent Increase Notice
Elizabeth landlords covered by the rent control ordinance must give tenants written notice at least 30 days before any rent increase takes effect, and must also supply the state Truth-in-Renting Act statement and annual disclosures about tenants' rights, under Code Section 5.70.070.
Elizabeth Requires 30-Day Rent Increase Notice
Some RestrictionsElizabeth City Code § 5.70.070(A)-(C)
A.Any landlord seeking an increase in rent shall provide notice to the tenant no less than thirty (30) days prior to the proposed increase.B.A landlord must give all new tenants a copy of a statement of legal rights and responsibilities as required under the New Jersey Truth-in-Renting Act as defined under N.J.S.A. 46:8-43, et al., or any analogous successor to that statute.C.A landlord must in...
Repairs & Habitability
Elizabeth's Housing Code sets hard numeric minimums for rental habitability: landlords must supply potable water, 160-degree hot water, and heat that keeps habitable rooms and bathrooms at 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the heating season. Every dwelling unit needs a private kitchen sink, toilet, bathtub or shower, and electrical service. The director of health, welfare and housing enforces the code and can placard a unit unfit for occupancy.
Elizabeth Rental Property Habitability Standards
Some RestrictionsElizabeth City Code § 15.12.400
Every dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming house and rooming unit occupied during normal heating periods shall have heating facilities capable of maintaining a minimum inside temperature of seventy (70) degrees Fahrenheit in all habitable rooms and bathrooms.
Looking for Union County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Elizabeth city rules.
Rental Property Rules in Union County →