Short-Term Rentals in Elizabeth, NJ (2026)

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

Verified from official government sources

Short-Term Rental Permits

No one may rent, operate, or advertise a short-term rental in Elizabeth without first obtaining a license from the city's bureau of central licensing, under Code Section 5.90.030, which also requires a rental certificate of occupancy and a carbon monoxide inspection before the STR can open.

Elizabeth Requires a Short-Term Rental License

Significant Restrictions

Elizabeth City Code § 5.90.030(A)-(B)

A.The owner of a short-term rental property shall obtain a short-term rental license from the city bureau of central licensing, before renting or advertising for rent any short-term rental.B.No responsible party shall operate or advertise a short-term rental without first having obtained a short-term rental license (STR license) issued by the city bureau of central licensing. The failure to obt...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Noise Rules

Elizabeth bars short-term rentals from disrupting a neighborhood's residential character: Code Section 5.90.020(C)(1) requires the STR's impact to be no greater than a private home with guests, and separately bans commercial or non-guest social events, both enforced through license revocation and daily fines.

Elizabeth STRs Cannot Become Neighbor Nuisances

Some Restrictions

Elizabeth City Code § 5.90.020(C)(1)-(2)

1.The short-term rental use shall be conducted in a manner that does not materially disrupt or adversely affect the residential character of the neighborhood. In particular, the short-term rental shall not become a nuisance to adjoining residents and its impact should be no greater than that of a private home with guests.2.Use of the short-term rentals for commercial events or social events wit...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Taxes & Fees

Elizabeth's short-term rental license costs $200 a year, broken into a $75 application/registration fee, a $75 carbon monoxide inspection fee, and a $50 zoning inspection fee for the required rental certificate of occupancy, under Code Section 5.90.030(C), and the payment is non-refundable even if denied.

Elizabeth Charges $200 Annual STR License Fee

Some Restrictions

Elizabeth City Code § 5.90.030(C)

An owner of property intended to serve as a short-term rental property shall submit to the bureau of central licensing, a short-term rental license application provided by the city, along with an annual fee of $200.00. This fee includes the application/registration fee ($75.00), carbon monoxide inspection ($75.00), and the zoning inspection required to obtain a rental certificate of occupancy (...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Elizabeth STR applications must disclose every off-street and adjacent on-street parking space, and owners must agree that renters are limited to one vehicle for every two occupants. Owners must also certify they will work to avoid on-street parking shortages for neighbors.

Elizabeth STR Parking Disclosure, One Car Per Two Guests

Some Restrictions

Elizabeth, NJ City Code § 5.90.040(B)(7)-(8)

7. The number and location of all parking spaces available to the premises, which shall include the number of legal off-street parking spaces and on-street parking spaces directly adjacent to the premises. The owner shall certify that every effort will be made to avoid and/or mitigate issues with on-street parking in the neighborhood in which the short-term rental is located, resulting from exc...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Insurance Requirements

Elizabeth short-term rental owners must submit proof of general liability insurance covering at least $500,000.00 alongside their license application. The requirement is attached to every initial and renewal STR license filing under Chapter 5.90.

Elizabeth STR $500,000 Liability Insurance

Some Restrictions

Elizabeth, NJ City Code § 5.90.040(C)(2)

C. Attached to and concurrent with submission of the license 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 five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00); 3. Written certifications from the short-term rental property agent and responsible party t...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

Elizabeth only allows a short-term rental in a dwelling unit that is the owner's actual principal residence, defined under Code Section 5.90.010 as the address where the owner spends most non-working time, the center of the owner's domestic life, and the address on the owner's driver's license, voter registration, or state ID.

Elizabeth STRs Must Be Owner's Principal Home

Significant Restrictions

Elizabeth City Code § 5.90.010

"Owner-occupied" shall mean the owner of the property resides in the short term rental property, or in the principal residential unit with which the property is associated on the same lot, and identifies same as his or her principal residence as that term is defined in this section. ... "Principal residence" shall mean the address: (1) where at least one of the property owners spends the majori...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Looking for Union County county-wide rules?

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

Short-Term Rentals in Union County →