Rental Property Rules in Hackensack, NJ (2026)
4 verified rental property rules for Hackensack, New Jersey, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Rent Control
Hackensack has run its own rent control law since 1990: Chapter 134, Rent Stabilization, caps annual rent increases on covered rental units and creates a Rent Stabilization Board to hear disputes and hardship applications. New Jersey is one of the few states that lets cities regulate rent directly, and Hackensack's ordinance covers buildings with three or more units.
Hackensack Rent Stabilization Ordinance
Significant RestrictionsHackensack City Code § 134-1
It is hereby declared to be in the interest of the health, safety and general welfare of all the people of the City of Hackensack, tenants, landlords and homeowners, to create a fair and equitable system for determining an appropriate relationship between landlords and tenants. It is specifically the purpose of this chapter to secure the following objectives: ... To prevent unwarranted and unre...
Rental Registration
Owners of rental units in Hackensack must carry at least $500,000 in liability insurance ($300,000 for an owner-occupied building of four units or fewer) and register a compliant certificate of insurance annually with the City Clerk, paying a $50 fee, under Chapter 101's Insurance Registration article.
Hackensack Rental Insurance Registration Rule
Significant RestrictionsHackensack City Code §§ 101-11, 101-12
Except as provided in § 101-11B, business owners and owners of rental units located in the City of Hackensack must maintain liability insurance for negligent acts and omissions in an amount not less than $500,000 for combined property damage and bodily injury to, or death of, one or more persons in any one accident or occurrence. ... Owners of businesses or rental units subject to the requireme...
Rent Increase Notice
Hackensack caps annual rent increases on stabilized units at 4% to 5% depending on who pays for heat, and requires landlords to notify tenants in writing by certified mail at least 30 days before any increase takes effect. Section 134-3 of the Rent Stabilization ordinance sets both the cap and the notice rule together.
Hackensack Rent Increase Caps and Notice
Some RestrictionsHackensack City Code § 134-3B
Five percent where the landlord provides heat to the rental unit; ... Four and one-half percent where the tenant is obliged to pay for the heating of the rental unit; or ... Four percent for a qualified senior tenant where the landlord provides heat to the rental unit; or ... Three and one-half percent for a qualified senior tenant where the tenant is obliged to pay for the heating of the renta...
Repairs & Habitability
Hackensack landlords must keep rental premises in a sanitary, safe condition under the Property Maintenance Code (Ch. 100). Owners maintain the structure and exterior property; occupants keep their own unit clean and sanitary. Rental units must receive heat of at least 68°F from October 1 through May 15.
Hackensack Rental Habitability Standards
Some RestrictionsHackensack City Code § 100-14
Scope. The provisions of this article shall govern the minimum conditions and the responsibilities of persons for maintenance of structures, equipment and exterior property. ... Responsibility. The owner of the premises shall maintain the structures and exterior property in compliance with these requirements, except as otherwise provided for in this code. A person shall not occupy as owner-occu...
Looking for Bergen County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Hackensack city rules.
Rental Property Rules in Bergen County →