Primary-Residence-Only Rule
Jersey City Ordinance 17.137 (2019) restricts short-term rentals to a host's primary residence, with limited non-owner-occupied rentals capped at 60 nights per year and renter consent required.
12 verified short-term rentals rules for Jersey City, New Jersey, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Jersey City requires a Short-Term Rental Permit under Chapter 255 (Ordinance 19-077) before advertising or operating any STR of less than 28 consecutive nights. Permits cost $250 initially and $200 annually to renew. STRs are prohibited in rent-controlled units and buildings with more than 4 units.
Short-term rental hosts in Jersey City are responsible for guest compliance with Chapter 222 (Noise). Two or more noise violations within 2 years disqualifies the host from permit renewal. Hosts must post quiet hours and emergency contact information inside the unit.
New Jersey's Hotel and Motel Occupancy Tax (N.J.S.A. 54:32D-1) applies to short-term rentals. Jersey City also imposes a local hotel tax. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit these taxes automatically. Permit fees are $250 initial and $200 annual renewal.
STR guests in Jersey City are subject to the same parking rules as residents. Most neighborhoods require resident parking permits for street parking beyond 2 hours. Guests are responsible for obtaining visitor permits or using paid parking. Hosts must inform guests of parking rules.
Jersey City caps short-term rental occupancy at 2 guests per bedroom plus 2 more, with a hard maximum of 10 guests per unit. Parties and commercial events are prohibited under Chapter 255.
Every Jersey City STR must carry at least $500,000 in liability insurance, or confirm the platform provides equivalent coverage. Proof is required at permit application under Chapter 255.
Non-owner-occupied Jersey City STRs are capped at 60 rental nights per year under Chapter 255. Owner-occupied units have no annual night cap but still need annual permits and insurance.
Jersey City STRs must register annually with Housing Code Enforcement and display the permit number in every listing. Unregistered listings face fines up to $2,000 per occurrence under Chapter 255.
Owner-occupants may rent rooms or the entire unit while present, but absent-owner whole-home rentals are barred except within the 60-night annual cap, requiring proof of primary residency on file.
Jersey City Ordinance 17.137 (2019) restricts short-term rentals to a host's primary residence, with limited non-owner-occupied rentals capped at 60 nights per year and renter consent required.
Hosts accumulating three substantiated violations within 24 months lose all short-term rental permits permanently across every property they own, with appeals limited to documented procedural errors.
Booking platforms operating in Jersey City must collect and remit hotel taxes and verify each listing carries a valid city permit before publication, with platform-side fines for non-compliant listings.
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Jersey City city rules.
Short-Term Rentals in Hudson County →