Taxes & Fees: Bergenfield vs Fort Lee
How do taxes & fees rules compare between Bergenfield, NJ and Fort Lee, NJ?
Bergenfield and Fort Lee have similar restriction levels.
Bergenfield, NJ
Bergen County
Bergenfield prohibits short-term rentals of 30 days or less for consideration under Borough Code Chapter 239, Article III (Ordinance 18-2533, adopted September 4, 2018), so the Borough does not issue STR permits and charges no STR-specific local registration or occupancy fee. Because such rentals are unlawful at the local level, the New Jersey state tax framework for transient accommodations under N.J.S.A. 54:32D and the Sales and Use Tax Act has no lawful application to a Bergenfield short-term rental, and any operator collecting consideration is in violation of the Borough Code regardless of state-tax registration.
View full Bergenfield rules →Fort Lee, NJ
Bergen County
Fort Lee bans short-term rentals of 30 days or less for consideration under Borough Code Chapter 321, Article V (Short-Term Rental Property), so the Borough does not run an STR registration program and charges no STR-specific permit fee or local occupancy tax. Because the underlying use is unlawful at the local level, the New Jersey state framework for transient accommodations under N.J.S.A. 54:32D (State Occupancy Fee) and the Sales and Use Tax Act at N.J.S.A. 54:32B-3 has no compliant pathway for a Fort Lee property, and a host who collects consideration violates the Borough Code regardless of state-tax registration.
View full Fort Lee rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Bergenfield | Fort Lee |
|---|---|---|
| Local Status | Short-term rentals under 30 days for consideration are PROHIBITED | Short-term rentals under 30 days for consideration are PROHIBITED |
| Governing Code | Bergenfield Code Ch. 239, Art. III (Ord. 18-2533, 9/4/2018) | Fort Lee Borough Code Ch. 321, Art. V (Short-Term Rental Property) |
| Local STR Permit Fee | None - no permit program (use is banned) | None - no permit program (use is banned) |
| Local Occupancy Tax | None imposed by the Borough | None imposed by the Borough |
| NJ State Sales Tax (transient) | 6.625% under N.J.S.A. 54:32B-3 (where lawful) | 6.625% under N.J.S.A. 54:32B-3 (where lawful) |
| NJ State Occupancy Fee | 5% under N.J.S.A. 54:32D-1 (where lawful) | 5% under N.J.S.A. 54:32D-1 (where lawful) |
| Permitted Without Fee | Unpaid stays by owner's household guests | Unpaid stays by owner's household (no consideration) |
| Maximum Civil Penalty | - | Up to $1,250 per day of violation |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Bergenfield FAQ
Can I list my Bergenfield home on Airbnb or Vrbo?
No. Borough Code Chapter 239, Article III bans renting any dwelling or portion of a dwelling in Bergenfield for 30 days or less for any form of consideration, and also bans advertising or soliciting such rentals. There is no permit available to make this lawful.
Do I have to register and pay state taxes for a short-term rental in Bergenfield?
Because the use is prohibited locally, there is no compliant way to operate. The State Occupancy Fee (5%) under N.J.S.A. 54:32D-1 and Sales Tax (6.625%) under the Sales and Use Tax Act apply only to lawful transient accommodations; collecting state tax does not cure the local violation under Chapter 239, Article III.
Is there a Bergenfield permit fee for short-term rentals?
No. The Borough does not issue short-term rental permits or licenses and charges no STR-specific fee, because Chapter 239, Article III prohibits the use entirely. Long-term rental properties are separately registered and inspected under Chapter 239, Articles I and II.
Fort Lee FAQ
Can I list my Fort Lee home on Airbnb or Vrbo?
No. Borough Code Chapter 321, Article V prohibits renting any dwelling or portion of a dwelling in Fort Lee for 30 days or less for any form of consideration, and also bans advertising, soliciting, or promoting such rentals. The Borough does not issue any permit that would make this lawful.
Does Fort Lee charge a short-term rental permit fee or hotel occupancy tax?
No. Because Article V prohibits short-term rentals outright, the Borough has no STR permit program and imposes no local occupancy tax. The 5% New Jersey State Occupancy Fee under N.J.S.A. 54:32D-1 and the 6.625% sales tax on transient accommodations under the Sales and Use Tax Act apply only to lawful transient stays elsewhere in the state.
What is the penalty if I rent my place for under 30 days anyway?
Each day of rental, advertising, or solicitation is a separate violation, with civil penalties up to $1,250 per day. Enforcement is by the Building Code Official, Fire Official, Health Department, and other Code Officials, and any violation is declared a public nuisance under Article V.
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