Piscataway, NJ Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)

Section 16-11.8.a requires every room containing habitable space to have at least one openable window or opening onto a street, yard, court, or other open space, with a total opening area of not less than 12% of the room's floor area and never less than 12 square feet. Section 16-11.8.b requires each dwelling unit to contain a full bathroom, including a water closet, lavatory, and either a bathtub or shower, along with a kitchen defined as an area for food preparation with a stove and a sink, a living room, and bedrooms with direct access to a hallway.

Structures that predate the section's adoption may continue in use despite falling short of these standards under § 16-11.8.c, but only if that continued use remains permitted under the New Jersey Uniform Fire Safety Act, N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et seq., and the Uniform Fire Safety Code, N.J.A.C. 5:70-1.1 et seq., and the landlord must submit a written request and explanation with the Registration Statement application. Enforcement runs through the Housing Enforcement Officer defined in § 16-11.1, covering the Rental Housing Officer, Zoning Official, Fire Official, Construction Code Official, and police, who may issue summonses under § 16-11.9.b. Registration holders also must promptly report known violations to the Rental Housing Officer or Police Department under § 16-11.11.