Paterson, NJ Rental Property Rules: Rent Control (2026)
Rent control rules in Paterson, NJ, also known as rent stabilization or rent cap ordinances, limit annual rent increases and protect tenants from displacement.
Key Facts
- Base rent date
- December 23, 1999
- Annual increase cap
- 5% (3.5% seniors/disabled)
- Covered buildings
- 2+ units (3+ if owner-occ.)
- Administering body
- Rent Leveling Board
- Key exemptions
- single-unit, hotels, new construction
Summary
Paterson runs a real rent control program: rents on covered multi-family buildings are frozen at their December 23, 1999 base level, with landlord increases capped at 5% a year absent Board approval.
An emergency exists within the City of Paterson with respect to the rental of housing space in dwellings... All rents for rental of housing space and services in dwellings to which this chapter is applicable are hereby controlled at the base rent level received by the landlord as of December 23, 1999, and no rental increases shall be hereinafter demanded or paid except as provided in this chapter.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4713536; v19 updated 2025-12-16; through 12-16-2025).
Full Breakdown
New Jersey allows municipal rent control, and Paterson exercises it through Chapter 381, Rent Leveling. Under § 381-3, rent for covered dwellings is fixed at the base rent received as of December 23, 1999, and no increase may be charged except as this chapter allows; it applies to buildings of three or more units if owner-occupied, or two or more if not (§ 381-3E). Absent Board involvement, § 381-14A caps a landlord's annual increase at 5% of existing rent, or 3.5% (2.5% for qualifying low-income households) for senior or disabled head-of-household tenants. Owner-occupied single-unit buildings, motels, hotels, new construction (for up to 30 years), and HUD/HMFA-subsidized housing are exempt under § 381-11.
Violations & Fines
Charging rent above what §§ 381-3 and 381-14 allow makes the excess void, and the landlord must reimburse the overcharged tenant under § 381-22.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does New Jersey allow Paterson to control rent?
How much can my Paterson landlord raise rent each year?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Paterson
Compare Paterson to another location·View the New Jersey rental property rules overview
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