Lakewood, NJ Rental Property Rules: Rental Registration (2026)
Key Facts
- Who must register
- buildings with 2+ family tenants
- Deadline
- within 30 days
- Filed with
- Township Clerk
- Must list
- owner, lessor, local agent
- Penalty
- Chapter 1 § 1-5 fine
Summary
Owners of any Lakewood Township building occupied by two or more families as tenants must register with the Township Clerk within 30 days, listing the owner, lessor, and a local agent, under § 15-5.1 of the Code. Registration also lets the Township serve legal notices by posting the property if no valid agent can be found.
All owners of buildings or structures or parts thereof, wherein the buildings or structures or parts thereof are situated in the Township and which are occupied by two or more families as tenants of an owner or as tenants of a lessor shall register with the Township Clerk upon forms prescribed by and furnished by the Clerk. The forms shall include the following items: a. The name and address of the owner. b. The name and address of the lessor. c. The name and address of an agent in charge of the premises residing in the municipality. All persons required to register shall register within 30 days and any person so required to register who fails to register within the required time shall be subject to fine or penalty as provided in Chapter 1, Section 1-5.
Full Breakdown
1 of the Township Code requires the owner of any building or structure, or part of one, located in Lakewood Township and occupied by two or more families as tenants of an owner or lessor, to register with the Township Clerk on forms the Clerk prescribes. The form must disclose the name and address of the owner, the name and address of the lessor, and the name and address of an agent in charge of the premises who resides in the municipality. Registration is due within 30 days, and the registered agent becomes the point of contact for legal notices.
2 relies on that registration for service of process: any notice required under a Township ordinance or applicable state law affecting the two-or-more-family property can be served on the owner, lessor, or registered agent, and if the owner or lessor never registered, or the designated agent cannot be located at the address on file, the Township may instead serve the notice simply by posting it on the premises in a conspicuous place. 3.
Violations & Fines
Failing to register a two-or-more-family building within 30 days violates § 15-5.1 and is subject to fine or penalty under the Township's general penalty section, § 1-5: up to a $1,000 fine, 90 days in the county jail, or 90 days of community service, with a minimum $100 fine and an added penalty for a repeat violation within a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Lakewood Township landlords have to register rental buildings?
What happens if a Lakewood landlord doesn't register a rental building?
Why does Lakewood require a local agent for registered rental buildings?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lakewood
Compare Lakewood to another location·View the New Jersey rental property rules overview
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Rental Registration in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle rental registration.