Linden, NJ Rental Property Rules: Rental Registration (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- City Code Ch. 13, § 13-1.2
- Coverage
- Buildings of 5 or fewer dwelling units
- Annual fee
- $100 per unit
- Registration term
- Calendar year, renews annually
- Penalty range
- $100 to $2,000 (§ 1-5.1)
Summary
Every rental unit in Linden with fewer than five dwelling units in the building must be registered annually with the City Clerk before it can be leased. Registration costs $100 per unit and requires owner, agent and emergency-contact information plus a floor plan.
All rental units, as defined in § 13-1.1, except for any building or buildings or structure comprising more than five dwelling units or apartments, shall hereafter be registered with the City Clerk or designee of the City of Linden, on forms which shall be provided for that purpose and which shall be obtained from the City Clerk or his/her designee. Such registration shall occur or an annual basis as provided herein.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4586096; v16 updated 2025-12-16; through 12-16-2025).
Full Breakdown
1, to be registered with the City Clerk or a designee, except for any building or structure comprising more than five dwelling units or apartments, which fall outside this article. 3 is annual, running the calendar year, and required initially, yearly and with each change of occupancy. 4 lists the required disclosures: owner and rental-business names and addresses, an in-county contact if the owner lives outside Union County, the agent's name and address, superintendent or custodian information, an emergency contact reachable at any time with authority to approve repairs, mortgage holder information, the fuel oil dealer if applicable, a floor plan specifying the exact number of sleeping rooms, and the name, age and gender of each tenant.
10, with reinspection fees of no charge for the first reinspection, $50 for the second and $75 for any further reinspection; a $50 monthly late fee applies if payment is more than 30 days overdue, up to 90 days. 13.
Violations & Fines
Violations of Chapter 13's registration article are subject to the general penalty provisions of § 1-5.1 of the General Ordinances under § 13-1.16.a, which sets a fine of $100 to $2,000, imprisonment up to 90 days in the county jail, or a period of community service up to 90 days. Failure to pay the registration fee or a late fee is itself a separate violation under § 13-1.10.f, and the City may also seek abatement by restraining order or injunction under § 13-1.16.b.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all rental units in Linden need to be registered?
How much does it cost to register a rental unit in Linden?
Can I rent out an unregistered unit in Linden?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Linden
Compare Linden to another location·View the New Jersey rental property rules overview
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Rental Registration in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Union County handle rental registration.