Monmouth County, NJ Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)

Monmouth County shore towns have developed some of the strictest STR occupancy rules in New Jersey in response to summer party house complaints. Belmar Code Chapter 30 (Mercantile License) caps occupancy at 2 persons per bedroom plus 2 additional, with maximum 10 total regardless of bedroom count in single-family rentals, and requires occupancy posted inside unit. Point Pleasant Beach Code Chapter 250 uses the formula 2 per bedroom plus 2, with bedroom definition requiring closet plus egress window per N.J.A.C. 5:10-14.2. Long Branch Code Chapter 274 caps STR occupancy at 2 per bedroom plus 2 with strict enforcement in Pier Village and oceanfront districts. Asbury Park Code Chapter 300 uses 2 per bedroom plus 2 with additional limits based on septic capacity. Manasquan, Sea Girt, and Spring Lake use similar formulas. NJ Uniform Construction Code (N.J.A.C. 5:23) and Hotel/Multiple Dwelling Law (N.J.S.A. 55:13A) establish minimum square footage: 70 sq ft for first occupant, 50 sq ft per additional. Bedrooms must have 70 sq ft minimum with proper egress. Sleeping in garages, tents, on decks, in vehicles, or on boats docked at rental is prohibited across all Monmouth shore towns. Hosts are strictly liable for guest compliance; each overnight exceeding limit is a separate violation. Police conduct proactive weekend inspections during Memorial Day-Labor Day. Sandy Hook, Sea Bright, and Monmouth Beach follow similar frameworks. Neighbor complaint is primary trigger.