Bergen County follows New Jersey's Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law occupancy standards. Short-term rentals must limit occupancy to two persons per bedroom plus two additional, with minimum 70 square feet for one occupant and 50 square feet per additional occupant.
Occupancy in Bergen County short-term rentals is determined by N.J.A.C. 5:10 (the New Jersey Hotel and Multiple Dwelling regulations) and BOCA International Property Maintenance Code provisions adopted statewide. The standard formula allows two persons per bedroom plus two additional occupants per dwelling unit. Each sleeping room must provide at least 70 square feet for the first occupant and 50 additional square feet for each additional occupant. Bergen County municipalities like Hackensack and Garfield enforce these standards through rental certificate of occupancy inspections. The county Department of Health may intervene where overcrowding creates a public health nuisance under N.J.S.A. 26:1A.
Overcrowding violations result in fines from $200 to $1,000 per day, mandatory occupancy reduction, and possible suspension of the rental certificate of occupancy.
See how other cities in Bergen County handle occupancy limits.
See how Mahwah's occupancy limits rules stack up against other locations.
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