North Bergen, NJ Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)

Ordinance 706-26 replaces North Bergen's prior STR framework (Ordinance 326-17, as amended by Ordinance 610-23, which had grandfathered only short-term rental dwellings registered on or before September 6, 2023, and prohibited all new STRs). Under 706-26, eligible STR properties are limited to: (1) certain single-family homes that are owner-occupied as the principal residence; (2) owner-occupied units in two-, three-, or four-family dwellings where the owner lives on-site; and (3) condominium units where the condo association rules permit short-term rental use. Each authorized STR is capped at 60 rented nights per year, and tenants of any tier are prohibited from operating STRs. No individual or entity may obtain more than two STR permits in North Bergen, which prevents portfolio-style operation. An annual permit is required and must include proof of residency, evidence of insurance coverage, and completed safety inspections; a 24-hour responsible-party contact must be designated for the duration of any rental. Existing pre-2026 registered operators must apply under the new permit system within 90 days after Ordinance 706-26 takes effect. The Township's published ordinance does not state a separate maximum-guests-per-bedroom or per-unit occupant cap; for that limit, hosts must defer to the lawful occupancy of the underlying dwelling under the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code (N.J.A.C. 5:23) and, where the dwelling is a multiple dwelling, under the New Jersey Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law (N.J.S.A. 55:13A-1 et seq.) and N.J.A.C. 5:10. North Bergen's Building, Code Enforcement and Zoning Department at 4233 Kennedy Boulevard, North Bergen, NJ 07047 (201-392-2000) administers the permit program and confirms unit-specific occupancy. State-level transient accommodation taxes also apply where the rental is lawful: the 6.625% New Jersey Sales and Use Tax under N.J.S.A. 54:32B-3 and the 5% State Occupancy Fee under N.J.S.A. 54:32D-1 apply to qualifying transient accommodations.