Jersey City, NJ Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)

Chapter 255, added by Ord. No. 19-077 on June 25, 2019, requires the owner/operator of a short-term rental property (STRP) to obtain a permit from the Division of Housing Preservation before renting or advertising it, on top of any other applicable land use requirement. Section 255-3(B) makes the prohibition explicit: no person or entity may operate or advertise a residential property as an STRP without first obtaining the permit, and using or advertising the STRP in any print, digital, internet, MLS or realtor listing without one is itself a violation.

To even be considered, an applicant cannot have had more than one documented 'dangerous condition' on the property in the past year, cannot have an unresolved Noise Ordinance violation within the last two years, must have closed out any open code violations and construction permits, and must be current on city taxes, water and sewer charges plus any past fines. The initial application carries a nonrefundable $250 registration fee; the permit runs for one year from issuance and renews annually for a $200 fee. It automatically expires when the property changes ownership, requiring a fresh application and fee from the new owner.

Permits are nontransferable and tied to a single property; applicants must also submit inspection documentation, a zoning compliance certificate, and proof of at least $500,000 in general liability insurance as part of the process under § 255-4.