Passaic, NJ Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Passaic, NJ, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Registration fee
- $250, non-refundable
- Insurance required
- $500,000 general liability minimum
- Certificate term
- Calendar year, no proration
- Renewal
- Required annually
- Expires on
- Change of property ownership
- Min/max fine
- $100–$2,000 per violation/day
Summary
Passaic requires a Short-Term Rental Registration Certificate before anyone can advertise or operate a short-term rental. Section 100-15 sets a detailed application checklist, a $250 non-refundable fee, $500,000 minimum liability insurance, annual renewal, and automatic expiration on any change of ownership.
An initial application for a Short-Term Rental Registration Certificate must include the following information to be considered complete: [...] Proof of general liability insurance in a minimum amount of $500,000; [...] A "Zoning Verification Letter" which verifies that the premises are not being occupied or used in violation of the City's Land Use Regulations and Zoning Ordinances in accordance with § 317-16H... B. Applicants must submit a registration fee of $250.00. This fee shall be non-refundable, including in the event that the application is withdrawn or denied. C. The short-term rental registration certificate, if granted, shall be valid for the year in which the applicant has applied, without proration. D. A short-term rental registration certificate must be renewed on an annual basis. E. The short-term rental registration certificate shall expire automatically when the short-term rental unit changes ownership.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4978046; v41 updated 2026-07-01; through 07-01-2026).
Full Breakdown
Adopted by Ordinance No. 2512-26, § 100-15 requires an owner to file a complete application before a Short-Term Rental Registration Certificate will issue, and § 317-16H(11) makes that certificate a precondition to advertising or operating at all. The application must include the owner's identifying information, proof of principal residence, an owner's affidavit, agent and responsible-party contact certifications available seven days a week and 24 hours a day, proof of ownership, an on-site parking count, proof of no outstanding municipal court fines or open code violations, proof of general liability insurance of at least $500,000, association bylaws where applicable, a certificate of formation for corporate owners, documentation of a Fire Safety and Property Maintenance inspection valid for three years, and a Zoning Verification Letter confirming compliance with § 317-16H.
Applicants pay a $250 registration fee that is non-refundable even if the application is withdrawn or denied. A certificate granted is valid only for the calendar year applied for, with no proration, and must be renewed annually; it also expires automatically the moment the property changes ownership, forcing the new owner to file a fresh application and pay a new fee. The City reserves the right to inspect the property at any time in response to a complaint, regardless of the application's status, under § 100-15F.
Violations & Fines
Section 100-15K sets its own penalty separate from the general code fine: violating any provision of Chapter 100 relating to short-term rentals subjects the owner, responsible party, agent, or intermediary to a fine of up to $2,000 and no less than $100 per violation per day the violation continues, and fines over $1,250 trigger a mandatory 30-day cure period and hearing right under N.J.S.A. 40:49-5 before the fine is imposed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Passaic short-term rental registration cost?
Does my Passaic short-term rental certificate carry over if I sell the property?
What insurance do I need to register a short-term rental in Passaic?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Passaic
How Passaic compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Passaic to another location·View the New Jersey short-term rentals overview
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