Perth Amboy, NJ Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)

Section 369-3 of the Perth Amboy City Code requires the owner or operator of a short-term rental property to obtain a permit from the City Department of Code Enforcement before renting or advertising for rent, in addition to any land use requirement. Advertising without a permit in print, digital or internet listings, on a web-based platform, or in the MLS or a realtor's listing is itself a violation. A permit cannot be transferred, assigned, or used at any other property or dwelling unit.

Five threshold conditions apply under § 369-3A. For existing short-term rentals, the applicant cannot have had more than one documented dangerous condition within the last year and must have no Noise Ordinance violations (Chapter 304) within the last two years. Open code violations must be abated and open construction permits closed. The applicant must be current with all city taxes, water and sewage charges, and any Municipal Court fines for past code violations relating to the property, including penalties for failure to appear, must be paid in full.

The application under § 369-4 is furnished under oath and lists the owner, the property address, a driver's license or State identification card, two recent utility bills, and the 24-hour contacts for the agent and responsible party. An initial application needs documentation that the property was inspected for compliance with fire safety regulations and the Property Maintenance Code within the past six months, and a renewal needs documentation of such an inspection within the past three years. A zoning compliance certificate is required, along with a sworn statement of no prior revocations or suspensions, proof of ownership, and proof of liability insurance.

Under § 369-5, Code Enforcement issues the permit or a written denial with reasons within 30 days, provided access to the property is given. A denied applicant has 10 business days to appeal in writing to the City Council, which hears and decides the appeal within 30 days. Permit holders must publish the permit number in every advertisement (§ 369-4F). A permit expires with a change of ownership, and a revoked or suspended permit requires a new application.