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

Article IX, Short-Term Rentals, added by Ord. No. 3570 on January 11, 2017, does not create a permitting scheme; it forbids the activity outright. Section 117-58 makes it unlawful for any person, including an owner, lessor or sublessor with any possessory interest in a dwelling, to receive compensation of any kind for the use, occupancy or rental of a dwelling for a period of 30 days or less, notwithstanding anything to the contrary elsewhere in the Village Code. Section 117-57 broadens liability to anyone who undertakes, maintains, authorizes, aids, facilitates, solicits or advertises rental activity that violates the article, reaching platforms and agents as well as owners.

The only carve-out sits in § 117-56: residential occupancy of a lawfully occupied dwelling for 30 days or less by a member of the owner's housekeeping unit, such as a house guest, staying without consideration remains a permitted use, because no money changes hands. Section 117-59 assigns enforcement to the Village Zoning Officer, the Fire Department, the Police Department, and any other Village official the Village Manager designates, each authorized to issue summonses or civil complaints. Because the Village has banned rather than licensed short stays, prospective hosts cannot bring a listing into compliance by applying for a permit; the only lawful path to renting a Ridgewood dwelling is a lease term exceeding 30 days.