Stafford Township, NJ Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Stafford Township, NJ, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Trigger
- Residential rental of less than 175 consecutive days
- Issuing official
- Code Official (Township Construction Code Official)
- Maximum license term
- 174 days, matching the lease or rental
- Application fee
- $100; $50 for each reinspection application
- Inspection timing
- Filed before May 1: five business days; after: 10
- Fine range
- $100 to $1,250 under § 164-20
Summary
Stafford Township requires a seasonal rental license from the Code Official before anyone occupies a residential property rented for fewer than 175 consecutive days to a person with a permanent residence elsewhere. The application fee is $100, and the unit must pass inspection first.
A. Seasonal rental licenses. A seasonal rental license issued by the Code Official shall be required prior to the occupancy of any real property rented for a term of less than 175 consecutive days for residential purposes by a person having a permanent place of residence elsewhere. As used in this article, the term "Code Official" shall mean the Township Construction Code Official, his designee or an agency authorized to perform inspections on behalf of the Township. B. It shall be a violation of this article for any person to occupy or use any premises if a required seasonal rental license has not been issued. ... Seasonal rental licenses shall be valid for a stated and specific period of time that coincides with the term of the lease or rental not to exceed 174 days ... A. For applications for seasonal rental licenses: $100.
Official source re-checked November 3, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4531624; v13 updated 2025-08-12; through 08-12-2025).
Full Breakdown
Section 164-5 of the Stafford Township Code requires a seasonal rental license, issued by the Code Official, before occupancy of any real property rented for a term of less than 175 consecutive days for residential purposes by a person having a permanent place of residence elsewhere. "Code Official" means the Township Construction Code Official, a designee or an agency authorized to perform inspections for the Township. Occupying or using premises without a required license is itself a violation, and under § 164-7 every individual dwelling unit needs its own license. Section 164-4 cites N.J.S.A. 40:52-1(n) as the authority, and § 164-6 treats the licenses as mercantile licenses subject to Chapter 134.
A license is valid for a stated period matching the lease or rental, not to exceed 174 days. An owner planning rentals of 31 days or less to different tenants during a period under 175 days can request a special license covering the whole period, and must notify the Code Official in writing when tenants change; no separate inspection is required at each change.
The application is made on a form prescribed by the Code Official and signed by the owner or authorized agent. It must give the street address with tax map lot and block numbers, owner names and contact details, and the owner or designee who answers at all times during a short-term rental. It must also include the inspection fee, proof that property taxes, assessments and municipal water and sewer charges are paid, a certification in lieu of an affidavit acknowledging the occupancy limit, and on the first application a floor plan.
The fee is $100 for the application and $50 for an application for reinspection (§ 164-14). No license issues until the unit is inspected and found in full compliance with the Township Code, particularly Chapter 158. Completed applications filed before May 1 are inspected within five business days, and those filed after May 1 within 10 business days (§ 164-12A).
Violations & Fines
Under § 164-20, a violation of Article II is punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,250, imprisonment for up to 90 days, community service of not more than 90 days, or a combination, with each day a separate offense. The Code Official must order a unit vacated and placarded on discovering a fire or health hazard, and re-occupancy is barred until reinspection clears it. Under § 164-15B, each tenant present when the posted occupancy limit is exceeded is issued a summons carrying a $100 fine for a first violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Stafford Township rentals need a seasonal rental license?
Can I get one license for several short stays in a summer?
How much does the license cost and how fast is the inspection?
Can the Township deny a seasonal rental license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Stafford Township
Compare Stafford Township to another location·View the New Jersey short-term rentals overview
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Short-Term Rental Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle short-term rental permits.