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

Trenton Code Chapter 228, Short-Term Rentals, adopted December 5, 2019 by Ord. No. 19-72, defines a short-term rental in § 228-1 as any unit rented for a fee as residential property for fewer than 30 consecutive days. A. 46:8-28. Section 228-5 requires the owner to register with the Department of Inspections for a one-year term running January 1 through December 31, with no proration of fees regardless of when obtained; a successful registrant receives a registration number that must appear on every listing. Section 228-6 requires an extensive registration form: owner and managing agent contact information, an emergency contact reachable at any time, a floor plan showing the exact number of sleeping rooms, three years of renter records, proof of property liability insurance valid for the full registration period, and compliance with any condominium governing documents.

Section 228-8 sets a $300 registration fee, a $150 annual renewal fee, and a 1% municipal occupancy tax. Section 228-3 makes several unit types ineligible outright, including income-restricted units, units under a lease-prohibiting covenant, units flagged as a nuisance under Chapters 132 or 171, and units with three or more violations of the chapter or of noise, trash or disorderly-conduct rules within six months. Registration is tied to both the unit and the owner and does not transfer on sale, requiring re-registration under § 228-7.