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

Article IV of Chapter 94 treats short-term rentals as a prohibited use rather than a licensed one. Section 94-23(A) bars an owner or occupant from receiving or obtaining consideration for the rental of land, or of the dwelling unit and accessory structures on it, for a period of twenty-nine (29) days or less. Article I defines consideration broadly: any legally recognized form of currency as rent or fees, any other payment, a promise or benefit, a quid pro quo, or a thing of value. Owner covers anyone who uses, possesses, owns, leases, subleases or licenses a dwelling unit, along with an operator, principal, shareholder, director, agent or employee who has charge, care or control or shares in expenses or profit.

Article IV contains no application, form, fee or approval step for a rental of 29 days or less, so the Township Council has not created a route to get permitted. Section 94-23(B) carves out three groups: lawfully established and operating hotels and motels, which stay under the license in Section 94-2; single-family dwellings protected by New Jersey statutes, including community residences for the developmentally disabled, community shelters for victims of domestic violence, community residences for the terminally ill, community residences for persons with head injuries, and children in group homes pursuant to N.J.S.A.

40:55D-66c; and two uses the article is not intended to prohibit, namely a lawful rental of a dwelling unit for thirty days (30) or more, and occupancy for 29 days or less by guests of an owner or occupant where no consideration is exchanged. Section 94-25(A) assigns enforcement to the Police Department, Building Code Official, Fire Official, Health Department and other subcode or code officials, plus Township legal counsel or other persons the Township Council designates to issue municipal civil infractions.