Piscataway, NJ Short-Term Rentals: Taxes & Fees (2026)
Key Facts
- Annual permit fee
- $250, nonrefundable
- Renewal fee
- $250 every year
- Municipal Occupancy Tax
- 3% on covered bookings
- Permit term
- One year from issuance
- Issuing office
- Dept. of Planning and Engineering
Summary
Short-term rental hosts in Piscataway Township pay a $250 annual application and registration fee to the Department of Planning and Engineering, plus the same $250 fee on every renewal. Stays booked through a transient space marketplace or professionally managed unit also trigger a 3% Municipal Occupancy Tax on top of the State Sales Tax and State Occupancy Fee.
An owner of property, intended to serve as a Short-Term Rental Property, as defined herein, or any agent acting on behalf of the owner, shall submit to the Township of Piscataway Department of Planning and Engineering, a Short-Term Rental Permit application provided by the Township, along with an annual application/registration fee of $250. Said fee shall be non-refundable, including in the event that the application is denied. The short-term rental permit, if granted, shall be valid for a period of one year from the date of issuance. ... Pursuant to N.J.S.A. § 40:48F-1 et seq., when each and every Short Term Rental ends or there is a change of occupancy by transient occupants, the STRP owner, in addition to the State Sales Tax and State Occupancy Fee, shall be subject to a 3% Municipal Occupancy Tax. This subsection shall only apply to such Short-Term Rentals that are obtained through a transient space marketplace or a professionally managed unit.
Full Breakdown
Under Township Code § 15-4.c, anyone offering a short-term rental in Piscataway must submit a permit application to the Department of Planning and Engineering along with a $250 annual application/registration fee. The fee is nonrefundable even if the Township denies the application, and an approved permit runs for one year from issuance. Owners must renew every year on the anniversary of the original permit, paying another $250 renewal fee under § 15-4.d, and a new initial fee is due again if the property changes ownership or if a prior STR permit was revoked or suspended (§ 15-4.e).
On the tax side, § 15-5.h imposes a 3% Municipal Occupancy Tax, layered on top of New Jersey's State Sales Tax and State Occupancy Fee, authorized under N.J.S.A. § 40:48F-1 et seq. That municipal tax applies only where the short-term rental is booked through a transient space marketplace (an online booking platform such as Airbnb or VRBO) or is a professionally managed unit, and it is assessed each time a rental ends or the occupancy changes. Failing to hold a valid permit before advertising or renting, including listing on the MLS or any web platform, is itself a separate violation under § 15-4.b, enforced through the Township's Department of Planning and Engineering and prosecuted in Municipal Court under § 15-9.
Violations & Fines
Operating or advertising a short-term rental without a valid permit, or without paying the required fee, is a violation of Chapter 15 prosecuted under § 15-9: a $250-per-day fine for a first offense, $1,000 per day plus a mandatory court appearance for a second offense, and $2,000 per day plus a mandatory court appearance for any subsequent offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Piscataway short-term rental permit cost?
Does Piscataway charge an occupancy tax on short-term rentals?
What happens if I list my Piscataway rental without paying the fee first?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Piscataway
How Piscataway compares: Cities with the Highest Short-Term Rental Taxes·Compare Piscataway to another location·View the New Jersey short-term rentals overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.