West New York, NJ — landlord and rental rules

4 rules across 3 topics, including the county and state rules that bind here. Last verified 2026-08-18.

Rent controlJust-cause evictionLead paint

Rent control

Permalink
Combined annual increases capped at 3%, at every unit count
West New Yorkhigh confidence

Verified on 2026-08-18 — 44 days ago.

West New York Chapter 312 reaches rentals from one unit up, subject to its owner-occupancy and other exemptions. Ordinance 10/26 amended §312-19 so the combined annual increases permitted by the chapter may not exceed 3%.

The current chapter applies from one rented unit up. What takes a small building out is owner occupancy: an owner-occupied two-, three- or four-family is exempt, subject to the chapter's legacy sitting-tenant rule for a four-family.

The current codified chapter and the town's final-adoption notice were read. The condominium exemption is a flat dollar threshold rather than an indexed one, so it exempts a growing share of stock over time. Chapter 312 also requires landlord registration and imposes duties when an apartment becomes vacant; no general market reset was found. Neither the DCA survey nor the sections read here records a vacancy-decontrol provision, which is evidence and not proof: confirm with the rent board before modelling a reset to market on turnover.

Exemptions

  • Owner-occupied two-, three- and four-family dwellings, except condominiums and co-operatives.
  • Owner-occupied commercial buildings with three or fewer residential units alongside a single leased commercial unit.
  • Motels, hotels and similar premises.
  • Newly constructed ground-up units, permanently.
  • Condominium and co-operative units with a base rent above $1,000.
  • Substantially rehabilitated units.
Annual cap
3%
Unit counts
1+ units
Owner-occupied exemption
Yes

Sources

Rent control is municipal, and roughly 100 towns have it
New Jerseymedium confidence

Verified on 2026-08-01 — 61 days ago.

New Jersey has no statewide rent control. Roughly 100 municipalities impose their own, with caps, exemptions and vacancy rules that differ town by town.

This municipality has not been researched. Read the municipal code — or call the clerk — before assuming rents can be reset on purchase or turnover.

Sources

Just-cause eviction

Permalink
Just cause is required on every tenancy
New Jerseyhigh confidence

Verified on 2026-08-01 — 61 days ago.

The New Jersey Anti-Eviction Act requires good cause for every residential eviction statewide, with no small-landlord exemption. A month-to-month tenant cannot be removed simply by ending the term.

Practical effect for a buyer: an occupied unit conveys with its tenant, and a business plan that depends on delivering the building vacant needs a lawful cause for each unit before it is a plan.

Sources

Lead paint

Permalink
Pre-1978 one- and two-family rentals need a lead inspection
New Jerseyhigh confidence

Verified on 2026-08-01 — 61 days ago.

Pre-1978 one- and two-family rentals must be inspected for lead-based paint hazards at tenant turnover or every three years, whichever comes first. The certificate is valid for two years.

Budget the inspection and any remediation into the turnover cost of every pre-1978 unit, not into a one-off line at closing.

Construction
Built before 1978

In effect since 2022-07-22.

Sources