Barnegat rent control: maximum rent increase (2026)
Ocean County — Chapter 64, Rent Leveling. Full ordinance text ↗
Summary
- Cap formula
- A yearly increase equal to the lesser of 3.5% of current rental income or the percentage increase in the CPI-U (Northern NJ-NY region, July-to-July), plus separate pass-throughs for increased landlord utility costs and increased Township mobile home space/license fees.
- Frequency
- once per 12 months
- Notice required
- 60 days — Landlord must notify the Rent Leveling Board in writing at least 60 days prior to the effective date of a proposed increase (except municipal service fee increases, which take effect on the municipality's implementation date, and the automatic annual CPI increase, which requires written notice to the Board by November 1). A copy of the notice must be served on affected tenants by certified mail, return receipt requested, and regular mail (or personal service with affidavit).
- Who's covered
- Mobile home spaces in a mobile home park (mobile homes only)
- Exemptions
- First-time rental of newly constructed or resold mobile home spaces where no existing tenant is involved (initial rent set by owner; subsequent increases follow the chapter)
- 15% 'resale decontrol' increase upon transfer of mobile home title (not applicable to transfers to a relative or roommate by inheritance or gift)
- new construction (30 yrs from certificate of occupancy, N.J.S.A. 2A:42-84.2)
- Vacancy decontrol
- Upon transfer of title to a mobile home (other than by inheritance or gift to a relative/roommate), the landlord may charge the incoming tenant up to 15% more than the previously approved rent, without Rent Leveling Board approval ('resale decontrol'), limited to one such increase per 12-month period and only once per title transfer.
- Registration
- No standing annual registration requirement found in the retrieved text beyond the landlord's required annual written notice to the Rent Leveling Board (by November 1) of the CPI-based increase.
- Surcharges
- Capital improvement surcharge available for improvements costing more than $100,000 (sanitary sewer/septic/water systems) or more than $50,000 (other improvements); calculated by dividing the improvement cost by its useful life (years) and by the number of homes in the community, divided by 12; surcharge may not exceed 10% of tenant rental income unless mandated by law, and is a pass-through not counted as rent for later CPI calculations. Hardship increases and municipal tax surcharges (30 days' notice, paid in 12 monthly installments) are also available via Rent Leveling Board application.
- Penalties
- Willful violation of the chapter, including willful filing of a material misstatement of fact, is punishable by a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both; a violation affecting more than one leasehold is a separate violation as to each leasehold.
- Status
- active
- Confidence
- high
- Last verified
- 2026-09-23
Calculate your maximum increase
Ordinance text
The landlord shall be entitled, without need for application or hearing, to a yearly rent increase in an amount equal of 3.5% of the current rental income for the mobile home space or the percentage increase in the consumer price index, whichever is less.Chapter 64, Rent Leveling — https://ecode360.com/BA0366/laws/LF2191394.pdf
State survey entry
- Increase limit
- Lesser of 3.5% and CPI; Increased cost to landlord of utilities, any increase in mobile home space fee or license fee charged by Township. Capital improvement surcharge allowed with Rent Leveling Board approval
- Units covered
- Mobile Homes only
- Exceptions
- Exception(s) - First time rental. Tenants are entitled to rent reduction in instances of municipal property tax, utility, space fee, or license fee decreases Vacancy Decontrol
Source: NJ Department of Community Affairs, 2026 Rent Control Survey — nj.gov
Rent board
Rent Leveling Board · (609) 698-0080 ext- 190 · https://www.barnegat.net/
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