Bayonne rent control: maximum rent increase (2026)
Hudson County — Chapter 16, Rent Control. Full ordinance text ↗
Summary
- Cap formula
- The allowable increase equals the applicable CPI percentage, capped at 5.5% of monthly rent if CPI would exceed that.
- Frequency
- For tenants with a lease term under 1 year, a CPI Increase may be sought based on changes to the cost of living every year; for tenants with a lease term of 1 year or more, a CPI Increase may be sought at the expiration of every lease term. The effective date of an approved CPI Increase must be no sooner than one year from the expiration of the most recent CPI Increase (§16-4.1(a), (c)(1)).
- Notice required
- 10 days — Landlords must provide tenants with the approved increase notice within 10 days of receiving approval from the Rent Control Office; tenants receive an exact copy of the stamped approved application and approval notice via certified mail or personal service with sworn affidavit.
- Who's covered
- Dwellings with 5 or more units
- Exemptions
- dwellings with 4 or fewer housing units
- motels
- hotels
- commercial and industrial space
- public housing developments
- income-based housing
- state or federally subsidized housing
- first-time rentals
- new construction (30 yrs from certificate of occupancy, N.J.S.A. 2A:42-84.2)
- Vacancy decontrol
- A covered rental unit becomes permanently decontrolled upon voluntary vacancy or legal eviction of the rent-controlled tenant.
- Registration
- Landlords must file a completed Registry of Rent-Controlled Tenants with the Rent Control Office by December 1 annually and provide copies to all listed tenants.
- Surcharges
- Hardship surcharge available when annual operating expenses exceed 60% of gross annual income, via a two-step formula requiring Board hearing approval; combined capital improvement and individual unit improvement surcharges cannot exceed 20% of the unit's monthly base rent.
- Penalties
- Prohibition on future surcharges and CPI increases if the landlord fails to repay invalid rents or surcharges ordered by the Board.
- Status
- active
- Confidence
- high
- Last verified
- 2026-09-23
Calculate your maximum increase
Ordinance text
If that CPI Percentage is greater than 5.5%, then the Rent Control Office shall cap the Covered Rental Unit's CPI Increase at 5.5%.Chapter 16, Rent Control — https://ecode360.com/35723898
State survey entry
- Increase limit
- Increase permitted using the CPI formula, but not to exceed 5.5% of monthly rent; Hardship or capital improvement-related increase may be permitted by Rent Control Board
- Units covered
- 5+
- Exceptions
- Exception(s) - Dwellings containing 4 or less housing units, motels, hotels, commercial and industrial space, public housing developments, income-based housing, state or federally subsidized housing, first-time rentals. Vacancy and eviction decontrol.
Source: NJ Department of Community Affairs, 2026 Rent Control Survey — nj.gov
Rent board
Bayonne Rent Control Board · (201) 858-6065 · https://www.bayonnenj.org/Page/rent-control
Generate a rent increase notice
Fill in the tenant, unit, and rent details and get a printable, ordinance-cited rent increase notice for Bayonne — $9, pay by card.
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