Franklin rent control: maximum rent increase (2026)
Somerset County — Chapter 294, Rent Control. Full ordinance text ↗
Status disputed
Sources disagree on whether Franklin's rent control ordinance is currently in force — see open questions below. Confirm directly with the municipality before relying on this page; the notice generator is unavailable until this is resolved.
Summary
- Cap formula
- Base annual increase is 3.5% of rental income when the landlord supplies heat, or 3% when the tenant pays for heat; landlord must notify the Rent Leveling Administrator at least 60 days before the effective date.
- Frequency
- once per 12 months
- Notice required
- 60 days — Landlord must notify the Rent Leveling Administrator at least 60 days before the increase's effective date (certified mail); tenants receive notice by certified and regular mail including detailed calculations, or the increase is void.
- Who's covered
- Dwellings with two or more tenant/family units (kitchen, sleeping, and sanitary facilities)
- Exemptions
- motels, hotels
- commercial properties
- single-family dwellings
- owner-occupied two-family units
- newly constructed units occupied after 1/1/1982
- newly rehabilitated dwellings on first rental
- new construction (30 yrs from certificate of occupancy, N.J.S.A. 2A:42-84.2)
- Vacancy decontrol
- Upon voluntary vacancy, landlord may set the rent as it deems appropriate, subject to a non-coercion certification (with limited exceptions).
- Surcharges
- Tax surcharge calculated per square foot of tenant-occupied space based on property-tax increases. Capital-improvement surcharge limited to 10% of rental, payable over 12 monthly installments unless otherwise mandated by ordinance.
- Penalties
- First offense: fine up to $500; subsequent offenses: fine up to $1,000; unpaid fines become a lien on the property.
- Status
- unclear
- Confidence
- medium
- Last verified
- 2026-09-23
Calculate your maximum increase
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This town's cap formula ("other") doesn't fit a standard pattern the calculator can evaluate automatically. Read the formula and verbatim text below, and check open questions.
Ordinance text
3 1/2% of the rental income for each twelve-month period [heat furnished by landlord]; "3%" [heat paid by tenant]Chapter 294, Rent Control — https://ecode360.com/6345361
State survey entry
- Increase limit
- No rent increase limit
- Units covered
- --
- Exceptions
- No rent control ordinance on record
Source: NJ Department of Community Affairs, 2026 Rent Control Survey — nj.gov
Open questions
- The DCA 2026 survey lists 'No rent control ordinance on record' / 'No rent increase limit' for Franklin Township (Somerset), but Chapter 294 (Rent Control) is published on the municipal code site with an apparent 3.5%/3% cap, most recently amended 2009. The retrieved text also referenced a stated expiration date of 12/31/2005 with continuation contingent on annual Rent Leveling Administrator reports to Council, which could not be independently confirmed as still current. Status is marked 'unclear' pending direct confirmation with the Township Clerk or Rent Leveling Administrator before relying on this cap.
- No DCA office/board contact information is on file for this municipality (DCA survey fields blank).
Rent board
Not on file — check the ordinance