What is exempt from rent control in Hamilton, NJ?

motels, hotels, and transient-serving buildings. New construction is also exempt statewide for 30 years from certificate of occupancy under N.J.S.A. 2A:42-84.2.

Hamilton rent control: maximum rent increase (2026)

Mercer County — Chapter 5, Article XXIX, Rent Leveling Commission. Full ordinance text ↗

Status disputed

Sources disagree on whether Hamilton'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.

Maximum rent increase

No standard formula on file — see below

When the landlord furnishes heat, the increase may equal the average of the percentage change in the CPI-W and the Residential Renters CPI (both released the preceding July); when the landlord does not furnish heat, the allowed increase is 60% of that same average.

Calculator unavailable

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.

Summary

Cap formula

Frequency

once per 12 months

Notice required

Landlord must notify the tenant by certified mail or personal service of the calculations used to compute the increase, and file a copy with the Rent Leveling Commission Secretary.

Who's covered

Residential multiple-family dwellings with 4 or more units

Exemptions

motels, hotels, and transient-serving buildings
new construction (30 yrs from certificate of occupancy, N.J.S.A. 2A:42-84.2)

Vacancy decontrol

Since 9/1/2002, landlords may set an unrestricted rent on a vacated unit, except when an existing tenant moves within the same building (market rate applies to that move only).

Surcharges

Surcharges are prohibited on leases executed after 5/6/1981; existing leases with automatic surcharge clauses are limited to the ordinance's allowable increase.

Penalties

Willful violation is punishable under the Township's general penalty provisions for ordinance violations (specific amount not found in retrieved text).

Status

unclear

Confidence

medium

Last verified

2026-09-23

Ordinance text

No landlord who furnished heat to tenants may request or receive a percentage increase which is greater than the average of the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index and the percentage increase in the Residential Renters Consumer Price Index released during the July preceding the notice of increase. No landlord who does not furnish heat to tenants may request or receive a percentage increase which is greater than 60% of the average of the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index and the percentage increase in the Residential Renters Consumer Price Index released during the July preceding the notice of increase.Chapter 5, Article XXIX, Rent Leveling Commission — https://ecode360.com/27520936

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 Hamilton Township (Mercer), but Chapter 5, Article XXIX (Rent Leveling Commission) is published on the municipal code site with a CPI-based cap, most recently amended in 2002. Could not independently confirm this ordinance is still in force; recommend verifying with the Township Clerk / Rent Leveling Commission before relying on it.
No DCA office/board contact information is on file for this municipality (DCA survey fields blank).

Lead-safe certification

Pre-1978 rentals here also need a lead-safe certificate (separate from rent control) — valid 3 years, per P.L.2024, c.74. See Hamilton Township's lead-safe certification requirements →

Rent board

Not on file — check the ordinance