What is the maximum legal rent increase in Lawrence, NJ?

For extensions/renewals taking effect on or after January 1, 1993, rent increases may not exceed the percentage increase in the CPI-W (Table 3, U.S. City Average), comparing the index for September of the immediately preceding year with the index for September of the year before that. (Chapter 325, Rent Control). See the verbatim ordinance text on this page for the exact language.

How much advance notice must a landlord give in Lawrence?

Landlord must notify the tenant by certified mail or personal service, on a Board-approved form, of the calculations involved in computing the increase, and file a copy with the Board simultaneously.

What is exempt from rent control in Lawrence, NJ?

New construction is exempt statewide for 30 years from certificate of occupancy under N.J.S.A. 2A:42-84.2.

Lawrence rent control: maximum rent increase (2026)

Mercer County — Chapter 325, Rent Control. Full ordinance text ↗

Status disputed

Sources disagree on whether Lawrence'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: For extensions/renewals taking effect on or after January 1, 1993, rent increases may not exceed the percentage increase in the CPI-W (Table 3, U.S. City Average), comparing the index for September of the immediately preceding year with the index for September of the year before that.
Frequency: Not on file — check the ordinance
Notice required: Landlord must notify the tenant by certified mail or personal service, on a Board-approved form, of the calculations involved in computing the increase, and file a copy with the Board simultaneously.
Who's covered: Apartments/rental units covered by Chapter 325 (exact unit-count threshold not confirmed in the available excerpt)
Exemptions: new construction (30 yrs from certificate of occupancy, N.J.S.A. 2A:42-84.2)
Vacancy decontrol: Per the codified ordinance text: upon vacancy, the initial rent for a new tenant is determined by the landlord. This directly conflicts with the DCA survey entry (see open_questions).
Registration: Landlords must register all rental units with the Board annually by February 15; no rent increase may be requested or received after February 15 of the current year until registration is filed.
Surcharges: Hardship increases permitted for major capital improvements, additional services, and to ensure a just and reasonable return on the landlord's investment.
Penalties: Violations are subject to penalties under Chapter 1, Article III of the Township Code (specific fine/imprisonment amounts not confirmed in the available excerpt).
Status: unclear
Confidence: medium
Last verified: 2026-09-23

Calculate your maximum increase

Ordinance text

For extensions and renewals taking effect on or after January 1, 1993, the percentage increase for an apartment may not exceed the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, Selected areas, All Items Index (CPI-W, Table 3.), U.S. City Average, as published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, hereinafter referred to as the "index," calculated by comparing the index for the month of September in the immediately preceding calendar year with the index for the month of September in the calendar year immediately preceding that year.Chapter 325, Rent Control — https://ecode360.com/33963707

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

MAJOR CONFLICT: The NJ DCA 2026 Rent Control Survey states 'No rent control ordinance on record' for Lawrence Township, with limit='No rent increase limit' and exceptions='No rent control ordinance on record,' and leaves office/site/phone/units blank ('--'). However, the codified Chapter 325 'Rent Control' text (retrieved from https://ecode360.com/33963707) describes an apparently active CPI-based rent control scheme with registration, notice, and hardship provisions, citing a last amendment of Ord. No. 2003-09. It is unclear whether Chapter 325 has since been repealed or is no longer enforced (and the DCA survey reflects current reality), or whether the DCA survey entry is simply outdated or incomplete. This must be manually verified with Lawrence Township's clerk or governing body before this record is used to advise a tenant or landlord.
Exact unit-count threshold for Chapter 325's applicability was not confirmed from the available excerpt.
Exact penalty amount was not confirmed.
Rent board name/contact could not be confirmed; DCA survey lists none on record.
cap.verbatim was corrected to quote the operative CPI clause exactly as codified (§325-17A(3)), and cap.cpi_series/cpi_window were tightened to the ordinance's precise index name (CPI-W, Table 3, U.S. City Average) and comparison method (September index of year N-1 vs. September index of year N-2); the previously recorded verbatim was a paraphrase that dropped the index's full name and the exact comparison method. The underlying cap value (100% of CPI change) is unchanged.

Rent board

Not on file — check the ordinance