njrentcontrol

Linden rent control: maximum rent increase (2026)

Union County — Chapter 11, Rent Control. Full ordinance text ↗

Summary

Cap formula
The increase is the lesser of 5% or the percentage change in the CPI-U (All Urban Consumers, New York-Newark-Jersey City) measured over the lease term (90 days before lease start vs. 90 days before lease end), but never less than 0%.
Frequency
once per lease term
Notice required
Landlord must notify tenants by certified mail with return receipt, providing the CPI calculations (including the CPI 90 days prior to lease entry) and the allowable dollar increase. A specific advance-notice day count was not found in the retrieved excerpt.
Who's covered
Buildings with 4 or more units
Exemptions
  • motels, hotels, rooming houses, similar premises
  • buildings in which 1/3 or more of the occupied floor space is commercial
  • housing with 3 units or less
  • newly constructed multiple dwellings to the extent permitted by N.J.S.A. 2A:42-84.1 et seq.
  • new construction (30 yrs from certificate of occupancy, N.J.S.A. 2A:42-84.2)
Vacancy decontrol
Upon tenant vacancy, a landlord may raise the rent of an individual apartment at a rate not to exceed 25% of the last rent received (vacancy decontrol until re-rented).
Surcharges
Available to properties with 6 units or fewer: landlords may pass through property-tax increases divided by the number of rooms.
Penalties
A willful violation of any provision of this chapter is, upon conviction, liable to the penalty stated in Chapter 1, §1-5 of the City Code (general penalty provision; specific amount not found in the retrieved excerpt).
Status
active
Confidence
high
Last verified
2026-09-23

Calculate your maximum increase

Latest 12-month CPI change: 4.34% (CPI-U, New York-Newark-Jersey City (NY-NJ-PA), all items, not seasonally adjusted, 2026-08 vs 2025-08) — source: BLS

This ordinance measures CPI over: 90 days prior to expiration/termination of the lease, compared to 90 days prior to commencement of the lease term. Ordinances define their own CPI measurement window — the latest 12-month figure above may differ from the figure your ordinance requires.

Enter your current rent to calculate.

Ordinance text

the lesser of the CPI Increase or 5%, but not less than 0%.Chapter 11, Rent Control — https://ecode360.com/34735452

State survey entry

Increase limit
Lesser of 5% and percentage difference between CPI 90 days prior to expiration/termination of lease and 90 days prior to commencement of lease term. (CPI NY-Northeast NJ urban consumers CPI)
Units covered
4+
Exceptions
Exception(s) - Motels, hotels, rooming houses, similar premises, buildings in which 1/3 or more of the occupied floor space is commercial, housing with 3 units or less, and newly constructed multiple dwellings to the extent permitted by NJSA 2A:42-84.1 et seq. Vacancy Decontrol (until re-rented). 25% maximum increase.

Source: NJ Department of Community Affairs, 2026 Rent Control Survey — nj.gov

Open questions

Rent board

Rent Leveling Board · (908) 474-8493 · https://linden-nj.gov/notices/rent-control-board-meeting/

Generate a rent increase notice

Fill in the tenant, unit, and rent details and get a printable, ordinance-cited rent increase notice for Linden — $9, pay by card.

Generate notice — $9