Lopatcong rent control: maximum rent increase (2026)
Warren County — Chapter 173, Rent Control. Full ordinance text ↗
Summary
- Cap formula
- A flat 3% per-annum cap; tenants who provide their own heat or pay the cost of fuel are capped at 2.8% instead.
- Frequency
- once per year
- Notice required
- 60 days — Landlords must notify tenants by mail at least 60 days before increases take effect, showing the prior rent, the increase amount in whole dollars, and calculations demonstrating compliance with the cap (§173-4).
- Who's covered
- Buildings with 3 or more rental units; cap applies only to occupied units
- Exemptions
- Motels, hotels, and similar premises
- Housing with fewer than 3 units
- new construction (30 yrs from certificate of occupancy, N.J.S.A. 2A:42-84.2)
- Vacancy decontrol
- Upon tenant vacancy, landlords may negotiate a rental with the proposed new tenant at a mutually agreeable level (§173-2.1A); anti-harassment protections apply to prevent coerced vacancies. DCA notes decontrol lasts until re-rented.
- Registration
- Landlords must file registration statements within 30 days, including rent rolls with apartment numbers, base rents, utilities/services included, and surcharges (§173-5A); annual rent rolls due by January 10 each year (§173-5F).
- Surcharges
- Hardship increases available when rental income cannot meet mortgage requirements/maintenance costs and a fair and reasonable return is not achieved (§173-10A), provided the property is at least 90% free of code violations. Capital improvement surcharges may reach 15% of the rent on the hearing date (§173-10B(2)).
- Penalties
- Willful violations are punishable in Municipal Court by a fine of not more than $2,000 and/or imprisonment for not more than 90 days (§173-17).
- Status
- active
- Confidence
- high
- Last verified
- 2026-09-23
Calculate your maximum increase
Ordinance text
Except as provided in §§ 173-2.1 and 172-10, no landlord shall request or receive a percentage increase in rent which is greater than 3% per annum in the next ensuing year. Said limitation of 3% increase per annum shall apply to only occupied units. Vacant units are governed by § 173-2.1. Those tenants who provide their own heat or the cost of the fuel shall not receive an increase in any one year greater than 2.8% per annum.Chapter 173, Rent Control — https://ecode360.com/10311318
State survey entry
- Increase limit
- 3%
2.8% if tenant provides their own heat or pays cost of fuel.
- Units covered
- 3+
- Exceptions
- Exception(s) - Motels, hotels, similar premises, housing containing fewer than 3 units.
Vacancy Decontrol (until re-rented).
Source: NJ Department of Community Affairs, 2026 Rent Control Survey — nj.gov
Rent board
Rent Leveling Board · (908) 859-3355 ext-221 · https://www.lopatcongtwp.com/offices-boards-commissions/rent-leveling-board
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