Lyndhurst rent control: maximum rent increase (2026)
Bergen County — Chapter 8, Building and Housing (Rent Leveling and Control article). Full ordinance text ↗
Summary
- Cap formula
- Flat annual cap of 5.5% on rent increases at lease expiration or tenancy renewal (a unit's first increase cannot occur until the tenant has rented for at least 12 months); landlords may also seek hardship, capital improvement, or tax base rent adjustment surcharges.
- Frequency
- once per 12 months
- Notice required
- 30 days — Written notice required 30 days before rent increases take effect, delivered by certified mail or personal service with a signed receipt. For hardship appeals, notice must be posted in building lobbies at least 20 days prior to the hearing.
- Who's covered
- Buildings with 4 or more units
- Exemptions
- 1-, 2-, and 3-family homes
- motels, hotels, similar premises
- newly constructed first-time rentals
- new construction (30 yrs from certificate of occupancy, N.J.S.A. 2A:42-84.2)
- Vacancy decontrol
- Upon voluntary vacancy, the landlord may set a new rent (once per every 5 years), capped at a 20% increase over the prior tenant's rent; landlords must file statements with the rent board within specified timeframes.
- Registration
- Annual reports due by January 15 detailing occupancy changes, tenant names, and rental amounts.
- Surcharges
- Capital improvement surcharge limited to 10% of the tenant's rent (cost divided by depreciation period, applied only to affected units). Hardship increase available when gross operating income falls versus a 3-year base period, allowing increases above 5.5% with Board approval and a hearing. Tax base rent adjustment passes only one-half of any municipal real property tax increase to tenants, with the monthly surcharge capped at 20% of the prior month's rent.
- Penalties
- Fines of not more than $500, and/or imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both; a violation affecting more than one leasehold is a separate violation for each leasehold.
- Status
- active
- Confidence
- high
- Last verified
- 2026-09-23
Calculate your maximum increase
Ordinance text
No tenant shall suffer or be caused to pay any rent increase in any calendar year which exceeds 5.5% of the preceding month period, except as provided herein. No tenant shall experience a rent increase until that tenant has been renting for at least a twelve-month period counted from the date the tenancy began.Chapter 8, Building and Housing (Rent Leveling and Control article) — https://ecode360.com/34769781
State survey entry
- Increase limit
- 5.5%. Hardship or capital improvement increases may be approved, but capital improvement increase cannot exceed 10% of rent. Landlords may also qualify for "tax base rent adjustment" based on increase in municipal real property tax.
- Units covered
- 4+
- Exceptions
- Exception(s) - 1- 2- and 3-family homes, motels, hotels, similar premises, newly constructed first-time rentals.
Vacancy Decontrol (one per every 5 years). 20% maximum increase.
Source: NJ Department of Community Affairs, 2026 Rent Control Survey — nj.gov
Rent board
Rent Leveling Board · (732) 247-0922 x440 · https://www.lyndhurstnj.org/directory
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