Ridgefield rent control: maximum rent increase (2026)
Bergen County — Chapter 322, Rent Control. Full ordinance text ↗
Maximum rent increase
No standard formula on file — see below
Per the ordinance text as retrieved, the permitted annual increase is 2.5% where the tenant pays for heat and 3% where the landlord pays for heat. The DCA survey instead describes a CPI-U-based formula with floor/ceiling ranges of 2%–3.5% (tenant pays heat) and 2.5%–4% (landlord pays heat) — see open_questions.
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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.
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Summary
- Cap formula
- Per the ordinance text as retrieved, the permitted annual increase is 2.5% where the tenant pays for heat and 3% where the landlord pays for heat. The DCA survey instead describes a CPI-U-based formula with floor/ceiling ranges of 2%–3.5% (tenant pays heat) and 2.5%–4% (landlord pays heat) — see open_questions.
- Frequency
- once per 12 months
- Notice required
- 30 days — Landlords must provide written notice at least 30 days before an increase takes effect, detailing the current base rent, increase amount, new base rent, and any surcharges with expiration dates.
- Who's covered
- Dwellings with 3 or more units
- Exemptions
- motels
- hotels
- federally subsidized units
- new construction (30 yrs from certificate of occupancy, N.J.S.A. 2A:42-84.2)
- Vacancy decontrol
- New tenants in vacant units may be charged up to 112.5% of the highest allowable rent (excluding surcharges) for a comparable unit within the Borough.
- Registration
- All rental property owners must register units with the Borough Clerk, including owner contact information, current and January 1st rents, and services provided.
- Surcharges
- Tax surcharge: landlords may pass through 50% of property tax increases, divided by total rooms and multiplied by the tenant's occupied rooms. Capital improvement surcharge capped at 10% of base rent, with cost divided by the improvement's actual life expectancy.
- Penalties
- Violations carry fines of $100–$2,000 or up to 90 days' imprisonment per offense; continuing violations count as separate daily offenses.
- Status
- active
- Confidence
- medium
- Last verified
- 2026-09-23
Ordinance text
In those rental units in which the tenant supplies and pays for the tenant's heat, the permitted increase shall be 2 ½%. In those rental units in which the landlord supplies and pays for the tenant's heat, the permitted increase shall be 3%.Chapter 322, Rent Control — https://ecode360.com/9124437
State survey entry
- Increase limit
- CPI-U NY/Northern NJ/Long Island, NY-NJ-CT-PA 90 days prior to proposed increase and first day of month 12 months prior to effective date.
If tenant pays heat: Minimum of 2% and maximum of 3.5%.
If landlord pays heat: Minimum of 2.5% and maximum of 4%.
- Units covered
- 3+
- Exceptions
- Exception(s) - Motels, hotels, federally subsidized units.
Vacancy Decontrol with maximum increase of 112.5% of highest allowable rent of a comparable unit within the Borough.
Source: NJ Department of Community Affairs, 2026 Rent Control Survey — nj.gov
Open questions
- The DCA survey describes Ridgefield's cap as a CPI-U-based formula with floor/ceiling ranges (2%–3.5% if tenant pays heat; 2.5%–4% if landlord pays heat), tied to a 90-day-prior/12-month-prior CPI comparison. The ordinance text retrieved via automated extraction instead states flat permitted increases of 2.5% (tenant pays heat) / 3% (landlord pays heat) without the CPI-U floor/ceiling framing — this may be a computed current-year example rather than the general formula. Full §322-6J text should be independently confirmed.
Rent board
Rent Leveling Commission/Tenant Advocate · (201) 943-5215 · https://www.ridgefieldnj.gov/index.asp?SEC=399013CB-AFF9-4345-8F7F-C962BC7FFA7F&Type=B_BASIC