Ridgefield rent control: maximum rent increase (2026)
Bergen County — Chapter 322, Rent Control. Full ordinance text ↗
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
Calculate your maximum increase
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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.
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
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Fill in the tenant, unit, and rent details and get a printable, ordinance-cited rent increase notice for Ridgefield — $9, pay by card.
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