Short-term-rental rules
Can you Airbnb in Englewood Cliffs, NJ?
Researched and reviewed by Jake Lee, FounderCurrent as of July 2026How this atlas is maintained
Englewood Cliffs bans short-term rentals outright: Borough code 9-17.4(c) (rewritten 11-12-2025 by Ord. No. 25-07) forbids renting any building or portion of one for less than six months and expressly states its intent "to prohibit short-term rentals." Zoning reinforces this: "dwelling" excludes transient accommodations, hotels/motels are prohibited in every district, and furnished rooms, lodging and boarding houses are barred in all residential zones. Any Airbnb-style stay under 30 nights is illegal, whole-home or by the room.
The operator's read
Can I run a short-term rental in Englewood Cliffs, NJ?
No go for nightly stays
The rule that closes it: Occupancy of any single-family dwelling is limited to one family, defined as persons living together as a 'stable and permanent living unit' (9-6.3/9-6.4, also amended by Ord. No. 25-07).
- Is there a legal way to rent short-term in Englewood Cliffs?
- Most ordinances of this kind restrict stays under 30 nights and leave longer furnished rentals alone, so a 30-plus-night rental is usually the compliant route in Englewood Cliffs. Confirm the specifics against the sources on this page before you rely on it.
What would you do with a property in Englewood Cliffs?
Not for nightly stays. The compliant play in Englewood Cliffs is a furnished rental of 30 nights or more, which most ordinances of this kind leave open, and which we can set up and run. If you are buying specifically to run nightly stays, buy somewhere else.
What the rules say in Englewood Cliffs
- Six-month minimum rental period: no building or portion thereof may be rented or offered for rent for less than six months; the section states its intent is to prohibit short-term rentals not occupied at least six months by the tenant (9-17.4(c))
- Every rental, lease, sublease or sublet requires a certificate of continued occupancy from the construction official before occupancy; application at least 10 days prior, inspection plus lead-safe inspection, copy of the lease filed, $85 fee (9-17.4(a),(d))
- Violations: $100 to $1,250 fine, up to 90 days imprisonment or community service; each day is a separate offense, plus injunctive abatement (9-17.4(b)(1))
- Zoning defines 'dwelling' to exclude 'hotel or other accommodations used for more or less transient occupancy' (30-2), and any use not listed as permitted or conditional is specifically prohibited (30-7.1)
- No building may be used in whole or part as a motor court, hotel, motel, tourist cabin or similar use in any district (30-7.1); furnished rooms, lodging houses and boarding houses are not permitted in any residential zone (30-7.7)
- Occupancy of any single-family dwelling is limited to one family, defined as persons living together as a 'stable and permanent living unit' (9-6.3/9-6.4, also amended by Ord. No. 25-07)
Sources: Borough of Englewood Cliffs Code 9-17.4 Application, Requirements (incl. (c) six-month minimum / STR prohibition, Ord. No. 25-07); Borough of Englewood Cliffs, NJ Code (eCode360, legislation through 03-24-2026), full table of contents; Chapter 30 Zoning: 30-2 'Dwelling' definition, 30-7.1 Prohibited Uses, 30-7.7 Restrictions on Residential Zones; Chapter 9 occupancy standards 9-6.3/9-6.4: one-family occupancy and 'stable and permanent' family definition; eCode360 full-text search of the Englewood Cliffs code for 'short-term rental'. Last reviewed 2026-07.
How short-term rentals are regulated in New Jersey
- New Jersey has no single statewide short-term-rental ban. Instead, each municipality sets its own rules through local ordinances, which is why neighboring Bergen towns can differ completely.
- Statewide, short-term rentals are generally subject to NJ Sales Tax and the State Occupancy Fee (and, in some areas, local taxes) on stays under 90 days, unless booked through certain channels that collect on the host's behalf.
- Common municipal controls include registration or permits, owner-occupancy requirements, minimum-stay rules, caps on rental nights, and zoning limits on which districts allow short-term use.
- Rules change. An ordinance can be added or amended at any time. Always confirm the current rule with the municipality before listing.
Navigating Englewood Cliffs's rules?
We'll help you find out what's actually possible for your Englewood Cliffs property, short-term, mid-term, or otherwise, and run it if it's a fit.
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