Short-term-rental rules
Can you Airbnb in Hackensack, NJ?
Researched and reviewed by Jake Lee, FounderCurrent as of July 2026How this atlas is maintained
Hackensack does not allow Airbnb-style short-term rentals. The city's official Zoning FAQs state plainly that "The City of Hackensack does not allow Airbnb's," treating them as a use not permitted under the zoning ordinance. Longer-term rentals of one and two family homes are allowed but require a Continued Certificate of Occupancy from the city before each rental.
The operator's read
Can I run a short-term rental in Hackensack, NJ?
No go for nightly stays
The rule that closes it: The City of Hackensack's official Zoning FAQs answer the question "I would like to open an Airbnb. Where should I start?" with: "The City of Hackensack does not allow Airbnb's.".
- Is there a legal way to rent short-term in Hackensack?
- 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 Hackensack. Confirm the specifics against the sources on this page before you rely on it.
What would you do with a property in Hackensack?
Not for nightly stays. The compliant play in Hackensack 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.
Market snapshot
What a short-term rental earns in Hackensack
- Typical nightly rate
- $122 to $172
- Realized occupancy
- 39% to 74%
- Comparable listings
- 79
A mid-sized Bergen County market of about 79 comparable rentals, where realized occupancy runs from 39% at its winter low to 74% at its seasonal peak. Occupancy peaks around October; typical rates are roughly $132 a night across the local mix (market median).
Approximate market ranges from PriceLabs neighborhood data (July 2026), not a guarantee and not specific to any one property. See the full Northern NJ market report.
What the rules say in Hackensack
- The City of Hackensack's official Zoning FAQs answer the question "I would like to open an Airbnb. Where should I start?" with: "The City of Hackensack does not allow Airbnb's."
- Short-term rentals are not a permitted use; there is no STR permit or registration path. Zoning enforcement handles illegally operating businesses (Zoning Department, 201-646-3920 ext. 2020).
- Standard (long-term) rental of residential units requires a Continued Certificate of Occupancy: $100 application for a one-family home, $150 for a two-family home, obtained through the Building, Housing, Land Use Department at 116 Holt Street.
Sources: City of Hackensack Zoning FAQs (official, hackensack.org). 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 Hackensack's rules?
We'll help you find out what's actually possible for your Hackensack property, short-term, mid-term, or otherwise, and run it if it's a fit.