Short-term-rental rules
Can you Airbnb in Washington Township, NJ?
Researched and reviewed by Jake Lee, FounderCurrent as of July 2026How this atlas is maintained
Short-term rentals are banned in the Township of Washington (Bergen County). Zoning Article XIIIA (adopted 2019 by Ord. No. 19-04) treats any rental of a dwelling, in whole or in part, for 30 consecutive days or less as a prohibited "vacation rental" because dwellings are approved only for permanent residential occupancy, and even advertising or facilitating such a rental (including by platforms or realtors) is a violation. There is no permit or registration path; fines run $250 to $1,000 per day plus restitution of rental revenue.
The operator's read
Can I run a short-term rental in Washington Township, NJ?
No go for nightly stays
The rule that closes it: Renting any dwelling unit, in whole or in part, for transient use of 30 consecutive days or less is a prohibited "vacation rental"; dwellings are approved only for permanent residential occupancy, not transient occupancy (secs. 580-86.1, 580-86.2A).
- Is there a legal way to rent short-term in Washington Township?
- 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 Washington Township. Confirm the specifics against the sources on this page before you rely on it.
What would you do with a property in Washington Township?
Not for nightly stays. The compliant play in Washington Township 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 Washington Township
- Renting any dwelling unit, in whole or in part, for transient use of 30 consecutive days or less is a prohibited "vacation rental"; dwellings are approved only for permanent residential occupancy, not transient occupancy (secs. 580-86.1, 580-86.2A)
- No person, including hosting platform operators, may undertake, maintain, authorize, aid, facilitate, or advertise vacation rental activity (sec. 580-86.2A)
- Charging or accepting rent for such occupancy is barred; each charge or payment received is a separate offense (sec. 580-86.2B)
- Real estate agents, brokers, and salespersons may not assist or facilitate; listing or advertising a premises for such use is itself deemed a violation (sec. 580-86.2C)
- No permit or registration pathway exists; sec. 580-86.3 only authorizes the Township Council to adopt implementing regulations and fees, and none creating a permit scheme were found in the code
- Penalties: $250 to $1,000 per day (first offense) and $750 to $1,000 per day (repeat offenses), plus court-ordered reimbursement of investigative costs and restitution of all illegally obtained rental revenue; any interested person may also sue for an injunction with attorney-fee recovery (sec. 580-86.4)
- Rentals longer than 30 consecutive days are outside the article's scope (ordinary leases remain lawful; state lead-based paint inspection rules in Ch. 280 apply to long-term rental dwellings)
Sources: eCode360: Township of Washington, NJ, Ch. 580 Zoning, Art. XIIIA Short-Term Rentals (live full text); eCode360 print view of Art. XIIIA with section numbers 580-86.1 to 580-86.4 (accessed 2026-07-05); eCode360 Code of the Township of Washington (Bergen County), table of contents, legislation through 12-02-2025; eCode360: Chapter 580 Zoning (article list showing Art. XIIIA within secs. 580-1 to 580-98); Official Township of Washington (Bergen County, NJ 07676) website. 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 Washington Township's rules?
We'll help you find out what's actually possible for your Washington Township property, short-term, mid-term, or otherwise, and run it if it's a fit.
Nearby Bergen towns