Short-term-rental rules
Can you Airbnb in Wood-Ridge, NJ?
Researched and reviewed by Jake Lee, FounderCurrent as of July 2026How this atlas is maintained
Wood-Ridge prohibits Airbnb-style short-term rentals. Since Ordinance 2019-5 (adopted May 15, 2019), the zoning code allows residential rentals only as whole units for not less than 28 consecutive days in every residential district (R-1, R-2, R-3, and the Wesmont Station Redevelopment Area), and renting or subletting individual rooms is banned outright. Stays under 28 nights are a zoning violation carrying escalating fines up to $1,000 plus $100 per day and revocation of the certificate of occupancy (penalties added by Ordinance 2024-6); the only sub-30-night rental that remains lawful is a whole-unit stay of exactly 28 or 29 nights.
What the rules say in Wood-Ridge
- Minimum rental period of 28 consecutive days: dwellings may be rented only in their entirety as a single rental unit (Ch. 530 Zoning: 530-6D(5) for R-1 one-family; 530-7D(1) for each unit of a two-family; 530-8E(1) for each unit of a multifamily; 530-13A(1)-(3) for one-family, multifamily, and mixed-use residential units in the Wesmont Station Redevelopment Area; all added 5-15-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-5)
- Room rentals prohibited: 'Rental or subletting of individual rooms is not permitted' in any dwelling type, so hosted/room-share listings are banned regardless of stay length
- Only one rental and/or lease may exist for a given period of time per dwelling or unit
- R-2 and R-3 zones incorporate all R-1 special provisions (530-7D(2), 530-8E(2)), making the restrictions borough-wide across residential zones
- Permissive zoning: 'any use not specifically permitted in a zone district by this chapter is expressly prohibited' (530-5); short-term rental is not a listed permitted use anywhere; hotels are a permitted use only in the GB General Business District (530-10)
- Penalties (530-6D(13)-(14), added 4-17-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-6): $250 first offense; $500 plus $50/day second offense; $1,000 plus $100/day third and subsequent offenses plus revocation of the dwelling's certificate of occupancy; an offense not abated within 10 days of an abatement order escalates to the next tier
- No STR permit or registration path exists; the code has no short-term-rental, rental-registration, rooming-house, or boarding-house chapter
Sources: Wood-Ridge Code, Ch. 530 Zoning, Art. II Districts Established; Use Regulations (eCode360, primary text of the 28-day whole-unit rental provisions and penalties); Wood-Ridge Code table of contents on eCode360 (full chapter list; confirms no separate STR/rental-licensing/boarding chapter); Ordinance 2022-18 replacing Ch. 407 Property Maintenance (read in full; contains no rental-period or STR provisions); Borough of Wood-Ridge official Ordinances page (links the codified Revised General Ordinances to eCode360 WO1036); TAPinto: Wood-Ridge passes budget and short-term rental ordinance at May 15 council meeting (news corroboration of Ord. 2019-5; consulted via search, page blocks direct fetch). 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.
Wood-Ridge short-term-rental FAQ
Can I run a short-term rental (Airbnb) in Wood-Ridge, NJ?
Wood-Ridge prohibits Airbnb-style short-term rentals. Since Ordinance 2019-5 (adopted May 15, 2019), the zoning code allows residential rentals only as whole units for not less than 28 consecutive days in every residential district (R-1, R-2, R-3, and the Wesmont Station Redevelopment Area), and renting or subletting individual rooms is banned outright. Stays under 28 nights are a zoning violation carrying escalating fines up to $1,000 plus $100 per day and revocation of the certificate of occupancy (penalties added by Ordinance 2024-6); the only sub-30-night rental that remains lawful is a whole-unit stay of exactly 28 or 29 nights.
Do I need a permit or registration to run an STR in Wood-Ridge?
Room rentals prohibited: 'Rental or subletting of individual rooms is not permitted' in any dwelling type, so hosted/room-share listings are banned regardless of stay length
What taxes apply to a short-term rental in Wood-Ridge, New Jersey?
Short-term stays in New Jersey are generally subject to NJ Sales Tax and the State Occupancy Fee (plus any local fees), unless collected for you by the booking platform. A tax professional can confirm what applies to your property.
Can Palisade Stays manage a short-term rental in Wood-Ridge?
Short-term rentals face real limits in Wood-Ridge (see the status above), so it may not be the right play. Palisade Stays can still help you understand what's possible for your property, including a compliant mid-term or longer rental, and run it if it's a fit. Start with a quick assessment.
Navigating Wood-Ridge's rules?
We'll help you find out what's actually possible for your Wood-Ridge property, short-term, mid-term, or otherwise, and run it if it's a fit.
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