Short-term-rental rules
Can you Airbnb in Millburn Township, NJ?
Researched and reviewed by Jake Lee, FounderCurrent as of July 2026How this atlas is maintained
Millburn allows short-term rentals (stays of 30 continuous days or less) only in owner-occupied properties where the owner keeps the home as a principal residence, and only after obtaining an annual $250 Short-Term Rental Permit plus a rental Certificate of Occupancy from the township. Non-owner-occupied single-family homes, units in two-family homes without a resident owner, and apartments in multi-family buildings are prohibited from short-term renting, so investor-style whole-home Airbnbs are not legal. The zoning code further defines an STR as a rental of 28 consecutive days or less capped at a cumulative 60 days per calendar year.
The operator's read
Can I run a short-term rental in Millburn Township, NJ?
No go for nightly stays
The rule that closes it: Owner-occupancy is mandatory: only four classes qualify - (1) owner-occupied single-family residences that are an owner's principal residence, (2) up to two units in a two-family dwelling where the owner occupies one unit as principal residence, (3) up to two bedrooms within an owner-occupied single-family home sharing kitchen/bath with the owner, (4) guest houses/carriage houses on the same property as the owner-occupied dwelling.
- Is there a legal way to rent short-term in Millburn 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 Millburn Township. Confirm the specifics against the sources on this page before you rely on it.
What would you do with a property in Millburn Township?
Not for nightly stays. The compliant play in Millburn 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 Millburn Township
- Permitted only under STR Ordinance No. 2565-20 with an annual Short-Term Rental Permit from the Township Business Administrator; $250 non-refundable annual application/registration fee.
- Owner-occupancy is mandatory: only four classes qualify - (1) owner-occupied single-family residences that are an owner's principal residence, (2) up to two units in a two-family dwelling where the owner occupies one unit as principal residence, (3) up to two bedrooms within an owner-occupied single-family home sharing kitchen/bath with the owner, (4) guest houses/carriage houses on the same property as the owner-occupied dwelling.
- Prohibited: non-owner-occupied single-family homes; a unit in a two-family dwelling where the owner does not occupy the other unit; apartments or units in multi-family buildings; condos/townhomes where association bylaws, master deed, or rules do not permit STRs; and rooms rented out by occupants who are not the owner.
- Principal residence requires all three: where an owner spends the majority of non-working time, the center of domestic life, and the address on the owner's driver's license or state ID.
- The zoning code (Development Regulations definitions, eCode360) defines a short-term rental as rental of an owner-occupied dwelling to transient occupants for 28 consecutive days or less, up to a cumulative total not to exceed 60 days per calendar year; the township FAQ treats rentals to the same occupant for more than 30 continuous days as outside the STR ordinance.
- A rental Certificate of Occupancy must be obtained with the permit; the property must pass annual fire-safety and Property Maintenance Code inspections ($85 fee per failed reinspection).
- Permits are valid one year, renew annually at $250, and expire automatically on change of ownership (a new owner must reapply).
- Advertising or operating an STR without a permit brings summonses with civil penalties up to $2,000 per violation, payable within 30 calendar days.
- STR permit provisions are codified at Section 4-42 of the Revised General Ordinances of the Township of Millburn (per the eCode360 code index); hotels, motels, licensed B&Bs, and licensed rooming/boarding houses are outside the STR ordinance.
Sources: Township of Millburn official Short-Term Rental (STR) Policy FAQ (primary source, read in full; describes Ordinance No. 2565-20); Millburn Township Town Codes page (confirms municipal code hosted at eCode360 MI4080); Township of Millburn code on eCode360 (code portal; direct access blocked by Cloudflare, provisions verified via township FAQ and indexed excerpts); Millburn Development Regulations and Zoning Ordinance, Article 6 Zoning Provisions (eCode360; indexed excerpts reference STR limits and Section 4-42); Millburn Development Regulations, Article 3 Definitions (eCode360; indexed excerpt defines short-term rental: owner-occupied, 28 consecutive days or less, 60-day annual cumulative cap); Essex County NJ STR guide (secondary corroboration: owner-occupied only, 60-day cap, $250 annual permit). 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 Millburn Township's rules?
We'll help you find out what's actually possible for your Millburn Township property, short-term, mid-term, or otherwise, and run it if it's a fit.
Nearby Essex towns