Founder-led stewardship for West Milford rental owners

Go, with conditions. The rule that decides it: Max one STR unit per multifamily dwelling and one per single-family dwelling; non-owner-occupied STRs limited to no more than one family or two unrelated individuals (285-13.D(3)).

Annual permit from the Township Clerk required before renting or advertising; $500 nonrefundable application/registration fee plus certification and inspection fees; permit valid 1 year, non-transferable, expires on change of ownership (285-13.E). STRs allowed only in single-family residences and in condominium or lake association units where association documents permit them; condo approval letter or lake association notice required with application (285-13.D(2), F(1)(d)). Annual fire safety inspection required (285-13.F(2)). Permit number must appear in every advertisement; no signage identifying the property as an STR; primary occupant must be 21 or older; one rental contract at a time (285-13.F(3), H(2), H(3)). Permit revocable after two or more substantiated complaints in one year, with a one-year bar on reapplying (285-13.H(8), H(9)). The governing text is Township Code Chapter 285 (Property Maintenance), section 285-13 Short-Term Rentals (adopted December 2019).

Beyond the cap above, nothing further is recorded for West Milford.

Application requires fire prevention certification, zoning compliance certificate, proof of $1,000,000 general liability insurance naming the Township as additional insured, and certification that taxes and code violations are current (285-13.F(1)).

A New Jersey resident responsible party or agent must be reachable 24/7 and respond to complaints within 2 hours (285-13.C, D(4), H(7)).

Workable. Confirm the current permit position with the municipality before you commit, then treat compliance as the first operating task rather than an afterthought. Most of the risk in West Milford is administrative, not structural.