Short-term-rental rules
Can you Airbnb in Bloomfield, NJ?
Researched and reviewed by Jake Lee, FounderCurrent as of July 2026How this atlas is maintained
Short-term rentals (30 days or less) are legal in Bloomfield only in one narrow case: the owner must live in a two- to five-family house as their principal residence and may rent out one dwelling unit in it, after obtaining an annual $250 township STR permit with inspections. STRs in single-family homes, condos, townhomes, non-owner-occupied buildings, and buildings of six or more units are prohibited, so most typical whole-home Airbnbs are illegal.
The operator's read
Can I run a short-term rental in Bloomfield, NJ?
No go for nightly stays
The rule that closes it: Permitted only as one dwelling unit within a two- to five-family, owner-occupied residence where the owner (or a principal of the owner entity) legally identifies the address as their principal residence (Code sec. 433-2b).
- Is there a legal way to rent short-term in Bloomfield?
- 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 Bloomfield. Confirm the specifics against the sources on this page before you rely on it.
What would you do with a property in Bloomfield?
Not for nightly stays. The compliant play in Bloomfield 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 Bloomfield
- Permitted only as one dwelling unit within a two- to five-family, owner-occupied residence where the owner (or a principal of the owner entity) legally identifies the address as their principal residence (Code sec. 433-2b).
- Prohibited outright: STRs in single-family homes, condominiums, or townhomes; units in two- to five-family dwellings not owner-occupied as a principal residence; any unit in a property with six or more dwelling units; and room rentals where guests do not get full access to the property, except existing legal rooming houses (sec. 433-2c).
- Minimum stay of 2 days: renting a unit for less than 2 days is prohibited; dwelling limited to a single STR contract at a time (secs. 433-2c(3), 433-6b).
- Annual STR permit plus rental Certificate of Habitability required before renting or advertising; nonrefundable $250 annual application/registration fee; permit valid 1 year, non-transferable, and expires on change of ownership (sec. 433-3). Applications filed with the Zoning Department per Ord. 23-40 (2023).
- Application requires proof the property is the owner's principal residence (driver's license/State ID), a 24/7 STR agent and responsible party, a property survey of parking (on-site parking per unit under RSIS is mandatory, and renters limited to 1 vehicle per 2 occupants), $500,000 general liability insurance, a Zoning Compliance Certificate, and annual fire-safety and property-maintenance inspections (secs. 433-2c(4), 433-4).
- Operational rules: permit number must appear in every advertisement; no signage identifying the STR; primary occupant must be 21+; tenants may not sublet as an STR (owner only); owner/agent must respond to complaints within 2 hours; permit revocable after 2 substantiated complaints (1-year reapplication ban) or 3 excessive-vehicle complaints (secs. 433-4g, 433-6).
- Violations: fines up to $2,000 per violation, per day, against the owner, transient occupants, STR agent, and responsible party (sec. 433-7).
- History: Ord. 20-26 (4/20/2020) banned all rentals under 30 days; Ord. 22-37 (6/27/2022) replaced Chapter 433 in its entirety with the current narrow permit regime; Ord. 23-40 (8/14/2023) shifted application processing to the Zoning Department. No STR amendments adopted 2024-2025.
Sources: Ordinance 22-37 (6/27/2022) establishing current Chapter 433, Rental Property, Short-Term (full text, township PDF); Ordinance 23-40 (8/14/2023) amending Chapter 433 application process and operational requirements (township PDF); Ordinance 20-26 (4/20/2020), superseded prior Chapter 433 prohibiting all rentals under 30 days (township PDF); eCode360, Bloomfield Township Code Chapter 433: Rental Property, Short-Term (codified chapter); Township of Bloomfield, Short Term Rentals INFO page (permit application and required documents); Township of Bloomfield, Adopted Ordinances index (checked 2022-2025 lists for Chapter 433 amendments). 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 Bloomfield's rules?
We'll help you find out what's actually possible for your Bloomfield property, short-term, mid-term, or otherwise, and run it if it's a fit.
Nearby Essex towns