Short-term-rental rules
Can you Airbnb in South Hackensack, NJ?
Researched and reviewed by Jake Lee, FounderCurrent as of July 2026How this atlas is maintained
South Hackensack has no short-term rental ordinance and no permit path for Airbnb-style stays under 30 nights. The code implicitly bars them in homes: the residential zone permits only single- and two-family dwellings defined as the exclusive quarters of "a single family maintaining a household," transient lodging (hotels) is a separate use confined to the M Mixed Use District, and any dwelling offering paid sleeping accommodations for four or more persons is treated as a motel/hotel/boardinghouse requiring an annual Township Committee license that must itself comply with zoning. Ordinary (longer-term) rentals are legal but require owner registration and a per-tenancy certificate of inspection before occupancy.
What the rules say in South Hackensack
- No short-term rental ordinance or STR permit path exists anywhere in the code (codified through 12-08-2022; the clerk's recently-adopted ordinance list through Feb 2025 shows nothing STR-related).
- Zoning is exclusionary: the A Residential District permits only single-family and two-family dwelling units (sec. 208-4A), and sec. 208-1 defines a dwelling unit as living quarters 'for the exclusive use of a single family maintaining a household', leaving no permitted transient-occupancy use of homes.
- Hotels, defined in sec. 208-1 as facilities 'offering transient lodging accommodations', are a permitted use only in the M Mixed Use District on lots of at least 80,000 sq ft (sec. 208-8A(1), 208-8B(1)); no lodging use is permitted in the A residential, B commercial, or C industrial districts.
- Under sec. 148-1 and 148-2A, any dwelling where sleeping, lodging, boarding or light housekeeping rooms 'are offered for pay for four or more persons' is a motel/hotel/inn/boardinghouse use requiring an annual Township Committee license with newspaper-published application; sec. 148-3B requires licensed premises to comply with Ch. 208 zoning, so the license is effectively unobtainable for a house in the residential zone.
- Every residential rental requires a pre-occupancy certificate of inspection ($50) from the Construction Official before each new tenancy, plus a sworn owner registration statement listing all tenants and their ages; renting or collecting rent without the certificate is prohibited (Ch. 208 Art. VIA, secs. 208-30 to 208-31.13), a regime practically incompatible with short-stay turnover.
- A 3% municipal hotel/motel room occupancy tax applies to hotel and motel occupancies (Ch. 128, per P.L. 2003 c. 114); the Township has not extended it to Airbnb-style transient accommodations.
Sources: Code of the Township of South Hackensack, NJ (eCode360, full table of contents; accessed via Wayback Machine snapshot of 2026-03-02); Ch. 148 Motels and Hotels (license requirement sec. 148-1; definitions sec. 148-2; zoning-compliance condition sec. 148-3B); Ch. 208 Zoning, sec. 208-1 Definitions (dwelling unit, family, hotel, motel); Ch. 208 Zoning, Art. II district regulations (sec. 208-4 A Residential permitted uses; sec. 208-6 B; sec. 208-7 C; sec. 208-8 M District hotels); Ch. 208 Zoning, Art. VIA Rental Unit Inspection (secs. 208-30 to 208-31.13, Ord. 2007-02); Ch. 128 Hotel and Motel Occupancy Tax; South Hackensack Building Department, Rental Properties (registration and pre-rental inspection requirement); Township Clerk, E-Code Library and recently adopted ordinances (nothing STR-related through Feb 2025). 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.
South Hackensack short-term-rental FAQ
Can I run a short-term rental (Airbnb) in South Hackensack, NJ?
South Hackensack has no short-term rental ordinance and no permit path for Airbnb-style stays under 30 nights. The code implicitly bars them in homes: the residential zone permits only single- and two-family dwellings defined as the exclusive quarters of "a single family maintaining a household," transient lodging (hotels) is a separate use confined to the M Mixed Use District, and any dwelling offering paid sleeping accommodations for four or more persons is treated as a motel/hotel/boardinghouse requiring an annual Township Committee license that must itself comply with zoning. Ordinary (longer-term) rentals are legal but require owner registration and a per-tenancy certificate of inspection before occupancy.
Do I need a permit or registration to run an STR in South Hackensack?
No short-term rental ordinance or STR permit path exists anywhere in the code (codified through 12-08-2022; the clerk's recently-adopted ordinance list through Feb 2025 shows nothing STR-related).
What taxes apply to a short-term rental in South Hackensack, 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 South Hackensack?
Short-term rentals face real limits in South Hackensack (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 South Hackensack's rules?
We'll help you find out what's actually possible for your South Hackensack property, short-term, mid-term, or otherwise, and run it if it's a fit.
Nearby Bergen towns