Atlantic city rent control is real, and it covers most rental homes in the city. Under atlantic city rent control, a landlord can typically raise rent once a year by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the previous 12 months. The current CPI figure must be confirmed with the Office of Landlord-Tenant Affairs.
Is Your Unit Covered by Atlantic City Rent Control?
Start here, because coverage decides everything. The city says all residential dwellings fall under its Office of Landlord-Tenant Affairs. However, there are a few big exceptions. As a result, you need to know what kind of building you live in and when it was built.
Atlantic city rent control does not cover owner-occupied duplexes or triplexes. It also skips newer buildings, meaning those with four or more units built after June 1987. Section 8 units and public housing are also exempt. In most cases, an older apartment building or a rented house is covered.
To check a specific address, call or visit the Office of Landlord-Tenant Affairs. Ask whether atlantic city rent control applies to your unit. Every covered unit must be registered with that office. For example, the office sets a “legal base rent” for each registered unit. Ask for your unit’s registration and its legal base rent. The city also passed Ordinance 44-25, which requires an online database for landlord registrations.
| Rule | What it says | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Who is covered | All residential dwellings, with listed exceptions | Office of Landlord-Tenant Affairs; Ordinance 63 of 1998, Chapter 41 |
| Exempt units | Owner-occupied duplexes and triplexes; 4+ unit buildings built after June 1987; Section 8; public housing | Office of Landlord-Tenant Affairs |
| Landlord registration | Within 30 days of occupancy or purchase | Chapter 41 |
| Yearly increase | CPI for the previous 12 months, no hearing needed | Chapter 41 |
| Increase paperwork | 30-day Notice to Quit, calculations, and proof of service filed with the office | Chapter 41 |
| Office start date | Rent oversight in place since May 17, 1973 | Office of Landlord-Tenant Affairs |
How Much Rent Can Go Up Under Atlantic City Rent Control
Under atlantic city rent control, the landlord may raise rent once each year. The raise is limited to the Consumer Price Index for the 12 months before your lease ends. The city publishes the CPI quarterly. However, the city’s website does not list the current percent. As a result, call the Office of Landlord-Tenant Affairs to confirm the exact CPI figure for your lease date.
The CPI raise is not automatic just because the landlord wants it. The unit must be registered first. The landlord must also give you a 30-day Notice to Quit with the math shown. At the same time, the landlord must file a copy, the calculations, and proof of service with the office. If the landlord skips these steps, the increase is void for that year. In that case, you can recover any increase you already paid.
There are two other ways rent can go up. A landlord can apply for a Capital Improvement Surcharge for a major improvement. That surcharge cannot be tied to code violations. A landlord can also apply for a Hardship Increase. For example, one test is whether net operating income is less than 40% of gross maximized annual income. Both need an application to the office, so ask whether one is pending for your building.
One more rule matters a lot. When a tenant leaves voluntarily or by court order, the unit is decontrolled until it is re-rented. The landlord then sets a new rent, and that becomes the new legal base rent. New Jersey law is background here. The atlantic city rent control ordinance is what sets your local limit.
Eviction Protections in This City
Atlantic city rent control limits rent, but eviction rules mostly come from New Jersey state law. New Jersey has a statewide Anti-Eviction Act. In most cases, it means a landlord needs a legal reason, called “good cause,” to evict. However, the city’s landlord-tenant page does not list those reasons. Check the exact grounds with your court or a legal-aid office.
The city page does not list any local relocation payment. As a result, do not assume you are owed one. Ask the Office of Landlord-Tenant Affairs if any relocation help applies to your building. Also watch for vacancy tricks. Because atlantic city rent control lifts when a unit goes vacant, a landlord may gain from pushing you out.
Never ignore court papers. Only a judge can order an eviction in New Jersey. Typically, you still have a chance to raise defenses in court. For example, you may be able to show that an increase broke atlantic city rent control filing rules.
What to Do If Your Landlord Breaks Atlantic City Rent Control Rules
Your first stop is the Office of Landlord-Tenant Affairs. It enforces atlantic city rent control under Chapter 41. City Hall is at 1301 Bacharach Boulevard, Atlantic City, NJ 08401. The city website lists phone numbers in its staff directory. Confirm the current number and filing steps with the office before you go.
Bring proof. For example, bring your lease, rent receipts, and any rent increase notice. Also bring your bank records showing what you paid. Ask the office whether your landlord registered the unit and filed the increase. If they did not, you may be able to get the extra rent back.
If you disagree with the office’s decision, there is an appeal. The Landlord-Tenant Affairs Board reviews cases the office decided. Both tenants and landlords can appeal. Willful violations of Chapter 41 can also bring fines and penalties for the landlord.
📨 Get Free Tenant Rights Guides Alerts
Free · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime
Call a local legal-aid office or a tenant attorney if you face eviction. The same goes if you get court papers or a lockout threat. Legal aid can help you use atlantic city rent control rules as a defense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current rent increase limit under atlantic city rent control?
The limit is the Consumer Price Index for the 12 months before your lease ends. The city publishes the CPI quarterly but does not post the figure online. Call the Office of Landlord-Tenant Affairs to get the exact percent for your lease date.
My building was built in 1995. Am I covered?
If your building has four or more units and was built after June 1987, it is exempt. A smaller building may still fall under atlantic city rent control unless another exemption applies. Ask the office to check your address.
Can my landlord raise the rent without telling the city?
No. Under atlantic city rent control, the landlord must file the notice, math, and proof of service with the office. Otherwise, the increase is void for that year, and you can recover what you overpaid.
Protect your stuff while you sort this out
A landlord’s insurance does not cover your belongings — renters insurance does, often for a few dollars a month. Compare options before your next move.
Find Your State’s Exact Rules
Notice periods, deposit caps, and the eviction timeline all change from state to state. Pick your state to see the exact days, dollar limits, and steps that apply where you live.
See Tenant Rights in All 50 States →
Sources & How to Verify
The rules on this page are drawn from official government and legal-aid sources. Tenant law changes, so always confirm the exact rule with your state’s statute or a local legal-aid office.
- HUD: hud.gov — federal renter protections and fair housing
- Legal Services Corporation: lsc.gov — find free legal aid in your state
- Cornell Legal Information Institute: law.cornell.edu/wex — plain-English legal definitions
- Your state statute & court self-help portal: search “[your state] landlord tenant act” and “[your state] court self-help eviction” for the exact law and forms
Content last reviewed September 2026. If you notice outdated information, please contact us.
New Jersey Renter Guides
- New Jersey Eviction Process
- New Jersey Tenant Rights
- New Jersey Security Deposit Law
- New Jersey Rent Increase Laws
- New Jersey Repairs and Habitability
- Breaking a Lease in New Jersey
Related Guides
- Tenant Rights by State (50-State Guide)
- More in This Category
- Tenant Scenarios — What to Do When…
- Notices, Letters & Documents
- Comparison Guides
- Tenant Rights Legal Glossary
Informational only — not legal advice. Tenant Rights Info is an independent educational resource, not a law firm, and this page does not provide legal advice. Landlord-tenant law varies by state and city and changes over time, so always verify the exact rule with your state’s statute, your local court’s self-help portal, or a legal-aid office. For urgent situations like an active eviction, contact a local legal-aid office or a licensed tenant attorney in your state right away.