East Brunswick Tightens Short-Term Rental Rules to Address Noise, Parking Complaints

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — East Brunswick aims to strengthen its regulations on short-term rentals after residents raised concerns about disruptive activities, including the rental of backyard swimming pools.

Mayor Brad Cohen told the Township Council about a recent incident where a resident was renting out their backyard swimming pool by the hour, similar to an Airbnb model. The rental included additional charges for amenities such as a tiki bar, internet access, and volleyball equipment.

"People from all over come in and park on the roadways, which are public roads. We can't stop them from doing that," Cohen said. "They're up to the wee hours with loud noises, making messes, leaving dirt and garbage on people's property and on the roads, and it is a quality-of-life issue for those that live around here."

Cohen said that while such activities might be acceptable on large properties with extensive acreage, most East Brunswick residents don't have that luxury.

"When somebody takes it upon themselves to do things like this, it has a direct impact on all of their neighbors, and that's not fair," the mayor said.

In response, the Township Council introduced an ordinance that aims to amend. Chapter 182 of the Township Code governing short-term rentals. The ordinance includes several key provisions, they are:

• Rental Limits: Non-owner-occupied short-term rentals are limited to 90 total nights per calendar year, with each night beyond that limit considered a separate violation.
• Booking Service Registration: It is now unlawful for booking services like Airbnb, VRBO, or Booking.com to charge fees for short-term rentals unless they register with the Township's Code Enforcement Officer. Booking services must verify that properties have obtained the necessary permits and pay an annual registration fee of $100.
• Advertising Restrictions: Any short-term rental property advertised publicly—whether through physical signs, social media, rental websites, newspapers, or other platforms—without a valid permit will be subject to fines and penalties.
• Compliance Requirements: Property owners using booking services must provide the listing identifier and service name to the Township's Department of Planning and Engineering. Any new listings must be reported before being used to book rentals.
• Occupancy Limits: It is unlawful for owners or agents to allow more people than the posted maximum occupancy to stay in or occupy a residential structure.

Violations can result in fines and penalties for transient occupants, property owners, and any short-term rental agents or responsible parties. Repeated violations may lead to permit revocation or suspension.

The amendments aim to balance property rights with neighborhood quality of life, ensuring that short-term rental activities don't negatively impact surrounding residents.

A public hearing on the ordinance will be held on Oct. 13.

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