No Airbnbs Allowed In Bloomfield, Town Reminds Residents

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Did you just book an Airbnb in Bloomfield? You may want to double check that reservation, because the town doesn’t allow it, officials say.

The Bloomfield Division of Public Safety released the following advisory on Wednesday:

“The Township of Bloomfield does not allow Airbnbs. If anyone in town is aware of any violations, please contact Deputy Zoning Officer Rob Beese at rbeese@bloomfieldtwpnj.com or the Bloomfield Police Detective Bureau at 973-680-4084. Anyone found in violation will be summonsed with Township Ordinance Chapter 433 (rental property, short-term).”

According to §433-2 of the town code:

“No residential premises, including dwelling houses, apartments, rooming houses or boarding houses or any parts thereof or rooms therein, except duly licensed hotels and motels, shall be rented or let for occupancy by any person or persons for a period or term of less than 30 days.”

Here’s how the town code defines a “short-term rental”:

“Rental of a dwelling unit, or any part of a dwelling unit, including any accessory building, structure or use to the dwelling unit, including but not limited to, a vehicle parked on the property, for 30 consecutive days or less, excluding community residences, shelters, adult family-care homes, a residence temporarily occupied by the owner of another residential property within the Township then undergoing construction activity, or the extension of a month-to-month basis, of an existing lease with a term of at least six months' duration, by the existing tenant.”

There are some exceptions, the town code notes:

“The residential occupancy of an otherwise lawful and lawfully occupied dwelling unit for a period of 30 days or less by any person who is a member of the housekeeping unit of the owner, without consideration, such as house guests, is permitted.”

The penalties can be stiff, according to town code:

“Any person found to have violated any provision of this chapter, without regard to intent or knowledge, shall be liable for the maximum civil penalty, upon adjudicated violation or admission, of a fine not exceeding $1,250. Each day of such violation shall be a new and separate violation of this chapter. The penalty imposed herein shall be in addition to any and all other remedies that may accrue under any other law, including, but not limited to, eviction proceedings and/or injunction, reasonable attorneys' fees or other fees and costs, in the Township's Municipal Court or the Superior Court of New Jersey, Essex County Vicinage, or in such other court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction, by either summary disposition or by zoning or construction code municipal proceeding.”

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Sign up for Patch email newsletters. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Bloomfield Facebook page.