Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Cape May County, NJ

Airbnb listings are allowed in Cape May County, NJ, but with restrictions. STRs are defined as rentals of less than 175 consecutive days and require municipal licensing and inspection; owners must maintain liability insurance (per P.L. 2022, c.92), designate a managing agent residing in Cape May County, and comply with the Uniform Fire Safety Act and local zoning/occupancy limits. A permit is required before you can host. These rules apply to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.) — not just Airbnb specifically. See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

STRs are defined as rentals of less than 175 consecutive days and require municipal licensing and inspection; owners must maintain liability insurance (per P.L. 2022, c.92), designate a managing agent residing in Cape May County, and comply with the Uniform Fire Safety Act and local zoning/occupancy limits.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Cape May County. 1) File a rental unit registration/mercantile license application with the municipal Clerk or Licensing office prior to renting; 2) Pay the required fee, provide a certificate of liability insurance, and schedule required safety/fire inspections; 3) Obtain the annual license, affix the issued decal to the unit, and renew annually.

1) File a rental unit registration/mercantile license application with the municipal Clerk or Licensing office prior to renting; 2) Pay the required fee, provide a certificate of liability insurance, and schedule required safety/fire inspections; 3) Obtain the annual license, affix the issued decal to the unit, and renew annually.

Vrbo is permitted in Cape May County, NJ under the same restrictions that apply to Airbnb — local rules govern the rental itself, not the specific platform. You must hold a valid permit before hosting on Vrbo. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Cape May County are typically responsible for lodging, occupancy, and applicable sales taxes — these usually apply even where hosting is allowed without a permit. Rates and remittance rules vary by jurisdiction (state, county, and city can each levy a share); confirm the current rates with the official source linked on this page. Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo collect some taxes automatically, but the host remains liable for any not collected on their behalf.

We are not currently tracking any recent short-term rental ordinance changes for Cape May County. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.