Not legal advice. This is a free reference compiled from official government sources. Laws change and local details matter. Confirm every deadline with the official source or a licensed attorney before you rely on it.
Last verified: · Confidence: low
Rental registration and licensing
State, county and city programs that require owners to register or license rental units, often every year.
| Where | Rule | Deadline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | Check city/town for rental registration or pre-rental inspection (smoke/CO) | Ongoing requirement with no fixed date | verified, medium confidence, checked 2026-10-20 |
| New Jersey | Landlord registration statement for 1-2 unit non-owner-occupied rentals (municipal clerk); amend within 20 days of changes | File before renting (no eviction allowed while unregistered); amend within 20 days after any change; notify tenants within 7 days of filing an amendment | verified, medium confidence, checked 2026-10-20 |
| New Jersey | Register 3+ unit buildings with DCA Bureau of Housing Inspection; certificate of registration filed annually | Every year from the registration date | verified, medium confidence, checked 2026-10-20 |
| Maryland | Register pre-1978 rental properties with MDE and renew by December 31 each year | Every year by December 31 | verified, high confidence, checked 2026-10-20 |
| Montgomery County, MD | Rental housing license: license year July 1-June 30; renewal payment due July 31 | Every year by July 31 | verified, medium confidence, checked 2026-10-20 |
| Jersey City, NJ | Annual landlord registration statement with Office of Landlord/Tenant Relations (rent control) | Every year from the registration date | verified, low confidence, checked 2026-10-20 |
| Boston, MA | Annual rental registration with ISD by July 1 | Every year by July 1 | verified, medium confidence, checked 2026-10-20 |
| Newark, NJ | Annual rental unit registration with Office of Rent Control; certificate of habitability before renting | Every year from the registration date | verified, high confidence, checked 2026-10-20 |
| New York City, NY | HPD annual property registration (due September 1) | Every year by September 1 | verified, medium confidence, checked 2026-10-20 |
| Jersey City, NJ | Landlord registration form: 1-2 unit non-owner-occupied with City Clerk; give tenant a signed copy | Before renting; give each new tenant a copy to sign and date as received | verified, medium confidence, checked 2026-10-20 |
| New York City, NY | Property registration fee ($13) on DOF statement, due July 1 | Every year by July 1 | verified, medium confidence, checked 2026-10-20 |
| Baltimore City, MD | Register non-owner-occupied dwellings: within 10 days of transfer and every January 1 | Every year by January 1 | verified, medium confidence, checked 2026-10-20 |
| Buffalo, NY | Rental dwelling unit registration: renew annually (apply within 60 days before expiration) | Every year from the registration issue date; apply within the 60 days before it expires | verified, high confidence, checked 2026-10-20 |
| Philadelphia, PA | Rental License: renew annually | Every year from the license expiration | verified, medium confidence, checked 2026-10-20 |
Other topics: Security deposit return · Deposit receipts and bank notices · Security deposit interest · Rental inspections and certificates · Smoke and CO alarms · Lead paint disclosure and certifications · Required tenant notices · Rent increase notice · Non-renewal and termination notice · Notice before entry · Income tax filing · Estimated tax payments · Information returns (1099s).