Rent Cap Ledger

Trenton · City ordinance

What's the maximum rent increase in Trenton for 2026?

4%

Official figure · checked Oct 18, 2026

Trenton's rent control limits increases to 4% in 2026, or 2% for senior citizens and disabled tenants, under Ordinance 024-028.

In effect
January – December 2026
Next change
No fixed date
Set by
City of Trenton Rent Stabilization Board · City ordinance
Last checked
October 18, 2026

Where 4% sits

The 2026 limit: 4% for standard tenants and 2% for senior citizens and disabled tenants.

  • Standard tenants4%
  • Senior citizens and disabled tenants2%

§ 1 · The formula

How the Trenton cap is calculated

4% (2% seniors/disabled)

Since Ordinance 024-028 (effective June 2024), a fixed maximum: 4.0% for standard tenants and 2.0% for senior citizens and disabled tenants, who must submit proof of age or disability. Larger increases require a petition to the Rent Stabilization Board.

Law: Trenton Rent Control (City Code ch. 222; Ordinance 024-028).

§ 2 · Coverage

Who it covers, and who's exempt

Covered

  • Rental units covered by Trenton's rent control ordinance

Main exemptions & conditions

  • Seniors and disabled tenants: 2% with proof of age or disability
  • Exemptions listed in the ordinance

§ 3 · Timing

Notice, and when it changes next

Notice: Not stated on the city page we track.

Next change: No scheduled change: the 4% and 2% limits are set by ordinance.

Cost of living here

Rents and prices around Trenton

Official figures only, each for the area named. Prices are for the wider metro area; rents and incomes are for the city itself.

Price level

Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area · BEA 2024

All items103.2
Housing135.1

Regional Price Parities: an index where the US average price level for all items = 100. Housing is BEA’s “Services: Housing” line (US = 100.6).

Fair Market Rents

Trenton-Princeton, NJ MSA · HUD FY2027

HUD Fair Market Rent per month by unit size, Trenton-Princeton, NJ MSA
Studio$1,561
1 bedroom$1,764
2 bedrooms$2,242
3 bedrooms$2,741
4 bedrooms$3,081

Monthly gross rent (rent plus utilities). HUD: FMRs are “estimates of 40th percentile gross rents for standard quality units”.

Rents and incomes

Trenton city, New Jersey · ACS 2020–2024 5-year

Median gross rent
$1,294/mo US $1,413/mo
Median household income
$52,537 US $80,734
Median rent as % of household income
34.0% US 30.6%

Gross rent includes utilities. The rent-to-income figure is for renter households (Census table B25071).

Sources

  1. BEA Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area (MARPP) ↗ · 2024 (released February 19, 2026) · about the data ↗ · retrieved Oct 18, 2026
  2. OMB metropolitan area delineations (Census list 1, July 2023) ↗ · July 2023 (OMB Bulletin 23-01) · retrieved Oct 18, 2026
  3. HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2027 (county-level data file) ↗ · FY2027 · about the data ↗ · retrieved Oct 18, 2026
  4. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (tables B25064, B19013, B25071) ↗ · 2020–2024 · about the data ↗ · retrieved Oct 18, 2026

Compare Trenton with another city → All places ranked → Can I afford my rent? →

§ 4 · Sources

Official sources

  1. City of Trenton · headline figure Rent Stabilization Board ↗
    “Per Ordinance 024-028 (effective June 2024), the maximum allowable rent increases are: 4.0% for standard tenants 2.0% for senior citizens and disabled tenants”
    Last checked October 18, 2026 · trentonnj.org
  2. City of Trenton · 2026 figure Allowable Rent Increase History ↗
    “2026 January - December - 4% Tenants , 2% Senior and Disabled Tenants”
    Last checked October 18, 2026 · trentonnj.org

See something out of date? The methodology page explains how we check figures.

§ 5 · Questions

Frequently asked

What is the maximum rent increase in Trenton for 2026?

Trenton's rent control limits increases to 4% in 2026, or 2% for senior citizens and disabled tenants, under Ordinance 024-028.

How is the Trenton rent cap calculated?

Since Ordinance 024-028 (effective June 2024), a fixed maximum: 4.0% for standard tenants and 2.0% for senior citizens and disabled tenants, who must submit proof of age or disability. Larger increases require a petition to the Rent Stabilization Board.

Which rentals are exempt from the Trenton cap?

Seniors and disabled tenants: 2% with proof of age or disability. Exemptions listed in the ordinance.

When does the Trenton rent cap change next?

No scheduled change: the 4% and 2% limits are set by ordinance.

Where does this Trenton figure come from?

From City of Trenton: “Rent Stabilization Board”, which we last checked on October 18, 2026. Always confirm with the agency before relying on it.

Same state

Other caps in New Jersey

Elsewhere

Other jurisdictions