Apartments and Homes for Rent in Fair Lawn, NJ
Rentals in Fair Lawn range from apartments to whole houses, and the current listings are below. This page covers what is specific to renting in Fair Lawn, Bergen County: how local rent rules apply, what landlords ask for, and what to check before you sign.
Does Fair Lawn have rent control?
Yes. The Borough of Fair Lawn regulates rents under a local ordinance, administered by its Rent Leveling Board.
The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs lists Fair Lawn as having a rent control ordinance in its 2026 Rent Control Survey, a review of the codes of ordinances of all 564 New Jersey municipalities. The survey names the Rent Leveling Board as the administering body and gives (201) 564-6152 as the number for more information. The ordinance text is published on the municipal code.
Fair Lawn's ordinance reaches further than most. The DCA survey records the units-in-structure threshold here as 1 or more, meaning the ordinance is not limited to larger apartment buildings. Neighboring Elmwood Park uses 4 or more, and neighboring Saddle Brook and Ridgewood have no rent control ordinance on record, so three different rules apply within a short drive. If you are renting a single unit or a house in Fair Lawn, do not assume the ordinance does not apply to you. The ordinance lists its own exceptions, so ask, and confirm with the borough.
What that means when you are looking. Ask the landlord whether the unit is subject to the local rent control ordinance, and if the answer matters to you, confirm it with the Rent Leveling Board before you sign. I do not publish the allowable increase percentages here, on purpose. They change, they can differ by category of tenant and by type of building, and the DCA survey itself states that it is only as current as the published municipal codes and directs you to your town's rent control board for accurate and up to date information and rates. That board is the source, not an article.
What will a Fair Lawn landlord ask you for?
The same things landlords across New Jersey ask for, and having them ready before you view is what decides who gets the place:
- Photo identification.
- Proof of income, such as recent pay stubs, an offer letter, or tax returns if you are self-employed.
- Employment confirmation.
- Previous landlord references, where you have them.
- Whatever the landlord requires for a credit check.
A landlord cannot refuse you because you pay with a housing voucher. The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination protects lawful source of income, including vouchers and other rental assistance, and the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights enforces it.
Many New Jersey municipalities require an inspection before a new tenant moves in. It is the landlord's responsibility and it can move a move-in date, so ask whether Fair Lawn requires one as soon as your application is accepted.
The full renting process, the costs up front and the questions renters ask are on the rentals page for Northern New Jersey.
Renting in Fair Lawn before buying
A year renting in a town tells you things research will not, and plenty of people rent first on purpose. If that is your plan, say so at the start, because it changes which lease makes sense. Homes for sale are on the Fair Lawn listings page, the wider county is on the Bergen County page, and how buying works in New Jersey is set out step by step.
I am Reshmee Jugmohun, a licensed New Jersey real estate agent with Prominent Properties Sotheby's International Realty, and I work with renters and buyers throughout Bergen County. I am not a property manager and not an attorney: once you move in, your relationship is with the landlord, and a lease review goes to a New Jersey attorney.
