JACKSON TOWNSHIP, NJ – One month after forming its new Bureau of Rental Housing, Jackson Township still has no certified inspectors to enforce rental codes. Yet, the Township Council is preparing to vote on another housing measure — a new licensing requirement aimed at regulating property managers overseeing rental units.
At the last township council meeting, Council President Mordechai Burnstein announced that former political opponent Hope Drew had been the only hire for the department, but Drew has not yet attained certification.
At this time, the new Bureau of Housing Rentals does not have any certified inspectors, yet continues to take $100 inspection fees from landlords for the service, which Burnstein said may, or may not happen in the near future.
The proposed law, Ordinance No. 2026-01, would establish Chapter 319 of the township code, titled “Property Management License.” Under the measure, anyone managing residential or commercial rental properties in Jackson — including those collecting rent on behalf of an owner — must register annually with the Township Clerk and maintain a valid New Jersey real estate license.
The move comes as the township faces mounting criticism over its lack of staffing in the Bureau of Rental Housing, created in January to monitor the town’s growing rental market and address long-standing concerns about illegal and unsafe rentals. Without inspectors, however, the new bureau has yet to perform a single property inspection.
Township seeks to curb “unregistered” property managers
Officials say the new ordinance is intended to close regulatory loopholes and ensure only licensed professionals handle rental properties. Registration would cost $100 per property manager, with violations punishable by fines of up to $2,500 for repeat offenses.
To register, property managers must provide proof of real estate licensure, business contact details, a list of all Jackson properties they oversee, and the name of any supervising broker. The ordinance also cites N.J.S.A. 45:15, the state law governing real estate licensing, which classifies property management as a licensed real estate activity.
Enforcement questions remain
Despite the ordinance’s stated goals, township officials have not explained how enforcement will proceed while the Bureau of Rental Housing remains without certified inspectors. The law would take effect upon adoption and publication, with the first annual registration deadline set for January 30 of each year.
Key takeaways
• Jackson Township plans to adopt a new law requiring property managers to register and hold real estate licenses.
• The ordinance follows the creation of a rental housing bureau that still lacks certified inspectors.
• Violators could face fines of up to $2,500 per offense once enforcement begins.
The ordinance was introduced on January 27, 2026, and is slated for final adoption at the council’s next meeting on February 10, 2026.
