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Wildwood, NJ

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STR Regulations for Wildwood, New Jersey

Overview: STR Status in Wildwood, NJ

Short-term rentals are explicitly allowed in Wildwood, NJ, but require a Mercantile License for all rental properties, regardless of rental frequency. The City has implemented enforcement measures and requires property owners to obtain proper licensing before operating. Wildwood Crest, a separate adjacent municipality, has more detailed STR regulations with specific application processes, occupancy limits, and annual inspection requirements.

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Wildwood?

Wildwood hosts earn a median $27,212/year with $346 ADR and 53% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $37,902+ per year.

See the full Wildwood market breakdown

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in This Market

For Wildwood City Properties:

  1. Obtain a Mercantile License from the City Clerk's Office before renting
  2. Register your property and ensure all rental listings reflect license status
  3. Comply with local ordinances including curfew restrictions and nuisance prevention
  4. Screen guests carefully to prevent overcrowding, loud parties, and underage drinking
  5. Post the 10:00 PM curfew notice for minors inside your property

For Wildwood Crest Properties:

  1. Complete the Mercantile Residential Rental License Application for new applications or renewals
  2. Provide detailed floor plan sketches showing all rooms and square footage
  3. Obtain Fire Prevention inspection and annual registration (required for all rental properties)
  4. Secure Certificate of Zoning Use Compliance for new applicants or changes in use
  5. Certify compliance with tax obligations and absence of code violations
  6. Distinguish rental type: Seasonal/Short Term vs. Year-Round/Long Term (>175 days)

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

Wildwood City Requirements:

  • Mercantile License (mandatory for all rental properties)
  • Property registration with city
  • Compliance with 10:00 PM minor curfew
  • Adherence to family-friendly property standards

Wildwood Crest Requirements:

  • Mercantile Residential Rental License Application
  • Detailed floor plan sketch (all rooms, square footage)
  • Fire Prevention inspection and annual registration
  • Certificate of Zoning Use Compliance
  • Property description including number of sleeping rooms
  • Emergency contact information
  • Non-rental certification (if applicable)
  • Year-round lease copies (for long-term rentals >175 days)
  • Owner certification regarding default status and compliance

Additional Guidelines:

  • Properties must be free of tax defaults or code violations
  • Accurate property descriptions must be maintained
  • Compliance with state and local fire safety codes
  • Adherence to occupancy limits (particularly important in Wildwood Crest)

Specific Regulations: City, County, and State

Wildwood City Regulations:

  • Mercantile License requirement applies to all rental properties regardless of frequency
  • 10:00 PM curfew for minors with enforcement capabilities
  • Nuisance prevention standards requiring careful guest screening
  • Family-friendly property standards with expectations for appropriate merchandise/content
  • Active enforcement through city inspector monitoring

Wildwood Crest Regulations:

  • Occupancy limit enforcement addressing discrepancies between advertised capacity and actual capacity
  • Annual fire safety inspections mandatory for all rental properties
  • Zoning compliance certification required for new or changed uses
  • Property type distinction between seasonal/short-term and year-round/long-term rentals
  • Anti-nuisance measures targeting overcrowding and disruptive behavior
  • Licensing penalties up to $2,000 fine, 90 days imprisonment, or 90 days community service for false information

State of New Jersey Regulations:

  • Flavored vape product ban applicable to all retailers including rental properties
  • Minors protection laws prohibiting sales to underage individuals
  • Mercantile licensing statute preventing license issuance to tax-defaulted property owners

Contact Information for Local STR Authorities

Wildwood City:

  • City Hall: (609) 846-2000
  • Address: 4400 New Jersey Ave, Wildwood, NJ 08260
  • City Clerk: Available for Mercantile License applications
  • Code Enforcement: Available for compliance questions
  • Police Department: (609) 522-0222 (for enforcement issues)

Wildwood Crest:

  • Mercantile Licensing Office: (609) 729-8039
  • Email: vmason@wildwoodcrest.org
  • Address: Office of the Borough Clerk, 6101 Pacific Ave, Wildwood Crest, NJ 08260
  • Fire Prevention: (609) 729-5152, Ext. 135 (for annual inspections)
  • General Contact: (609) 522-5176

Links to Source Pages

Important Note: Wildwood and Wildwood Crest are separate municipalities with distinct regulatory frameworks. Property owners must comply with regulations specific to their municipality and should contact the appropriate local authority for property-specific guidance. The detailed regulations and application processes differ significantly between the two communities.

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Wildwood

Market Saturation Score

036912
Moderate Saturation
7/ 12
months with declining YoY revenue
5–7 declining months: moderate saturation risk - market may be nearing capacity.
View Full Wildwood Market Analysis

Photos of Wildwood

Overview of Wildwood

Wildwood is a small coastal city situated on a barrier island known as Five Mile Island in Cape May County, in the southernmost stretch of the New Jersey Shore. With a year-round population of roughly 5,000, the town swells dramatically each summer as visitors pour in for its wide, free beaches, its bustling boardwalk, and its remarkable concentration of 1950s and 1960s "Doo Wop" motels adorned with neon signs and angular space-age architecture. Wildwood serves as a gateway to the broader Cape May region, including the Victorian seaside resort of Cape May at the tip of the peninsula, and lies approximately 35 miles southwest of Atlantic City and roughly 80 to 90 miles southeast of Philadelphia, both of which act as major feeder markets for the area's tourism economy.

The Wildwood Boardwalk is the heartbeat of the island, stretching for about 38 blocks and lined with amusement rides, arcades, water parks, eateries, and shops. Anchored by Morey's Piers, a family-owned complex of amusement and water parks directly on the beach, the boardwalk draws crowds from morning into the late evening, particularly in July and August. The attraction sits essentially within the city, and the wide, gently sloping beaches that front the boardwalk are themselves a major draw, known for being free to the public and broad enough to accommodate large numbers of visitors.

A short drive south, about 20 minutes, brings travelers to Cape May, the country's oldest seaside resort and a National Historic Landmark city celebrated for its preserved Victorian homes, the Cape May Lighthouse, and the nearby Cape May Point State Park at the southern tip of New Jersey. Sunset Beach, just beyond the lighthouse, is famous for its unobstructed western views and the occasional arrival of Cape May diamonds, small quartz pebbles polished by the surf. Birdwatchers also pass through in large numbers during migration seasons to explore the surrounding wetlands and the Cape May Bird Observatory.

Within walking distance of central Wildwood, the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse in neighboring North Wildwood offers a quieter, more reflective stop. Built in 1874, the lighthouse is surrounded by a small park and gardens and remains a charming counterpoint to the high-energy boardwalk just a few blocks away. The surrounding inlet also provides opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and views of the Intracoastal Waterway.

Wildwood's combination of an iconic, high-energy boardwalk, free and unusually wide beaches, distinctive mid-century architecture, and easy access to the historic charms of Cape May makes it a compelling base for short-term rentals. Its proximity to the densely populated corridor between Philadelphia and New York City, paired with strong summer demand and shoulder-season appeal from birding and festival visitors, gives the market a wide and varied audience of potential guests.

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