New Jersey Towns Debate Short-Term Rentals Ahead of World Cup

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A New Jersey town near MetLife Stadium is considering banning short-term rentals ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The proposal would ban rentals under 30 days and impose fines up to $2,000 per day.
The move highlights growing uncertainty for STR operators as World Cup demand spreads across the New York metro area.

As operators across the New York metro area race to capitalize on the 2026 FIFA World Cup lodging boom, some New Jersey towns are moving in the opposite direction.

Mountainside Borough, an area less than an hour from MetLife Stadium, is considering doing a sweeping ban on short-term rentals, highlighting the inconsistent STR rules property managers face across towns, as World Cup demand continues to spread beyond official host cities to meet housing demand. .

The area introduced an ordinance banning all short-term rentals of 30 days or less, with fines of up to $2,000 per day, ahead of the sporting event.

It was introduced on first reading at a May work session and is now expected to return for a second reading and public hearing on June 2.

The borough isn’t on FIFA’s host-city list. But it sits within a one-hour drive of MetLife Stadium and is in commuter range of Manhattan, putting it squarely in the spillover zone where fans will be hunting for inventory when host-city lodging fills up.

The move comes as World Cup occupancy in the New York–New Jersey metro area has been running more than 20 times higher than the same point last year, according to a report from Rental Scale-Up.

The Mountainside council is scheduled to meet on May 19 to deliberate next steps.

What this means for property managers near MetLife

For property managers with inventory in any New Jersey town within roughly 30 miles of MetLife — particularly in Union, Essex, Bergen, and Hudson counties — Mountainside is the early indicator of rising uncertainty around STR regulations.

Meanwhile, Hoboken has remained essentially lighlty-regulated – for now at least, and listings there have surged as operators position for tournament demand. Same state, similar proximity to a host venue, two opposite regulatory responses.

A large stadium filled with fans, showcasing red and blue seating. Players are warming up on the green field, with a scoreboard visible and clouds in the sky.

Mountainside acting unilaterally could put pressure on Union County to coordinate a county-level framework, particularly if Hoboken-style surges develop in nearby Springfield, Berkeley Heights, or Westfield.

New Jersey regulatory exposure currently varies block-by-block, not state-by-state.

Whether the borough’s neighbors follow Mountainside’s lead is the next data point that will determine whether operators in the tri-state area can capitalize on World Cup demand or face enforcement risk.