Short-Term Rental Laws in Wildwood, New Jersey

Wildwood (along with Wildwood Crest, North Wildwood, and West Wildwood — four separate municipalities sharing "the Wildwoods" island) operates an STR-friendly framework consistent with its tourism-driven economy. STR is permitted by right in nearly all residential and resort zones. Wildwood's motel-and-condo-heavy housing stock makes STR the default operating mode for much of the inventory. Annual Rental Property License + life-safety inspection required. Each of the four Wildwoods municipalities has its OWN license process — confirm which jurisdiction your parcel is in before applying.

Operators must hold a short-term rental permit before listing. See the official permit portal.

Wildwood Code Enforcement issues annual Rental Property Licenses with life-safety inspection. Application requires proof of insurance, 24/7 local responsible-party contact, smoke/CO/fire extinguisher self-certification, posted occupancy, and parking plan. NJ State Transient Accommodations Tax (5% occupancy fee + 6.625% sales tax) collected separately by NJ Division of Taxation. Cape May County's 2% tourism fee applies on top. Operating without a license: per-day fines + back-tax + cease-rental risk. The four-Wildwoods enforcement coordination is loose; confirm jurisdiction.

Combined short-term lodging tax in Wildwood is approximately 13.625% of gross nightly revenue (state sales + state TRT + local TRT + applicable resort/city options).

NJ State sales 6.625% + NJ State occupancy fee 5% + Cape May County tourism fee 2% — combined ~13.625% on transient lodging

Verify the current combined rate via the Utah State Tax Commission before remitting — rates drift quarterly.