1. File before renting—or offering to rent
Sea Isle City Code Chapter 11 says a dwelling unit cannot be rented or offered for rent without a permit from the City Clerk. The permit expires April 30 and must be renewed annually for each dwelling unit.
The 2026 packet lists a $150 payment due May 1. It also prints a $200 amount after May 31; the Clerk FAQ describes this as the standard fee plus a $50 late charge. Confirm the current amount with the Clerk if filing late.
Open Sea Isle City Clerk forms2. Resolve the Cape May County contact requirement
The application asks the owner to identify the rental agency or designate a contact who can receive notices of city-code violations. For privately rented units, Chapter 11 requires the contact person to reside in Cape May County during the rental period unless the owner meets the code’s local-residency exception.
Do not list someone without their approval. The application requires the owner to certify that the contact agreed to serve.
Read Sea Isle rental-housing code3. Complete the city’s self-inspection—not a generic checklist
The city packet asks about rotted deck components, exits and locks, windows, roof leaks, exposed wiring, floors and ceilings, plumbing, grounded kitchen and bath fixtures, ventilation, heat, trash cans and occupancy.
It also asks about smoke detectors near bedroom doors, a portable fire extinguisher near the kitchen, carbon-monoxide detection where gas or an attached garage applies, square footage, bedrooms and lavatories. Answer every item and date the certification; the packet says incomplete forms will be returned.
Open the 2026 rental application and self-inspection4. Submit liability-insurance evidence
The city’s current form requires proof of liability insurance with the application and states a minimum of $500,000 for combined property damage and bodily injury or death in one occurrence. The code says a permit will not be issued without the certificate registered with the Clerk.
Confirm that the policy accurately reflects the property’s rental use and that the certificate supplied matches the named owner and unit.
Review the city’s current rental packet5. Treat maximum occupancy as an operating control
The application requires a maximum number of occupants. Chapter 11 ties the number to sleeping accommodations and habitable floor area and prohibits owners or tenants from exceeding the posted maximum.
Keep the advertised sleeping capacity, signed lease, guest instructions and posted occupancy number consistent. More beds in marketing do not override the permitted limit.
Review Chapter 11 occupancy provisions6. Post the permit and the tenant rules
Chapter 11 requires the rental permit to be displayed at or near the main entrance in a location visible from the exterior. It separately requires the city-provided laminated rules list to remain conspicuously posted inside the rental unit.
Build both items into the pre-season photo checklist. The code also requires owners to advise tenants that their lease is subject to the city rental chapter.
Read the posting requirementsFor general planning only—not legal, insurance, code or safety advice. Forms, fees and interpretations can change; confirm the current requirements with Sea Isle City and qualified professionals for the specific property.