Newark Council Banned Broker Fees for Renters

City officials passed a new ordinance prohibiting property owners from charging tenants for broker services.

Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Apartments

Newark Council Banned Broker Fees for Renters

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Should city governments ban property owners from charging broker fees to apartment renters?

The Newark City Council has approved an ordinance that eliminates broker fees for apartment renters. Property owners and their agents are now prohibited from shifting the costs of these services to tenants.

Why it matters

This legislation aims to reduce the upfront costs associated with securing a new apartment in the city. By requiring landlords to absorb broker fees, the ordinance prevents agents from passing those financial burdens onto prospective residents.

The Newark City Council approved the ordinance in a unanimous vote. Landlords are now legally required to pay broker fees themselves rather than passing those costs to tenants through rent increases.

The players

Newark City Council

This is the primary legislative body responsible for governing the city of Newark and enacting local ordinances.

The details

The newly passed ordinance mandates that if a landlord chooses to hire an agent, they must bear the cost of that service independently. Property owners are strictly forbidden from circumventing this rule by increasing rent to recover the cost of broker fees.

September 24, 2026: City officials announced the elimination of broker fees.

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Culture Shift

This ordinance aligns with a growing movement to increase transparency in real estate transactions and lower the barriers to housing access. It follows the Newark residential rental broker fee prohibition ordinance as a decisive step toward changing how residents secure apartments.

Prospective renters in Newark can expect to avoid paying broker fees when signing new apartment leases moving forward. This shift will likely reduce the total cash needed at the time of move-in for those seeking housing in the city.

The takeaway

Renters should verify their lease agreements to ensure that no broker costs are being passed to them in violation of the new city mandate. Prospective tenants can now anticipate lower upfront out-of-pocket costs when applying for apartments.