Erin Lanahan 
As New Jersey prepares to host several 2026 World Cup matches, including the tournament championship at MetLife Stadium, cities are getting ready to welcome over a million soccer fans to the area. Housing options for the tournament seem slim, with certain towns banning Airbnb short-term rentals. Because there’s a lack of regulation in Hoboken around Airbnb rentals, city council members are working to enact new legislation to protect residents and renters ahead of the sports tournament. Here’s what we know about the state of Airbnb rentals in Hoboken ahead of the 2026 World Cup tournament in New Jersey.
Hoboken Airbnbs
The City of Hoboken lacks regulations and restrictions on short-term rentals. According to The Gothamist, Hoboken City Council members are working to enact new legislation before the World Cup Tournament arrives in two months.
”The reality is that these short-term rentals are going to happen and so what we want to do is take this market out of the gray zone,” Hoboken Councilmember Joe Quintero tells The Gothamist. “If we don’t have clear rules set, it will be the Wild West.” The Hoboken Girl reached out to Councilman Quintero for more information and will update this piece when we hear back.
Councilman Quintero reportedly wants to prohibit rent-controlled apartments in Hoboken from being used as short-term rentals, plus impose a hotel tax on Airbnb, VRBO, and other listings. The Hoboken Girl reached out to Hoboken City Hall and City Council for more information and will update this piece when we hear back.
A spokesperson for Hoboken City Hall shared the following statement with HG: “At this time, the Administration is working with the City Council to consider regulating short-term rentals in Hoboken. As part of this discussion, we are focused on understanding how short-term rentals may affect housing availability, affordability, and quality of life conditions for all residents. We are also in discussion with surrounding communities about the framework that they have in place to address short-term rentals. Our approach will involve common-sense measures around safety, accountability, and minimizing quality of life disruptions. Ultimately, any regulations would be voted upon by the Hoboken City Council, with community engagement, as part of this public process.”
“The upcoming World Cup has brought this topic into sharper focus, as it will draw more visitors to our area. Short-term rentals could help meet that demand while supporting the local economy,” City Hall added. “At the same time, we have to make sure that our residents’ quality of life is protected and consider the long-term impacts beyond the event. The Mayor looks forward to working with the City Council to determine how we can best address this important issue.”
Read More: Where to Watch Soccer in Hoboken + Jersey City
Hoboken is reportedly seeing a spike in demand for Airbnbs around World Cup match dates in New Jersey. As of April 2026, there are nearly 300 homes available for short-term rental on Airbnb for weekends in June.
Back in 2021, Hoboken City Council members pushed to block short-term rentals in rent-controlled properties. Emily Jabbour, then-councilperson and current mayor of Hoboken, co-sponsored the amendment.
The proposed amendment read: “Any dwelling unit otherwise subject to the provisions of this chapter shall be prohibited from utilizing said property for short-term Rentals. Any rental of a dwelling unit subject to this Chapter for a period that is longer than twenty-eight consecutive days shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter. Penalties for violations of this Section shall be $500 for the first offense, $1,250.00 for the second offense, and $2,000 for every offense thereafter. Each day that a unit is rented in violation of this chapter shall be considered a separate offense.” The city planned to direct the proceeds of all fines to the city’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
This amendment also brought to light that a Hoboken City Council member was renting out his apartment on Airbnb. The Hoboken Girl previously reported that Councilman Mike DeFusco’s Airbnb profile showed residents of multiple states had stayed at his Hoboken apartment since August 2020, which was still during COVID-19 travel restrictions.
In April of 2021, DeFusco told TapInto that the short-term rentals lasted only “a few days in duration” and that he followed all guidelines from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Emily Jabbour criticized his Airbnb practices, saying he took advantage of the loophole for rent-controlled apartments.
This ordinance did not pass in 2021. It was tabled and put on hold following debates over its potential impact on affordable housing.
New Jersey Areas Restricting Airbnbs
Jersey City’s short-term rental laws are strict. Short-term rentals are generally only permitted in the host’s primary residence in Jersey City. If the owner is not on-site, rentals are capped at a maximum of 60 nights per year. Renters cannot list units, and owners must reside on-site for most rentals, with mandatory registration, inspections, and a $500,000 liability insurance requirement. More detailed information on becoming an Airbnb host in Jersey City can be found online.
In March of 2026, Kearny approved a ban against all short-term apartment rentals in their respective towns ahead of the World Cup. It applies to short-term rentals through companies like Airbnb and VRBO. Union City, Weehawken, and West New York already banned the vacation stays.
Kearny adopted an ordinance back in 2017 that banned short-term rental sof single family homes for less than 30 days. Now, the town expanded that ordinance to include all other forms of residential units, such as multi-family buildings.
There are some hefty fines that come with violations of the expanded ordinance. Each violation will accrue a $750 fine per day until rectified or 10 days in jail. After the second violation, the fine increases to $1,200 and possibly 20 days in jail. A third violation will see the maximum fine increase up to $2,000 and 30 days in jail.
North Bergen approved its own set of restrictions for short-term rentals in March 2026. The updated ordinance limits short-term rentals to only certain owner-occupied buildings. It limits rentals to a maximum of 60 nights per year and prohibits tenants from operating short-term rentals. It requires property owners to get an annual permit and provide documentation, which includes proof of residency, insurance coverage, and safety inspections. It also requires the owner to designate a responsible party to be available 24 hours a day to address any concerns at the rental. Property owners are only allowed to hold a maximum of two short-term rental permits within North Bergen.
The World Cup Airbnb Bonus
In an effort to increase rental listings before the World Cup begins, Airbnb promoted a special bonus for new hosts listing their homes this summer. New hosts could get an extra $750 reward for hosting their first guests by July 31, 2026. The bonus is extended to new hosts in event zones across North America, including New York and New Jersey.
See More: 5 NJ Cities to Host World Cup Fan Celebrations
Data from Airbnb shows searches for stays in these host cities are increasing by an average of 80% compared to the same time last year.
Millions of fans are expected to attend the World Cup this summer, and Airbnb reports that New York and New Jersey residents could earn $5,700 on average by renting out their space during the massive tournament.
Active Airbnb hosts are not eligible for the incentive, yet they can still earn referral bonuses. Host referral rewards were increased in some locations, allowing current hosts to earn between $185 and $1,160 for referring new hosts in key match cities through March 31, 2026.
“Demand for World Cup stays on Airbnb is surging, giving residents of host cities the opportunity to boost their incomes by sharing their homes and the communities they love,” Dave Stephenson, Chief Business Officer at Airbnb, shared in an online statement.
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