The Township Council has approved a new licensing chapter in a 5-2 vote, signaling a major shift in how local hotels are regulated.
Under the new amendment, hotel owners must now pay an annual registration fee of $250 plus $20 per room.
The law also introduces heavy penalties for non-compliance, with fines reaching up to $2,000 per day for violations. Beyond the financial impact, hotels are now required to maintain detailed guest logs and must submit to regular inspections from code, health, and fire officials. Failure to meet these new standards could result in the suspension or permanent revocation of a business license.
The new ordinance limits guests to stay to 89 consecutive days unless the hotel receives written notice from the township business administrator for specific circumstances. Some exceptions include shorth term housing needs related to work, home repairs or relocating victims of domestic violence.
Piscataway police will also have access to the guest list in these properties, something that the ACLU sees as unconstitutional.
Some Homeless advocates are concerned for those who really use these motels as a lifeline, may unnecessarily get caught up in this new ordinance.
The push for stricter hotel licensing comes as Mayor Brian Wahler revealed data regarding crime and emergency responses at two local properties.
According to the Mayor police and emergency crews responded to 680 incidents calls from Motel 6 and 175 calls at the Extended Stay since January.
The mayor noted that these aren’t just minor complains. The calls involve crime activity, including theft, disorderly conduct, harassment, prostitution and evidence of a meth lab. “It’s really taxing our police department, and our emergency services, because it’s not just the PD responding to calls. It’s also EMS it’s fire,” Saia Mayor Wahler
