A plain-English overview of the New Jersey statutes most landlords run into. Each section links to the relevant statute or the official NJ DCA reference where available.
This is a general reference, not legal advice.
Statute summaries are educational. They are not a substitute for review by a licensed New Jersey attorney for your specific situation.
N.J.S.A. 46:8-43 to 46:8-50
Landlords must distribute the NJ DCA "Statement of Legal Rights and Responsibilities" to new tenants at or before move-in, post a copy in a prominent location, and update annually.
Official reference →N.J.S.A. 46:8-19 to 46:8-26
Maximum deposit: 1.5 months’ rent. Must be held in an interest-bearing account at a NJ federally insured bank. Tenant must receive bank disclosure within 30 days of receipt. Deposit must be returned within 30 days of lease end with itemized deductions.
N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1 et seq.
Tenants can only be evicted for one of the statutory grounds (non-payment, disorderly conduct, lease violation, etc.). All evictions require court process; self-help eviction (changing locks, shutting off utilities) is prohibited and gives rise to damages.
N.J.A.C. 5:29 (state) + 42 U.S.C. 4852d (federal)
Required for properties built before 1978. Landlord must provide the EPA "Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home" pamphlet, disclose known lead hazards, and give the tenant a 10-day window to inspect before signing. Records must be kept for at least 3 years.
P.L. 2023, c. 1 (effective 2024)
For properties with 3 or more units (and any property in a FEMA flood zone): provide a separate flood disclosure rider in 12pt+ font, signed by the tenant. Disclose flood-zone status, past flooding knowledge, and NFIP information.
100+ municipal ordinances
Over 100 NJ municipalities have local rent-control ordinances with annual increase caps and registration requirements that vary by town. The state has no statewide rent cap. Verify the current ordinance with the municipal clerk before any rent increase.