New Jersey Tenant Rights Guide
Security deposits, eviction laws, rent control, and tenant protections in New Jersey
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New Jersey is one of the strongest tenant-protection states in the country. The Anti-Eviction Act (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1) requires landlords to cite one of 18 specific grounds to evict any residential tenant. Security deposits are capped at 1.5 months' rent, and hundreds of municipalities operate their own rent control ordinances.
Security Deposit Max
1.5 months's rent
Deposit Return
30 days
Entry Notice Required
Not required
Rent Control
Available
Just Cause Eviction
Required
Repair & Deduct
Not allowed
Detailed Protections
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Security Deposit Limit
1.5 months' rent (N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.2)
Protection Exists
🔵
Deposit Return Period
30 days after move-out (5 days if tenant displaced by fire/flood)
Protection Exists
⚠️
Entry Notice Required
No statewide statute — reasonable notice expected
Limited Protection
✅
Rent Control
Permitted locally — 100+ municipalities have active ordinances
Strong Protection
❌
Repair & Deduct
Not explicitly permitted by statute
No Protection
✅
Just Cause Eviction
Required — 18 enumerated grounds only (Anti-Eviction Act)
Strong Protection
✅
Retaliation Protection
Prohibited — N.J.S.A. 2A:42-10.10
Strong Protection
Last reviewed 2026. Laws change — verify with your state attorney general or a local tenant rights organization.
Common Questions
🔍 New Jersey tenant rights🔍 NJ Anti-Eviction Act🔍 New Jersey rent control🔍 NJ security deposit law