New Jersey Eviction Notice Requirements
New Jersey's Anti-Eviction Act allows a residential tenant to be evicted only for one of the specific reasons listed in N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1. For nonpayment of rent, state law does not require a notice to quit before filing, so there is no fixed statewide notice period. For lease violations, the landlord usually must first give a notice to cease, then a notice to quit, often one month long.
Because the required notices depend on the reason, the landlord should match each notice to the specific cause in the statute. Every cause other than nonpayment must be described in detail in a written notice to quit. A notice to cease, which warns the tenant to stop the conduct, must give a reasonable time to comply. Tenants in federally subsidized housing must receive a 14-day notice before a nonpayment case is filed.
Only the Superior Court, Special Civil Part, can order an eviction. The landlord files a complaint, court staff help the parties try to settle, and a warrant of removal can be issued only after a judgment for possession. The tenant then has three business days after the warrant is served before a Special Civil Part officer carries out the eviction. New Jersey prohibits lockouts, utility shutoffs, and holding a tenant's belongings to force a move.
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New Jersey: common questions
Does a New Jersey landlord have to give notice before filing for unpaid rent?
State law does not require a notice to quit before filing a nonpayment case. Tenants in federally subsidized housing must first receive a 14-day notice. Many landlords still send a written rent demand first, which gives the tenant a clear chance to pay and creates a record.
How does a lease-violation eviction work in New Jersey?
For most violations, the landlord first serves a written notice to cease, warning the tenant to stop. If the tenant continues to substantially violate the lease or written rules, the landlord serves a notice to quit at least one month before filing. Disorderly conduct and serious damage to the property call for a 3-day notice to quit.
Can a New Jersey landlord end a month-to-month tenancy without a reason?
Generally no. Most residential tenants, including month-to-month tenants, are protected by the Anti-Eviction Act and can only be removed for a listed cause. Owner-occupied buildings with no more than two rental units are a common exception, though those tenants also can be removed only by court order.
Where can a New Jersey tenant or landlord get help?
The New Jersey Courts website has landlord/tenant self-help guides and forms, and the Department of Community Affairs publishes the Truth in Renting guide. When both sides attend court, trained court staff work with them to try to settle the case before trial.
Compare nearby states
| State | Unpaid rent | Lease violation | Month-to-month |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | See statute | See statute | See statute |
| Delaware | 7 days | 7 days | 60 days |
| New York | 14 days | See statute | See statute |
| Pennsylvania | 10 days | See statute | 15 days |
| Alabama | See statute | See statute | 30 days |
| Alaska | 7 days | 10 days | 30 days |
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