New Jersey Late Fee Law
New Jersey has no statute capping residential late fees. State law requires a grace period of 5 days before a late fee can be charged.
Last verified: · Researched and cited by MakeLease · not yet attorney-reviewed
New Jersey late fee law at a glance
| Late-fee cap | No state capNJ DCA, Truth in Renting (rev. Aug. 2025), pp. 2–3 and 18–19, N.J.S.A. 2A:42-6.1 to -6.3 |
|---|---|
| Grace period | 5 daysN.J.S.A. 2A:42-6.1, -6.3, N.J.S.A. 2A:42-6.1 to -6.3, NJ DCA, Truth in Renting (rev. Aug. 2025), pp. 3 and 19 |
| Notice before filing for unpaid rent | No state ruleN.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1(a), 2A:18-61.2, NJ DCA, Truth in Renting (rev. Aug. 2025), 'Causes for Eviction' |
What New Jersey law says
Is there a limit on late fees in New Jersey?
New Jersey has no statewide cap on residential late fees, but the fee must be stated in the lease and courts treat it as rent in eviction cases only when the lease says so (DCA Truth in Renting, pp. 2–3) (NJ DCA, Truth in Renting (rev. Aug. 2025), pp. 2–3 and 18–19).
Does New Jersey require a grace period before a late fee?
Only tenants who are seniors receiving Social Security or equivalent government pensions, or who receive SSDI, SSI or Work First New Jersey benefits, and whose rent is due on the 1st, get a statutory 5-business-day grace period before a late fee; other New Jersey tenants have no statutory grace period (N.J.S.A. 2A:42-6.1, -6.3).
How much notice must a New Jersey landlord give for unpaid rent?
New Jersey requires no notice to quit before filing an eviction for unpaid rent; the Anti-Eviction Act exempts nonpayment from its written-demand rule, though federally subsidized tenancies need a 14-day notice (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1(a), 2A:18-61.2).
How New Jersey compares
31 of 51 verified jurisdictions set no statutory cap. 4 require a longer grace period than 5 days.
None of New Jersey's 3 neighbors follows the same rule.
| Late-fee cap · grace period | States |
|---|---|
| No state cap · 5 days | New Jersey |
| 5% of rent · 5 days | Delaware |
| Statutory formula · 5 days | New York |
| No state cap · none | Pennsylvania |
Local rules in New Jersey
Many New Jersey municipalities have rent control or rent leveling ordinances, which can add rules on rent increases and sometimes late fees.
Other New Jersey rules
| Security deposit limit | 1.5 months' rent (with exceptions)N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.2, NJ DCA, Truth in Renting (rev. Aug. 2025), p. 12, citing N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.2 and 46:8-26, N.J.S.A. 46:8-26 |
|---|---|
| Deposit return deadline | 30 days after the lease endsN.J.S.A. 46:8-21.1, NJ DCA, Truth in Renting (rev. Aug. 2025), pp. 13–14, citing N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.1 |
| Entry notice | 24 hours' noticeN.J.A.C. 5:10-5.1(c) |
| Rent-increase notice | 30 days (Fixed-term leases: no increase mid-term; the old lease must end and a new lease at the higher rent be offered. Municipal rent control ordinances may impose longer notice or limit the amount)N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1(f), N.J.S.A. 2A:18-56, NJ DCA, Truth in Renting |
| Month-to-month termination | 30 days (either side)N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1, N.J.S.A. 2A:18-56, N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.2 |
Read the New Jersey law
Put the late fee and grace period in writing
Related
- Free late rent notice
- New Jersey lease agreement
- New Jersey landlord-tenant law
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- New Jersey lease termination letter
- New Jersey lease renewal letter
- New Jersey pet addendum