New Jersey sets no general statutory cap on residential late fees, leaving the amount to the lease subject to reasonableness. For senior citizens on government pensions and recipients of Social Security Disability, SSI, or Work First New Jersey, N.J.S.A. 2A:42-6.1 requires a five-business-day grace period during which no late charge may be imposed.
There is no statutory requirement capping late fees for tenants generally in New Jersey; a late fee must be set in the lease and be reasonable. A protected grace period does exist for certain tenants. N.J.S.A. 2A:42-6.1 provides that a person to whom rent is due on the first of the month "shall allow a period of five business days grace in which the rent due shall be paid. No delinquency or other late charge shall be made which includes the grace period of five business days." A "business day" excludes Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Under N.J.S.A. 2A:42-6.3 this applies only to senior citizens on Social Security old-age, railroad, or like government pensions, and recipients of Social Security Disability, SSI, or Work First New Jersey benefits.
Under N.J.S.A. 2A:42-6.2, a landlord who charges a late fee within the protected five-business-day grace period for a covered senior or benefit recipient "shall be a disorderly person," exposing the landlord to disorderly-persons penalties.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Cranford, NJ
Cranford regulates noise through two chapters of its Code: Chapter 310 (Peace and Good Order) — which prohibits loud, unnecessary or unusual noise plainly au...
Union County, NJ
Union County municipalities restrict leaf blower operation by hour, with Westfield, Summit, and Maplewood-adjacent Cranford imposing seasonal gas-blower limi...
Union County, NJ
Elizabeth Code Ch. 7.24 prohibits abandoned vehicles on streets (72-hr limit) or visible on private property. NJ's Abandoned Vehicle Law (N.J.S.A. 39:10A-1) ...
Union County, NJ
Elizabeth and Union County municipalities require building permits for retaining walls over 4 ft (measured from bottom of footing to top of wall) per N.J.A.C...
Union County, NJ
NJ Uniform Construction Code (N.J.A.C. 5:23-3.14) mandates minimum 4-ft pool barriers. Elizabeth and most Union County towns require 5-ft fences with self-cl...
Union County, NJ
NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife prohibits feeding of black bears (N.J.A.C. 7:25-5.25) statewide. Union County municipalities also restrict feeding of deer, fe...
See how Cranford's late fees & grace periods rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.