New Jersey caps a residential security deposit at 1.5 times one month's rent, and any later additional deposit may rise by no more than 10% per year. After a tenancy ends, the landlord must return the deposit plus the tenant's interest, minus itemized deductions, within 30 days. Wrongful withholding exposes the landlord to double damages.
Under N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.2, an owner "may not require more than a sum equal to 1 1/2 times 1 month's rental" as a deposit, and additional security collected later "shall not be greater than 10 percent of the current security deposit" annually. The deposit must be held in an interest-bearing account, with the interest belonging to the tenant (46:8-19). Under 46:8-21.1, within 30 days after the lease terminates the landlord must return the deposit plus the tenant's share of interest, "less any charges expended," by personal delivery or certified mail, and "the interest or earnings and any such deductions shall be itemized." Deposits drop to five business days where a tenant is displaced by fire, flood, condemnation, or evacuation.
Under N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.1, in a tenant's successful action for return of the deposit the court "shall award recovery of double the amount of said moneys, together with full costs of any action and, in the court's discretion, reasonable attorney's fees." A landlord who fails to invest the deposit or send required notices lets the tenant apply the deposit plus 7% interest to rent (46:8-19).
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
New Brunswick, NJ
Persistent barking is a noise and nuisance violation in New Brunswick. Chapter 8.28 and animal control ordinances apply. N.J.S.A. 4:16 governs dog control st...
New Brunswick, NJ
Construction hours in New Brunswick are governed by Chapter 8.28 (Noise Control). Standard NJ practice: 7 AM–6 PM weekdays, 9 AM–6 PM Saturdays, no Sundays/h...
New Brunswick, NJ
New Brunswick Municipal Code Chapter 8.28 governs noise control. As a dense university city (Rutgers), noise enforcement is active. State noise standards (N....
New Brunswick, NJ
Aircraft noise is federally regulated. New Brunswick is in the flight path of Newark Liberty International Airport. Local ordinances cannot override FAA auth...
New Brunswick, NJ
RV and boat storage on residential streets is extremely limited in New Brunswick's dense urban environment. Local zoning and parking ordinances generally pro...
New Brunswick, NJ
Commercial vehicle parking in residential zones is restricted under New Brunswick's municipal code. State law (N.J.S.A. 39) prohibits oversized commercial ve...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Middlesex County.
See how New Brunswick's security deposit rules rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.