New Jersey Eviction Laws

New Jersey rules on eviction for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.

Short answer: No notice to quit is required before filing for nonpayment of rent. The written notice requirement of N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.2 expressly excludes nonpayment (and failure to pay a valid rent increase). N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1(a), 2A:18-61.2, 2A:18-55, 2A:42-10.16a, 46:8-49.3

The rules in New Jersey

Notice for unpaid rent	No notice to quit is required before filing for nonpayment of rent. The written notice requirement of N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.2 expressly excludes nonpayment (and failure to pay a valid rent increase). The tenant can stop the case by paying the rent claimed plus accrued costs to the court clerk on or before entry of final judgment. After a warrant of removal is posted, or a lockout is carried out, for nonpayment, the tenant has 3 business days to pay all rent due. The landlord must accept that payment (cash, certified check, money order, or a rental-assistance program or charity) and the case is then dismissed. Within 2 business days after a payment in the 3-day window, the landlord must notify the court, and violations carry a penalty of up to $500 per offense (2A:42-10.16a; 46:8-49.3). Rent that the tenant used to keep landlord-owed utility service on, after a shutoff notice, is not 'unpaid rent' (2A:18-61.1(a)). Source: N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1(a), 2A:18-61.2, 2A:18-55, 2A:42-10.16a, 46:8-49.3
Notice for lease violations	Disorderly conduct: a written notice to cease, then a 3-day notice to quit. Willful or grossly negligent damage to the premises: a 3-day notice to quit. Continued substantial violation of reasonable rules or lease covenants, or habitual late payment of rent: a written notice to cease, then a one-month notice to quit. Drug, assault, theft, or human-trafficking grounds: a 3-day notice. Notices must state the cause in detail and be served personally, at the residence on a family member over 14, or by certified mail (regular mail if the certified letter is not claimed). The statute sets no fixed cure period for a notice to cease. Per the DCA guide (Brunswick Street Assocs. v. Gerard), the tenant must get a reasonable time to comply. Other causes have longer notices: 3 months for code-violation removals (g), 18 months for permanent retirement (h), 2 months for owner occupancy or sale (l), and 3 years for condo/co-op conversion (k) (2A:18-61.2). Source: N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1(b)-(e), (j), (n)-(r); 2A:18-61.2(a)-(b)
Lockouts & utility shutoffs	Self-help eviction is illegal. A residence may be entered or retaken without the occupant's consent only through legal eviction process, and only a court officer may execute a warrant for possession. It is a disorderly persons offense, after a warning from police or another official, to take possession without a lawful warrant, including by changing or padlocking locks, removing belongings, or shutting off heat, electricity, water, or other vital services. A second offense within 5 years is a fourth-degree crime. A displaced tenant may re-enter with a police officer present. In a civil action, the tenant can recover possession, all damages, court costs, and reasonable attorney's fees, or treble damages if return to possession is not appropriate. Remedies in 2A:39-8 (https://lis.njleg.state.nj.us/nxt/gateway.dll/statutes/1/112/1189?f=templates$fn=document-frame.htm$3.0). Summary actions under 2A:39 are heard in the Special Civil Part (R. 6:1-2). Source: N.J.S.A. 2A:39-1, 2A:39-2, 2A:39-8; 2C:33-11.1; 2A:42-10.16

How an eviction case works in New Jersey

Eviction cases are heard in: Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Special Civil Part (Landlord/Tenant Section).

Notice: none for nonpayment; a notice to cease and/or notice to quit for other good causes (3 days to 3 years depending on the ground) (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.2)
File a verified complaint with the Special Civil Part in the county where the property is located; tenant is served with summons
Trial; tenant may stop a nonpayment case by paying the rent claimed plus costs to the clerk on or before final judgment (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-55)
Judgment for possession; no warrant of removal may issue until 3 days after judgment (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-57)
Court officer serves the warrant, which may not be executed before the third day after service, excluding weekends and court holidays, and only between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. (N.J.S.A. 2A:42-10.16). In nonpayment cases the tenant has 3 business days after the warrant is posted or the lockout to pay all rent due (2A:42-10.16a)
Removal by a court officer only; court keeps jurisdiction for 10 days after execution for tenant applications. A hardship stay of up to 6 months after judgment is available if the tenant pays all arrears and keeps paying (N.J.S.A. 2A:42-10.6)

Landlords: how to evict a tenant in New Jersey — steps, costs, timeline and forms.

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New Jersey vs. neighboring states

Eviction: New Jersey vs. neighboring states
State	Notice for unpaid rent	Notice for lease violations	Lockouts & utility shutoffs
New Jersey	No notice to quit is required before filing for nonpayment of rent. The written notice requirement of N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.2 expressly excludes nonpayment (and failure to pay a valid rent increase). The tenant can stop the case by paying the rent claimed plus accrued costs to the court clerk on or before entry of final judgment. After a warrant of removal is posted, or a lockout is carried out, for nonpayment, the tenant has 3 business days to pay all rent due. The landlord must accept that payment (cash, certified check, money order, or a rental-assistance program or charity) and the case is then dismissed. N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1(a), 2A:18-61.2, 2A:18-55, 2A:42-10.16a, 46:8-49.3	Disorderly conduct: a written notice to cease, then a 3-day notice to quit. Willful or grossly negligent damage to the premises: a 3-day notice to quit. Continued substantial violation of reasonable rules or lease covenants, or habitual late payment of rent: a written notice to cease, then a one-month notice to quit. Drug, assault, theft, or human-trafficking grounds: a 3-day notice. Notices must state the cause in detail and be served personally, at the residence on a family member over 14, or by certified mail (regular mail if the certified letter is not claimed). N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1(b)-(e), (j), (n)-(r); 2A:18-61.2(a)-(b)	Self-help eviction is illegal. A residence may be entered or retaken without the occupant's consent only through legal eviction process, and only a court officer may execute a warrant for possession. It is a disorderly persons offense, after a warning from police or another official, to take possession without a lawful warrant, including by changing or padlocking locks, removing belongings, or shutting off heat, electricity, water, or other vital services. A second offense within 5 years is a fourth-degree crime. A displaced tenant may re-enter with a police officer present. In a civil action, the tenant can recover possession, all damages, court costs, and reasonable attorney's fees, or treble damages if return to possession is not appropriate. N.J.S.A. 2A:39-1, 2A:39-2, 2A:39-8; 2C:33-11.1; 2A:42-10.16
Delaware	After the late-fee grace period (5 days after rent is due), landlord may serve a written demand giving the tenant at least 7 days to pay before filing for summary possession. If the tenant pays all rent due before the landlord files, the landlord cannot file on that nonpayment and cannot refuse the rent. 25 Del. C. § 5502(a), (c)	Written notice and at least 7 days to cure a material breach of the lease or rules. If a substantially similar breach recurs within 1 year, no new cure notice is needed. No cure period where the breach causes or threatens irreparable harm, or for certain criminal convictions. 25 Del. C. § 5513	Without a valid court order, a landlord may not oust or exclude the tenant. Tenant may recover possession or terminate, and recover the greater of treble damages or 3 times per diem rent for the exclusion period, plus costs (not attorney fees). Landlord may not shut off utility service for nonpayment of rent or utility charges or for any other breach. 25 Del. C. §§ 5313, 5312(e)
New York	14-day written rent demand before filing a nonpayment proceeding. Separately, if rent is not received within 5 days of the due date, the landlord must send the tenant a certified-mail notice that rent was not received; failure is an affirmative defense to a nonpayment case. N.Y. RPAPL § 711(2); N.Y. RPL § 235-e(d)	No general statewide statutory cure-notice period (lease terms govern). Where Good Cause Eviction applies, the tenant must be given written notice and 10 days to cure a substantial lease violation before eviction on that ground. In any lease-breach eviction case, the court must grant a 30-day stay of the warrant during which the tenant may cure. N.Y. RPL § 216 (Good Cause); N.Y. RPAPL § 753(4)	Self-help eviction is illegal: no force/threats, cutting off essential services, removing belongings or the door, or changing/disabling locks to remove an occupant who has lived there 30+ days or has a lease. Owner must restore the occupant. Penalties: class A misdemeanor; civil penalty of $1,000-$10,000 per violation plus up to $100/day (max 6 months) for failing to restore. N.Y. RPAPL § 768; RPL § 235 (willful failure to furnish water, heat, light, power, etc.)
Pennsylvania	10-day written notice to quit. Act § 501(b) (68 P.S. § 250.501(b))	Lease of 1 year or less or indeterminate term: 15 days' notice to quit. Lease of more than 1 year: 30 days. Illegal-drug grounds under § 505-A: 10 days. Act §§ 501(b), 501(d), 505-A (68 P.S. §§ 250.501, 250.505-A)	Self-help eviction is prohibited: a landlord may not change locks or shut off utilities to evict; the landlord must use the court process. PA AG Consumer Guide (Part V.C); Landlord and Tenant Act Art. V

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New Jersey Eviction Laws FAQ

How much notice does a landlord have to give before evicting for unpaid rent in New Jersey?

No notice to quit is required before filing for nonpayment of rent. The written notice requirement of N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.2 expressly excludes nonpayment (and failure to pay a valid rent increase). The tenant can stop the case by paying the rent claimed plus accrued costs to the court clerk on or before entry of final judgment. After a warrant of removal is posted, or a lockout is carried out, for nonpayment, the tenant has 3 business days to pay all rent due. The landlord must accept that payment (cash, certified check, money order, or a rental-assistance program or charity) and the case is then dismissed. (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1(a), 2A:18-61.2, 2A:18-55, 2A:42-10.16a, 46:8-49.3)

How much notice is required to evict for a lease violation in New Jersey?

Disorderly conduct: a written notice to cease, then a 3-day notice to quit. Willful or grossly negligent damage to the premises: a 3-day notice to quit. Continued substantial violation of reasonable rules or lease covenants, or habitual late payment of rent: a written notice to cease, then a one-month notice to quit. Drug, assault, theft, or human-trafficking grounds: a 3-day notice. Notices must state the cause in detail and be served personally, at the residence on a family member over 14, or by certified mail (regular mail if the certified letter is not claimed). (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1(b)-(e), (j), (n)-(r); 2A:18-61.2(a)-(b))

Can a landlord change the locks or shut off utilities in New Jersey?

Self-help eviction is illegal. A residence may be entered or retaken without the occupant's consent only through legal eviction process, and only a court officer may execute a warrant for possession. It is a disorderly persons offense, after a warning from police or another official, to take possession without a lawful warrant, including by changing or padlocking locks, removing belongings, or shutting off heat, electricity, water, or other vital services. A second offense within 5 years is a fourth-degree crime. A displaced tenant may re-enter with a police officer present. In a civil action, the tenant can recover possession, all damages, court costs, and reasonable attorney's fees, or treble damages if return to possession is not appropriate. (N.J.S.A. 2A:39-1, 2A:39-2, 2A:39-8; 2C:33-11.1; 2A:42-10.16)

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.