New Jersey Notice to Vacate Rules
New Jersey rules on notice to vacate for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: Landlord: for most residential tenancies, the landlord cannot end a month-to-month tenancy, or refuse to renew any lease, without one of the statutory 'good cause' grounds. N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1, 2A:18-61.3; 2A:18-53(a), 2A:18-56(b); 2A:42-5
The rules in New Jersey
| Ending a month-to-month lease | Landlord: for most residential tenancies, the landlord cannot end a month-to-month tenancy, or refuse to renew any lease, without one of the statutory 'good cause' grounds. Exempt from good cause are owner-occupied premises with not more than two rental units, hotel/motel/guest-house units rented to transient or seasonal guests, and certain units held in trust for, or occupied by, an owner's immediate family member with a developmental disability. In those exempt units, the landlord ends a month-to-month tenancy with a one-month written notice to quit. Tenant: no statute sets a notice period for a tenant ending a month-to-month tenancy. A tenant who gives notice of quitting and then stays past the date given owes double rent for the holdover period (2A:42-5). A holdover after a lease of one month or longer becomes a month-to-month tenancy if the landlord accepts rent (46:8-10). A rent increase requires a valid notice to quit and notice of increase, and the increase may not be unconscionable (2A:18-61.1(f)). |
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Free calculators
- Notice Deadline Calculator — Enter the date a notice was delivered and see the date it runs out under your state's law.
Templates
Related questions
- How much notice does a landlord have to give to end a lease or not renew?
- What are my rights without a written lease?
- Can a landlord evict you for no reason?
New Jersey vs. neighboring states
| State | Ending a month-to-month lease |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | Landlord: for most residential tenancies, the landlord cannot end a month-to-month tenancy, or refuse to renew any lease, without one of the statutory 'good cause' grounds. Exempt from good cause are owner-occupied premises with not more than two rental units, hotel/motel/guest-house units rented to transient or seasonal guests, and certain units held in trust for, or occupied by, an owner's immediate family member with a developmental disability. In those exempt units, the landlord ends a month-to-month tenancy with a one-month written notice to quit. Tenant: no statute sets a notice period for a tenant ending a month-to-month tenancy. N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1, 2A:18-61.3; 2A:18-53(a), 2A:18-56(b); 2A:42-5 |
| Delaware | Either landlord or tenant: at least 60 days' written notice; the 60 days start on the first day of the month after notice is actually given. 25 Del. C. § 5106(d) |
| New York | Landlord: written notice based on length of occupancy - 30 days (under 1 year), 60 days (1-2 years), 90 days (2+ years); same notice is required for a rent increase of 5% or more. Tenant: at least one month's notice before the end of the monthly term (outside NYC). N.Y. RPL § 226-c; § 232-a (NYC); § 232-b (outside NYC) |
| Pennsylvania | 15 days' notice before the end of the term (applies to leases of one year or less or indeterminate term, including month-to-month) for either party per the AG guide; the statute's 15-day notice-to-quit governs landlord termination. Act § 501(b) (68 P.S. § 250.501(b)); PA AG Consumer Guide |
City rules that may add to state law
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Compare notice to vacate in all 50 states and DC →
New Jersey Notice to Vacate Rules FAQ
How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month lease in New Jersey?
Landlord: for most residential tenancies, the landlord cannot end a month-to-month tenancy, or refuse to renew any lease, without one of the statutory 'good cause' grounds. Exempt from good cause are owner-occupied premises with not more than two rental units, hotel/motel/guest-house units rented to transient or seasonal guests, and certain units held in trust for, or occupied by, an owner's immediate family member with a developmental disability. In those exempt units, the landlord ends a month-to-month tenancy with a one-month written notice to quit. Tenant: no statute sets a notice period for a tenant ending a month-to-month tenancy. (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1, 2A:18-61.3; 2A:18-53(a), 2A:18-56(b); 2A:42-5)
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.