New Jersey Rental Fee Rules
New Jersey rules on rental fees for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: Capped at $50. A landlord or agent may not require an application or similar fee above $50 to apply to lease or sublease a residential unit. N.J.S.A. 46:8-18.1 (P.L.2025, c.405); 46:8-18.2
The rules in New Jersey
| Application / screening fees | Capped at $50. A landlord or agent may not require an application or similar fee above $50 to apply to lease or sublease a residential unit. The cap is adjusted each January 1 by the Division of Consumer Affairs in line with the regional CPI. Exempt: units in one- or two-family dwellings, and real estate licensees who are not the landlord. Violations carry penalties of up to $500 (first), $750 (second), and $1,000 (each later offense), enforced in the Special Civil Part on complaint of the Division of Consumer Affairs director or the Attorney General; the overcharge is refunded to the applicant from the penalty. |
|---|---|
| Other rental fees | Limited. A landlord may not require rent or other lease payments to be made by electronic funds transfer, including automatic recurring transfers. If a lease lets the landlord recover attorney's fees or expenses (including as 'additional rent'), the law reads in a matching right for a tenant who wins to recover theirs, and the lease must state this in bold type. Application fees are capped (see application_fees). No statute found that caps move-in or convenience fees or requires all-in rent disclosure. 2A:18-61.66: https://lis.njleg.state.nj.us/nxt/gateway.dll/statutes/1/112/737?f=templates$fn=document-frame.htm$3.0. A tenant who simply pays the rent due after a nonpayment complaint is filed does not count as having won. The 46:8 section list (database current through P.L.2026, c.50) shows no other fee section. P.L.2026, c.43 (FAIR Act) concerns algorithmic rent setting and adds no tenant fee rule. |
Related questions
- How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee?
- What rental fees are illegal (junk fees)?
New Jersey vs. neighboring states
| State | Application / screening fees | Other rental fees |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | Capped at $50. A landlord or agent may not require an application or similar fee above $50 to apply to lease or sublease a residential unit. The cap is adjusted each January 1 by the Division of Consumer Affairs in line with the regional CPI. Exempt: units in one- or two-family dwellings, and real estate licensees who are not the landlord. Violations carry penalties of up to $500 (first), $750 (second), and $1,000 (each later offense), enforced in the Special Civil Part on complaint of the Division of Consumer Affairs director or the Attorney General; the overcharge is refunded to the applicant from the penalty. N.J.S.A. 46:8-18.1 (P.L.2025, c.405); 46:8-18.2 | Limited. A landlord may not require rent or other lease payments to be made by electronic funds transfer, including automatic recurring transfers. If a lease lets the landlord recover attorney's fees or expenses (including as 'additional rent'), the law reads in a matching right for a tenant who wins to recover theirs, and the lease must state this in bold type. Application fees are capped (see application_fees). No statute found that caps move-in or convenience fees or requires all-in rent disclosure. N.J.S.A. 46:8-49.1; 2A:18-61.66, 2A:18-61.67 |
| Delaware | Capped at the greater of 10% of the monthly rent or $50. Landlord must give a receipt for the full amount and keep application-fee records for at least 2 years; demanding more than allowed entitles the applicant to double the fee charged. Credit/investigation charges may not exceed the specific cost of the investigation, and no other 'assurance money' may be taken from an applicant (other than a deposit reserving the unit for a set time). Application records must be kept 6 months; the AG Consumer Protection Unit enforces. 25 Del. C. §§ 5514(d), 5310 | A landlord may not charge any nonrefundable fee as a condition of occupancy, except optional fees for actual services (e.g., pool or tennis court fee). Late charges are capped at 5% of monthly rent and cannot be imposed until rent is more than 5 days late; if the landlord has no in-county office for payment, the due date is extended 3 days. Cash rent payments require a receipt within 15 days. 25 Del. C. §§ 5311, 5501(d)-(e) |
| New York | Application fees are banned. Apart from fees required by statute or regulation, a landlord may not charge any fee to process, review, or accept an application, or any other payment before or at the start of the tenancy, except a background/credit check fee. That fee is capped at the lesser of the actual cost or $20. It must be waived if the applicant provides a background or credit check from the past 30 days. The landlord may collect it only after giving the applicant a copy of the check and the receipt or invoice. Lease waivers are void. N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 238-a(1), (3) | No payment, fee, or charge may be demanded before or at the start of the tenancy other than the security deposit (max one month's rent under GOL § 7-108) and the capped background/credit check fee. Late fees: only after rent is 5 days late, capped at the lesser of $50 or 5% of monthly rent. Bounced-check fees: only if the lease provides for them, capped at the greater of the landlord's actual costs or the GOL § 5-328(3) amount. Lease waivers are void. N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 238-a(1)(a), (2), (2-a), (3) |
| Pennsylvania | No statute - Pennsylvania has no statewide cap or refund rule for rental application or screening fees. Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, 68 P.S. 250.101 et seq. | No statewide statute limiting move-in, convenience or other rental fees in the Landlord and Tenant Act. 68 P.S. 250.101 et seq. |
City rules that may add to state law
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New Jersey Rental Fee Rules FAQ
Is there a limit on rental application fees in New Jersey?
Capped at $50. A landlord or agent may not require an application or similar fee above $50 to apply to lease or sublease a residential unit. The cap is adjusted each January 1 by the Division of Consumer Affairs in line with the regional CPI. Exempt: units in one- or two-family dwellings, and real estate licensees who are not the landlord. Violations carry penalties of up to $500 (first), $750 (second), and $1,000 (each later offense), enforced in the Special Civil Part on complaint of the Division of Consumer Affairs director or the Attorney General; the overcharge is refunded to the applicant from the penalty. (N.J.S.A. 46:8-18.1 (P.L.2025, c.405); 46:8-18.2)
What rental fees are banned or limited in New Jersey?
Limited. A landlord may not require rent or other lease payments to be made by electronic funds transfer, including automatic recurring transfers. If a lease lets the landlord recover attorney's fees or expenses (including as 'additional rent'), the law reads in a matching right for a tenant who wins to recover theirs, and the lease must state this in bold type. Application fees are capped (see application_fees). No statute found that caps move-in or convenience fees or requires all-in rent disclosure. (N.J.S.A. 46:8-49.1; 2A:18-61.66, 2A:18-61.67)
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.