What are the steps to evict a tenant for unpaid rent in New Jersey?
In New Jersey, an eviction for unpaid rent runs through 6 steps, each set by the statute or court rule beside it: (1) Confirm the property registration is filed and served — N.J.S.A. 46:8-28, 46:8-33; (2) For nonpayment, no notice to quit is required — N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.2; (3) File a Landlord/Tenant complaint — N.J.S.A. 2A:18-53; (4) Trial date on the summons — R. 6:3-4; (5) Judgment for possession — N.J.S.A. 2A:42-10.16; (6) Warrant of removal, three business days — N.J.S.A. 2A:42-10.16. New Jersey does NOT require a notice to quit before filing for nonpayment of rent under the Anti-Eviction Act — the only state on this list where that is so. Every other ground does require one, and the periods differ by ground. The procedure as a whole is set by N.J.S.A. 2A:18-53, 2A:18-61.1, 2A:18-61.2, 2A:42-10.16; N.J.S.A. 2A:39-1.
| What | New Jersey |
|---|---|
| Court | Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Special Civil Part (Landlord/Tenant). |
| Steps with a citation | 6 |
| Cause needed to end a tenancy | Yes, for most tenancies |
Notes
New Jersey does NOT require a notice to quit before filing for nonpayment of rent under the Anti-Eviction Act — the only state on this list where that is so. Every other ground does require one, and the periods differ by ground.
Source
N.J.S.A. 2A:18-53, 2A:18-61.1, 2A:18-61.2, 2A:42-10.16; N.J.S.A. 2A:39-1 — last checked 2026-09-16.
This is a summary of the published procedure, not legal advice. Courts, local rules and the facts of a tenancy change what applies, and a defect in a notice or a filing can end a case. Have a lawyer review anything before it is served or filed.
How Seayora uses this rule
Seayora does not file, serve or appear in an eviction, and is not anybody’s lawyer. When a tenant has stopped paying, it lays out these steps for the property’s own state and city with the statute beside each one, holds back any step that would come too early, keeps an append-only record of the case — and shows the resident what would end it, legal-aid links included.
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