How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee in New Jersey?

In New Jersey, since 1 May 2026 a landlord or a landlord’s agent may not require an application or similar fee of more than $50 to apply for a rental home, counting every fee charged for the same application together — except for a unit in a one- or two-family house. From 1 January 2027 the limit is adjusted each year for inflation and published by the Division of Consumer Affairs. A violation carries a penalty of up to $500, $750 and then $1,000, and the overcharge is returned to the applicant. A real estate licensee who is not the landlord is outside the cap. This is N.J.S.A. 46:8-18.1 (P.L. 2025, c. 405).

WhatNew Jersey
Application fee$50 for all application fees together (not one- and two-family houses)

Notes

From 1 January 2027 the limit is adjusted each year for inflation and published by the Division of Consumer Affairs. A violation carries a penalty of up to $500, $750 and then $1,000, and the overcharge is returned to the applicant. A real estate licensee who is not the landlord is outside the cap.

Source

N.J.S.A. 46:8-18.1 (P.L. 2025, c. 405)

Read the statute in the New Jersey Statutes (New Jersey Legislature): njleg.state.nj.us.

The linked sections open Justia’s free copy of the code, because the state’s own site has no stable address for each section.

Checked against the statute on November 11, 2026.

This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.

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