How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in New Jersey?
In New Jersey, a landlord has 30 days after the tenancy ends to return the security deposit, together with an itemised statement of any deductions. 30 days; 5 business days in a fire, flood or evacuation. New Jersey also requires interest to be paid on the deposit: Deposit must sit in an interest-bearing New Jersey account; interest is paid or credited annually. This is N.J.S.A. 46:8-19 to 46:8-21.1.
| What | New Jersey |
|---|---|
| Deadline to return | 30 days |
| Itemized statement required | Yes |
| Interest payable to the tenant | Yes |
Source
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.
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.
How Seayora uses this rule
Seayora computes the deadline this rule sets from the tenancy’s own dates, shows it on the deposit statement, and reminds the landlord before it falls due — so the answer above is not reference material sitting beside the product, it is the rule the product enforces.
Guides on this rule
- New Jersey Landlord-Tenant Law: Good Cause, Deposits and Notices — New Jersey rules for landlords: good cause under the Anti-Eviction Act, the 1.5-month deposit cap and 30-day return, Truth in Renting and flood notices.
- Move-In Condition Reports: The States That Require One — Washington, Massachusetts and Virginia require a written record of a rental’s condition at move-in, with deadlines and penalties that protect the deposit.
- Security Deposits Explained: Rules and Getting It Back — How security deposits work: typical amounts and state caps, what a deposit may cover, return deadlines, and how renters get the full deposit back.
- What Happens to Tenants When a Rental Property Is Sold or Foreclosed — The federal 90-day foreclosure notice, when a lease survives a foreclosure, and how California, New York and Texas move a security deposit to a new owner.
Compare this rule in every state
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- Every New Jersey rule on one page
The same question in other states
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