N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2A:18-51 et seq. § 2A:18-61.2

Removal of residential tenants; required notice; contents; service

In Force
Verified 10/6/2026 · Next check 11/5/2026
effective 10/6/2026New JerseyNotice to Quit/Terminate

Operative Text

N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2A:18-51 et seq. § 2A:18-61.2
3. No judgment of possession shall be entered for any premises covered by section 2 of this act, except in the nonpayment of rent under subsection a. or f. of section 2, unless the landlord has made written demand and given written notice for delivery of possession of the premises. The following notice shall be required:

a. For an action alleging disorderly conduct under subsection b. of section 2, or injury to the premises under subsection c. of section 2, or any grounds under subsection m., n., o., p., q., or r. of section 2, three days' notice prior to the institution of the action for possession;

b. For an action alleging continued violation of rules and regulations under subsection d. of section 2, or substantial breach of covenant under subsection e. of section 2, or habitual failure to pay rent, one month's notice prior to the institution of the action for possession;

c. For an action alleging any grounds under subsection g. of section 2, three months' notice prior to the institution of the action;

d. For an action alleging permanent retirement under subsection h. of section 2, 18 months' notice prior to the institution of the action and, provided that, where there is a lease in effect, no action may be instituted until the lease expires;

e. For an action alleging refusal of acceptance of reasonable lease changes under subsection i. of section 2, one month's notice prior to institution of action;

f. For an action alleging any grounds under subsection l. of section 2, two months' notice prior to the institution of the action and, provided that where there is a written lease in effect no action shall be instituted until the lease expires;

g. For an action alleging any grounds under subsection k. of section 2, three years' notice prior to the institution of action, and provided that where there is a written lease in effect, no action shall be instituted until the lease expires;

h. In public housing under the control of a public housing authority or redevelopment agency, for an action alleging substantial breach of contract under paragraph (2) of subsection e. of section 2, the period of notice required prior to the institution of an action for possession shall be in accordance with federal regulations pertaining to public housing leases.

The notice in each of the foregoing instances shall specify in detail the cause of the termination of the tenancy and shall be served either personally upon the tenant or lessee or such person in possession by giving him a copy thereof, or by leaving a copy thereof at his usual place of abode with some member of his family above the age of 14 years, or by certified mail; if the certified letter is not claimed, notice shall be sent by regular mail.

L.1974, c.49, s.3; amended 1975, c.311, s.2; 1981, c.8, s.2; 1986, c.138, s.1; 1989, c.294, s.2; 1997, c.228, s.2; 2013, c.51, s.8.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Under N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.2, New Jersey law requires landlords to provide written notice to tenants before filing a court action for possession of a residential property, with the required notice period varying depending on the legal ground being asserted. For example, allegations of disorderly conduct or property damage require only three days' notice, while grounds such as permanent retirement of a unit from the rental market require 18 months' notice. The notice must specifically describe the reason for termination and must be delivered in a prescribed manner—personally, by leaving it with a household member over 14, or by certified mail (with regular mail as a fallback if the certified letter goes unclaimed).

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 14, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Operators subject to N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.2 are generally expected to identify the precise statutory ground for removal before issuing any notice, since the required notice period is tied directly to that ground—ranging from three days for disorderly conduct to three years for certain conversion-related actions. Compliant operators typically ensure the written notice details the specific cause of termination rather than offering a vague or general statement, as the statute requires the cause to be specified in detail. Delivery method also matters: landlords commonly document whether notice was served personally, left with a qualifying household member, or sent by certified mail, retaining proof in case the certified letter is unclaimed and regular mail must follow.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.2 establishes that a court generally cannot enter a judgment of possession against a residential tenant unless the landlord first provided written notice that meets the statutory requirements for both timing and content. If a landlord files for possession without having given adequate notice—or gave notice that failed to specify the cause in detail—tenants may be able to raise that procedural deficiency as a defense in the eviction proceeding. Tenants who believe notice requirements were not followed can consult a tenant-rights organization, a legal aid office, or review resources from the New Jersey courts to understand the general enforcement paths available under this provision.

General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.

Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

Effective Timeline

Current
Oct 6, 2026
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Related Rules

§ 31
Notice to quit for nonpayment of rent
§ 47a-15
Noncompliance by tenant. Remedy of breach by tenant. Landlord's remedies.
§ 8.71.040
Required notice