N.J. Stat. Ann. § 46:8-1 et seq. § 46:8-21.3
Security deposits prior to effective date of act; date of compliance
Operative Text
Security deposits made prior to the effective date of this act shall comply with the provisions of this act within 90 days of the effective date thereof. L.1971, c. 223, s. 6, eff. June 21, 1971.
N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.3, part of New Jersey's security deposit law (N.J.S.A. 46:8-1 et seq.), established a transition rule when the act took effect on June 21, 1971: any security deposit that had already been collected before that date was required to be brought into compliance with the new law's requirements within 90 days. This provision ensured that pre-existing deposits were not permanently exempt from the statute's protections simply because they were collected before the law's enactment.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers who held tenant security deposits before June 21, 1971 were required under N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.3 to bring those deposits into compliance with the full requirements of N.J.S.A. 46:8-1 et seq. within a 90-day window. Compliant operators of that era would have reviewed all existing deposit arrangements and taken whatever steps were necessary—such as adjusting how funds were held or documented—to meet the new statutory standards before the deadline elapsed. Today, this provision serves primarily as historical context for the act's original implementation.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.3 reflects the New Jersey Legislature's intent that the protections of the security deposit act (N.J.S.A. 46:8-1 et seq.) apply broadly, including to deposits collected before the law's June 21, 1971 effective date. Tenants whose deposits predated the act were entitled to have those funds handled in accordance with the new law within 90 days of its enactment. Tenants with questions about how this historical provision may relate to their current deposit situation may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office familiar with New Jersey landlord-tenant law.
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 6, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.