N.J. Stat. Ann. § 55:13A-1 et seq. § 55:13A-22
Offenses
Operative Text
No offense committed, and no liability, penalty, or forfeiture, either civil or criminal, incurred, prior to the repeal or revision of any act or any part thereof by the enactment of this act, shall be discharged, released or affected by the repeal or revision of the act or part thereof under which such offense, liability, penalty or forfeiture was incurred, and indictments, prosecutions and actions for such offenses, liabilities, penalties or forfeitures committed or incurred prior to the effective date of this act shall be commenced or continued and be proceeded with in all respects as if the act or part thereof had not been repealed or revised; and all such matters or proceedings pending on the effective date of this act shall be continued by the commissioner. L.1967, c. 76, s. 22, eff. May 31, 1967.
Section 55:13A-22 of the New Jersey Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law establishes a legal continuity rule: when this act repealed or revised prior housing law, any offenses, liabilities, penalties, or forfeitures that had already been incurred under the old law were not wiped away. Prosecutions, civil actions, and other proceedings that were underway or could have been brought under the prior law continue as if the old law had never been changed. Pending matters as of the effective date of the act are carried forward and administered by the Commissioner.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under N.J.S.A. 55:13A-22, property owners and managers should understand that the 1967 enactment of the Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law did not erase any violations, penalties, or liabilities that arose under predecessor statutes. Compliant operators historically ensured that any outstanding obligations under prior law were resolved rather than assuming the new act's passage provided a clean slate. Enforcement actions or proceedings that were initiated or pending before May 31, 1967 remained fully in effect and were continued by the Commissioner.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.J.S.A. 55:13A-22 protects the rights of tenants and the public by ensuring that a landlord's prior violations or liabilities did not simply disappear when New Jersey's Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law took effect in 1967. Any enforcement action or proceeding that was already underway against a housing provider under the old law continued without interruption. Tenants or their advocates dealing with historical housing violations from that era may find it useful to consult a tenant-rights organization to understand how this continuity provision could bear on older enforcement records.
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
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