N.J. Stat. Ann. § 55:13B-1 et seq. § 55:13B-10
Corporate, personal liability for violations
Operative Text
a. No person shall: (1) obstruct, hinder, delay or otherwise interfere with any action of the commissioner in the exercise of any power or duty under the provisions of this act; (2) prepare, utter or otherwise render any false statement, application, report or document which is permitted or required pursuant to this act; or (3) refuse to comply with any ruling, order, notice or action made by the commissioner pursuant to the provisions of this act. b. Any person who violates any provision of subsection a. above shall be liable for a civil penalty of not less than $50.00 nor more than $5,000.00 for each violation. Each day during which any person violates any such provision after the date fixed for termination of the violation in any order for termination issued by the commissioner shall constitute an additional, separate and distinct violation, except during the time an appeal from such an order is taken or pending. If an administrative penalty order has not been satisfied within 30 days of its issuance, the penalty may be sued for and recovered by the commissioner in a summary proceeding in the Superior Court under "the penalty enforcement law" (N.J.S. 2A:58-1 et seq.). c. The commissioner may suspend, cancel, revoke, or refuse to issue any endorsement to the license of any owner or operator who violates any provision of subsection a. above. Where the owner or operator found to be in violation of subsection a. of this section is a corporation, then the commissioner may suspend, cancel, revoke, or refuse to issue any endorsement to the license of: (1) the officers, directors and shareholders of the corporation, and (2) any corporation owning or operating a rooming or boarding house that has among its officers, directors or shareholders any person whose license has been suspended, cancelled or revoked pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection. d. Where either the owner or operator of a boarding or rooming house found to be in violation of subsection a. above is a corporation, then, in addition to the corporation being subject to the penalties set forth in subsection b., the officers and directors of the corporation are subject, individually and personally, to those penalties. L. 1979, c. 496, s. 10. Amended by L. 1985, c. 413, s. 1.
Under N.J.S.A. 55:13B-1 et seq. § 55:13B-10, this provision establishes that no individual or entity may obstruct the commissioner's authority, submit false documents, or refuse to comply with official orders under New Jersey's rooming and boarding house law. Violations carry civil penalties ranging from $50 to $5,000 per violation, with each day of continued non-compliance after a termination deadline counting as a separate offense. When a corporate owner or operator is found in violation, the law reaches beyond the entity itself, exposing individual officers and directors to personal liability for those same penalties.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Owners and operators of rooming or boarding houses in New Jersey should be aware that N.J.S.A. 55:13B-1 et seq. § 55:13B-10 holds both businesses and their individual leadership accountable for compliance failures. Compliant operators generally respond promptly to commissioner orders, avoid submitting inaccurate documentation, and cooperate fully with regulatory inspections and actions. Corporate owners should note that officers and directors can face personal civil penalties alongside the entity, and that license endorsements may be suspended, cancelled, or revoked for violations.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Residents of rooming or boarding houses in New Jersey benefit from the enforcement framework established under N.J.S.A. 55:13B-1 et seq. § 55:13B-10, which empowers the commissioner to penalize owners and operators who obstruct regulatory oversight, file false reports, or defy official orders. If a tenant believes their housing provider is evading regulatory requirements or ignoring commissioner directives, they may consider filing a complaint with the relevant New Jersey state agency overseeing rooming and boarding house licensing. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents understand what documentation to gather and what general enforcement paths may be 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 6, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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