N.J. Stat. Ann. § 55:13B-1 et seq. § 55:13B-11.1
Criminal offenses
Operative Text
The penalties contained in this section are in addition to any other penalties which may be imposed for a violation of P.L. 1979, c. 496 (C. 55:13B-1 et seq.). a. A person who knowingly owns or operates a boarding or rooming house without a valid license issued pursuant to section 7 of P.L. 1979, c. 496 (C. 55:13B-7) commits a disorderly persons offense. b. An owner or operator of a boarding or rooming house who knowingly fails to correct or abate any violation within the time period specified in a notice or report of violation or any order of the Commissioner of Community Affairs rendered as a result of an inspection conducted by the Department of Community Affairs or any duly authorized municipal or county inspector commits a disorderly persons offense. c. An owner or operator of a boarding or rooming house who knowingly fails to comply with an order of the commissioner issued after a finding of imminent hazard pursuant to section 11 of P.L. 1979, c. 496 (C. 55:13B-11) commits a crime of the fourth degree. d. Where a corporation is the owner or operator of a boarding or rooming house, the corporate officers, as well as the corporation, are liable for violations of subsections a., b. and c. of this section. e. It is no defense to a violation of this section that the owner or operator of the rooming or boarding house has not collected rent, or has been unable to collect rent, from the residents of the premises. L. 1985, c. 413, s. 2.
N.J.S.A. 55:13B-11.1 establishes criminal liability for certain conduct related to boarding and rooming houses in New Jersey. Operating such a facility without a valid license, failing to correct cited violations within required timeframes, or ignoring a commissioner's imminent-hazard order each constitute separate criminal offenses—ranging from a disorderly persons offense to a fourth-degree crime. Notably, the inability to collect rent from residents does not shield an owner or operator from these penalties, and corporate officers can be held personally liable alongside the corporation itself.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under N.J.S.A. 55:13B-11.1, compliant boarding and rooming house operators maintain a current license issued under C. 55:13B-7 at all times and promptly address any violations cited in inspection notices or commissioner orders within the specified timeframes. Operators who receive an imminent-hazard order from the Commissioner of Community Affairs face the most serious exposure—a fourth-degree crime—if they knowingly fail to comply. Corporate owners should be aware that individual officers, not just the entity, can bear personal criminal liability for violations under this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.J.S.A. 55:13B-11.1 provides a layer of protection for residents of boarding and rooming houses by making it a criminal matter for owners or operators to run an unlicensed facility or ignore official violation orders. Tenants who believe their facility is unlicensed or that cited hazards have gone uncorrected may consider contacting the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, which conducts inspections and issues the orders that trigger liability under this section. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents understand how inspection and enforcement processes work and what options may be available when conditions remain unaddressed.
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.
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