New Jersey rent late fee law & calculator
Under N.J. Stat. §2A:42-6.1: No statutory cap — 5-business-day grace for protected tenants. Grace period: 5 business days (seniors & benefit recipients).
Late fee due
$75.00
Paid 9 days late; grace ends 5 days after due
A late fee is only collectible if your lease authorizes it. General information, not legal advice.
What N.J. Stat. §2A:42-6.1 requires
- Maximum fee: No statutory cap — 5-business-day grace for protected tenants
- Grace period: 5 business days (seniors & benefit recipients)
- Lease requirement: the fee must be authorized in the written rental agreement — an unauthorized fee is uncollectible.
- Seniors receiving Social Security or pension benefits, and recipients of SSI or Work First NJ, get a mandatory 5-business-day grace period before any late fee
- For everyone else there's no statutory grace or cap, but the fee must be in the lease and reasonable; some municipalities (e.g., Jersey City) cap fees locally
Rules as of August 2026. Statutes change — verify with the current text of N.J. Stat. §2A:42-6.1 before relying on a number, and check city and county ordinances, which can be stricter. This is general information, not legal advice; consult a New Jersey attorney for your situation.
Not in New Jersey? Every state's late-fee rules → Also for New Jersey landlords: the security-deposit return deadline →
Late fees that apply themselves
Set the rule once — LetsGoLandlord applies fees on schedule, on their own ledger line. Free for 14 days.