New Jersey · application fee law
Are Rental Application Fees Legal in New Jersey?
What New Jersey lets a landlord charge to apply — and how that compares to what screening actually costs.
The legal line in New Jersey
no cap — New Jersey doesn't cap application fees by statute. The security-deposit law is strict, but application/screening fees are landlord-set; your leverage is the markup over actual cost.
What screening actually costs
A full tenant screen costs a landlord about $30. Landlords typically charge applicants $55 — so any fee well above ~$30 is mostly markup.
| Cap type | No cap |
|---|---|
| The legal line | no cap |
| Refund rights | No statutory application-fee refund right. |
| Receipt required | Not specified |
| Reusable screening report | Not specified |
| Statute | No specific application-fee statute (N.J.S.A. 46:8) |
Check your New Jersey application fee
We'll compare it to the law and the real cost of screening.
How New Jersey compares
See every state's cap, the real cost of screening, and the markup landlords add — the full picture in one place.
Informational only, not legal advice — verify No specific application-fee statute (N.J.S.A. 46:8) and current screening costs before acting.