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Wood-Ridge is a small residential borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, with a population of roughly 9,000 residents. Like many Bergen County communities, a meaningful share of households are renters who rely on statewide protections rather than any local rent ordinance. The most common questions from Wood-Ridge tenants involve security deposit returns, rent increase limits, and the eviction process — all of which are governed exclusively by New Jersey state law.
New Jersey has some of the strongest statewide tenant protections in the nation. The Truth in Renting Act (N.J.S.A. 46:8-43 et seq.), the Anti-Eviction Act (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1 et seq.), the Security Deposit Law (N.J.S.A. 46:8-19 et seq.), and the Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law (N.J.S.A. 55:13A-1 et seq.) collectively set floors for habitability, deposit handling, eviction procedures, and anti-retaliation protections that apply in Wood-Ridge.
This page summarizes the laws that affect Wood-Ridge renters as of April 2026. It is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If your situation involves an active dispute, court proceedings, or significant financial harm, consult a licensed New Jersey attorney or contact Bergen County Legal Services.
Wood-Ridge has no local rent control ordinance. The Borough of Wood-Ridge has never enacted a rent-leveling or rent-stabilization law. Unlike some New Jersey municipalities — such as Newark, Jersey City, or Hoboken — Wood-Ridge imposes no cap on how much a landlord may raise rent, no requirement for rent registration, and no rent control board.
New Jersey does not have a statewide preemption statute that bars municipalities from adopting rent control; municipalities are simply free to choose whether to enact such laws. Wood-Ridge has chosen not to do so. As a practical matter, this means your landlord in Wood-Ridge may raise your rent by any amount at the end of a lease term or with proper notice on a month-to-month tenancy, provided they comply with notice requirements under N.J.S.A. 2A:18-56. Tenants have no statutory right to challenge the amount of a rent increase in Wood-Ridge unless they can show the increase is retaliatory (N.J.S.A. 2A:42-10.10).
While there is no rent cap, landlords still cannot raise rent during a fixed-term lease without a written agreement, and any rent increase used to pressure a tenant out after the tenant exercised a legal right is considered retaliatory under New Jersey law.
New Jersey law provides several significant protections for all residential tenants, including those in Wood-Ridge:
Implied Warranty of Habitability (N.J.S.A. 2A:42-10.2; Marini v. Ireland, 56 N.J. 130 (1970)): Landlords must maintain rental units in a safe, sanitary, and habitable condition. This includes functioning heat, plumbing, structural integrity, and freedom from vermin or mold that poses a health risk. Tenants may withhold rent or make repairs-and-deduct in limited circumstances when a landlord fails to maintain habitability after proper notice.
Security Deposit Rules (N.J.S.A. 46:8-19 through 46:8-26): Landlords may collect no more than one-and-a-half months' rent as a security deposit. Deposits must be held in a separate interest-bearing account, and tenants must be notified in writing of the bank and account number within 30 days of receipt. Full details appear in the Security Deposit section below.
Notice Requirements for Month-to-Month Tenancies (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-56): To terminate a month-to-month tenancy, either party must give at least one full rental period of advance written notice. For a tenant paying rent on the first of the month, notice given on May 1 would terminate the tenancy on June 30.
Just-Cause Eviction Requirement (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1): New Jersey is one of the few states requiring a landlord to have a specific statutory ground — just cause — before filing to evict a residential tenant. Permitted grounds include non-payment of rent, disorderly conduct, destruction of property, violation of lease terms (after notice and opportunity to cure), and several other enumerated reasons. A landlord cannot evict simply because the lease ended.
Anti-Retaliation Protection (N.J.S.A. 2A:42-10.10 through 2A:42-10.14): A landlord may not raise rent, reduce services, or attempt to evict a tenant in retaliation for reporting housing code violations, contacting a government agency, or organizing with other tenants. Retaliation is presumed if adverse action occurs within 90 days of protected activity. A tenant may raise retaliation as a defense in eviction proceedings or sue for damages.
Prohibition on Self-Help Eviction (N.J.S.A. 2A:39-1 et seq.): Landlords in New Jersey are strictly prohibited from removing a tenant by changing locks, removing doors or windows, shutting off utilities, or removing personal property without a court order. Only a Special Civil Part officer executing a judgment for possession may lawfully remove a tenant.
Truth in Renting Act (N.J.S.A. 46:8-43 et seq.): Landlords of buildings with three or more units must provide each tenant with a copy of the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs "Truth in Renting" statement at the start of tenancy.
Security deposit rules in Wood-Ridge are governed by the New Jersey Security Deposit Law, N.J.S.A. 46:8-19 through 46:8-26.
Maximum Amount: A landlord may not collect more than one and one-half (1.5) months' rent as a security deposit at the start of a tenancy. If the landlord raises the rent, the landlord may require an additional deposit so that the total does not exceed 10% of the current annual rent, but this additional collection may not exceed 10% of the existing deposit per year (N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.2).
Holding Requirements: Landlords must deposit the security funds in an interest-bearing account at a New Jersey bank within 30 days of receipt and must notify the tenant in writing of the bank's name and address and the account number. Failure to comply with these requirements entitles the tenant to immediate return of the entire deposit (N.J.S.A. 46:8-19).
Return Deadline: Within 30 days after the tenancy ends (or within five days if the tenancy ends due to fire, flood, condemnation, or other evacuation), the landlord must return the deposit plus accrued interest, minus any itemized deductions for unpaid rent or actual damages beyond normal wear and tear. The itemized statement must be provided in writing (N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.1).
Penalty for Non-Compliance: If a landlord wrongfully withholds any portion of the deposit or fails to return it within the required period, the tenant is entitled to double the amount wrongfully withheld as damages, plus court costs and reasonable attorney's fees (N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.1). This double-damages remedy applies even if the landlord returns part of the deposit but fails to provide a proper itemized statement on time.
Normal Wear and Tear: Landlords may not deduct for ordinary wear and tear — fading paint, minor scuffs, or carpet worn through normal use. Deductions are limited to damages caused by the tenant beyond what is expected from reasonable occupancy.
Eviction in Wood-Ridge follows New Jersey's Anti-Eviction Act (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1 et seq.) and is handled in the Special Civil Part of Bergen County Superior Court.
Step 1 — Just Cause Required: A landlord must have a legally recognized reason to evict. The most common grounds under N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1 include: (a) failure to pay rent; (b) disorderly conduct; (c) substantial damage to the premises; (d) conviction of certain drug offenses on the premises; (e) breach of a lease covenant after written notice and a reasonable opportunity to cure; (f) habitual late payment of rent after a prior judgment for possession; and (g) the landlord's personal use of the unit (with additional protections for seniors and disabled tenants). A landlord cannot evict solely because the lease term expired.
Step 2 — Written Notice: Before filing in court, the landlord must serve the tenant with a written notice that specifies the ground for eviction and, where applicable, gives the tenant time to cure. For non-payment of rent, the landlord must give a three-day notice to pay or quit (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.2). For lease violations, a one-month notice is typically required. Notice must be personally served or posted on the door with a mailed copy.
Step 3 — Court Filing: If the tenant does not cure or vacate, the landlord files a Complaint for Possession in the Special Civil Part of Bergen County Superior Court (Bergen County Justice Center, Hackensack). The tenant receives a summons with a hearing date, typically scheduled within a few weeks.
Step 4 — Hearing: Both parties appear before a judge or hearing officer. Tenants have the right to present defenses, including payment of rent, retaliation (N.J.S.A. 2A:42-10.10), habitability issues, or procedural defects in the notice. A tenant who pays all rent owed plus court costs before or at the hearing may have the case dismissed under the "right of redemption" (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-55).
Step 5 — Judgment and Warrant of Removal: If the court rules for the landlord, it issues a judgment for possession. The landlord must then apply for a Warrant of Removal, which gives the tenant at least three business days' notice before a Special Civil Part officer executes the warrant and removes the tenant.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal: A landlord who changes locks, removes doors or windows, shuts off utilities, or removes a tenant's belongings to force a move-out without a court order violates N.J.S.A. 2A:39-1. Tenants may seek immediate re-entry through an emergent court application and may sue for damages.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws, local ordinances, and court interpretations can change; while we strive to keep this content current as of April 2026, we cannot guarantee that all information is complete or up to date at the time you read it. If you are facing an eviction, a security deposit dispute, or any other housing matter with legal consequences, please consult a licensed New Jersey attorney or contact Bergen County Legal Services or Legal Services of New Jersey for guidance specific to your situation.
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