Palisades Park is a densely populated borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, situated along the Hudson River Palisades just minutes from New York City. The borough has a notably diverse renter population — a significant share of households are renters, and many residents are recent immigrants who may be unfamiliar with their legal rights under New Jersey law. Renters here most commonly search for information about security deposit returns, eviction protections, and what landlords must do before raising rent.
New Jersey provides some of the strongest tenant protections in the nation. The state's Anti-Eviction Act requires landlords to prove a just-cause reason before evicting any residential tenant, and the Truth in Renting Act mandates that landlords provide a plain-language summary of tenant rights. Palisades Park has adopted a local rent control ordinance that caps annual rent increases under a CPI-based or percentage formula set by the municipality; confirm the current allowable increase with the local rent control board.
This page is an informational resource only and is not legal advice. Statutes and local rules can change, and individual situations vary. If you face an eviction, a withheld deposit, or a habitability dispute, consult a licensed New Jersey attorney or a local legal aid organization before taking action.
Yes — Palisades Park has rent control. Palisades Park is one of roughly 100 New Jersey municipalities that has adopted a local rent control (rent leveling) ordinance. The ordinance limits annual rent increases to a CPI-based or percentage cap set by the local ordinance. It is administered by the municipality's rent control / rent leveling board, where tenants can file complaints and landlords can apply for hardship or capital-improvement increases.
New Jersey has no statewide rent cap, but state law lets municipalities adopt local rent control under their home-rule and police power (N.J.S.A. 40:48-2; Inganamort v. Fort Lee, 62 N.J. 521). Coverage, exemptions (such as owner-occupied small buildings or newer construction), and the exact current cap vary by ordinance — confirm yours with the Palisades Park rent control board.
Anti-Eviction Act (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1): New Jersey's Anti-Eviction Act is one of the broadest tenant protections in the country. A landlord must establish one of the statute's enumerated just-cause grounds — such as nonpayment of rent, habitual late payment, disorderly conduct, lease violations, or refusal to accept a substantial rent increase — before a court may enter a judgment for possession. Simply wanting to end a tenancy is not sufficient grounds.
Implied Warranty of Habitability: Under New Jersey common law (recognized in Marini v. Ireland, 56 N.J. 130 (1970)) and reinforced by the Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law (N.J.S.A. 55:13A-1 et seq.), landlords must maintain rental units in a safe, habitable condition. This includes functioning heat, hot water, plumbing, structural integrity, and freedom from rodent or pest infestation. Tenants may pursue rent withholding or rent abatement in court if a landlord fails to maintain habitability after proper notice.
Truth in Renting Act (N.J.S.A. 46:8-43 et seq.): Landlords of buildings with two or more units must provide tenants with a written summary of tenant rights, issued by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA), at or before the start of tenancy. Failure to provide this document does not void a lease but may support a tenant's legal claims.
Security Deposit Law (N.J.S.A. 46:8-19 et seq.): Security deposits are capped, must be held in a dedicated interest-bearing account, and must be returned within 30 days. See the Security Deposit section below for full details.
Anti-Retaliation Protections (N.J.S.A. 2A:42-10.10 – 10.14): A landlord may not increase rent, decrease services, or begin eviction proceedings against a tenant in retaliation for: reporting housing code violations, contacting a government agency about conditions, organizing tenants, or exercising any right under New Jersey law. A tenant facing suspected retaliation may raise it as a defense in court and may recover damages.
Utility Shutoff and Lockout Prohibition: New Jersey law (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.6) prohibits landlords from engaging in self-help eviction tactics. Shutting off utilities, removing doors or windows, changing locks, or removing a tenant's belongings to force vacatur is illegal and exposes the landlord to civil liability and criminal charges.
Notice Requirements (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-56): For a month-to-month tenancy, a landlord must provide at least one full rental period's written notice before terminating the tenancy. For weekly tenancies, seven days' notice is required. Notice must generally be in writing and served in accordance with court rules.
New Jersey's Security Deposit Law (N.J.S.A. 46:8-19 through 46:8-26) imposes strict rules on how landlords in Palisades Park collect, hold, and return security deposits.
Cap on Amount: A landlord may collect no more than one and one-half months' rent as a security deposit at the start of a tenancy (N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.2). Annual increases to the deposit, if the rent increases, may not exceed 10% of the current deposit.
Interest-Bearing Account: The deposit must be placed in a separate, interest-bearing savings account in a New Jersey financial institution within 30 days of receipt. The landlord must notify the tenant in writing of the bank name, account number, and interest rate within 30 days (N.J.S.A. 46:8-19). Interest earned on the deposit belongs to the tenant and must be either paid out annually or credited against rent.
Return Deadline: Within 30 days after the tenancy ends and the tenant vacates, the landlord must return the security deposit plus accrued interest, minus any lawful deductions for unpaid rent or damage beyond normal wear and tear (N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.1). The landlord must simultaneously provide an itemized written statement of any deductions.
Penalty for Wrongful Withholding: If a landlord fails to return the deposit within 30 days or fails to provide the itemized statement, the tenant is entitled to double the amount wrongfully withheld, plus court costs and reasonable attorney's fees, in a civil action (N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.1). This penalty applies even if the landlord eventually returns the deposit after the 30-day window without proper documentation.
Tenant Tip: Document the condition of the unit at move-in and move-out with dated photographs and written notes. Provide your forwarding address to your landlord in writing before vacating to start the 30-day clock clearly.
Eviction in Palisades Park follows New Jersey's Anti-Eviction Act (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1) and the Landlord-Tenant court procedures under the New Jersey Court Rules (R. 6:3). The process has several mandatory steps; landlords who skip any step risk having their case dismissed.
Step 1 — Just Cause Requirement: A landlord must have a legally recognized just-cause reason to evict. The most common grounds include: nonpayment of rent (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1(a)); habitual late payment (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1(b)); disorderly conduct or property damage (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1(c)); violation of a lease provision (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1(d)); and refusal to accept a bona fide substantial rent increase (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1(f)).
Step 2 — Written Notice to Quit: Before filing with the court, the landlord must serve a written notice to quit specifying the ground for eviction and the applicable cure period. For nonpayment of rent, the notice must give the tenant at least three business days to pay or vacate (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.2). For lease violations, the notice must allow a reasonable time to cure. Proper service methods (personal delivery or certified mail) are required.
Step 3 — Filing a Complaint in Landlord-Tenant Court: If the tenant does not vacate or cure, the landlord files a Complaint for Possession in the Special Civil Part of the Superior Court of Bergen County. The filing fee must be paid and a hearing date is assigned, typically within a few weeks.
Step 4 — Court Hearing: Both parties appear before a judge. Tenants have the right to present defenses, including habitability issues (rent abatement), retaliatory eviction, or failure to follow proper notice procedures. Tenants may also pay past-due rent before or at the hearing to stop an eviction for nonpayment (the "pay and stay" right, N.J.S.A. 2A:18-55).
Step 5 — Warrant for Removal: If the court rules for the landlord, a judgment for possession is entered. The landlord must then apply for a Warrant for Removal. The court officer (Special Civil Part Officer) carries out the lockout — never the landlord. There is a mandatory three-business-day notice period after the Warrant is issued before removal can occur.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal: A landlord who changes locks, removes doors or windows, shuts off utilities, or removes a tenant's property to force vacatur without a court order violates N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.6. A tenant subjected to an illegal lockout may seek an emergency court order restoring possession and may recover 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 procedures can change, and the application of any law depends on the specific facts of your situation. Nothing on this page creates an attorney-client relationship. Renters in Palisades Park who are facing eviction, a security deposit dispute, or other landlord-tenant issues should consult a licensed New Jersey attorney or contact a local legal aid organization such as Bergen County Legal Services or Legal Services of New Jersey for advice specific to their circumstances.
Averigua si tu vivienda está cubierta por el control de renta o las protecciones para inquilinos.
Usa el verificador de direcciones →Te enviaremos un correo si cambian el tope de renta, las reglas de cobertura o las protecciones para inquilinos: sin spam, cancela cuando quieras.