New Jersey / Atlantic County
Atlantic County security deposit:
find your court and prepare your claim.
Landlord kept your deposit or charged for damage? Start a free analysis of your charges and possible remedies. Filing yourself? Find the Atlantic City court, official NJ forms and an optional preparation worksheet below.
Analysis free · case documents $29, one time · mailing optional
Your Atlantic County court desk
Official court directory ↗- Deposit claims / Special Civil Part
- Atlantic County Civil Courthouse
1201 Bacharach Boulevard
Atlantic City, NJ 08401 - Call before visiting
- 609-402-0100 ext. 47770
Mon - Fri: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. - Small Claims / up to $5,000
- $35 filing + $10 mail service for one defendant.
CN 10151: official kit ↗ - Special Civil / $5,000.01 to $20,000
- $75 filing + $10 mail service for one defendant.
CN 10541: official kit ↗
Can I file in this county? For a security-deposit return claim, NJ Courts permits filing where the landlord lives or where the rental property is located. Your new home address alone does not establish venue. Court guide ↗
Compare the claim including applicable penalties, excluding court costs. Additional defendants or service attempts can add fees. Fee details and waivers. Court contacts checked September 4, 2026; confirm before travelling.
The civil courthouse is in Atlantic City, not Mays Landing, the county seat.
Vicinage 1 (Atlantic/Cape May) shares administration with Cape May. Use the Atlantic County office when filing a case in this county.
More court contacts, rooms and procedural help
The Atlantic City office in practice
- Special Civil Part / Small Claims line - the courthouse number above
- 609-402-0100 ext. 47770
- Landlord-tenant line
- 609-402-0100 ext. 47760
Court forms and procedure: Court User Resource Center - Atlantic County Civil Courthouse, 1201 Bacharach Boulevard, Atlantic City, NJ 08401, Cape May Court User Resource Center, 609-402-0100 ext. 47220. Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Procedural guidance, not legal advice.
Find the right office for your rental address
Use the municipality where the property sits. The clerk, rental registry and rent board can hold different records. They do not replace a court filing for your deposit.
Mays Landing is the county seat. Civil filing is in Atlantic City.
Use the Atlantic County Civil Courthouse address for a deposit claim. For an Atlantic City rental-owner record, the municipal landlord-tenant and licensing offices are separate from that court.
Which registration should I request?
For covered one- and two-unit dwellings, the landlord identity form is filed with the municipal clerk; the two-unit owner-occupied exception matters. Larger buildings use DCA registration. Local rental licensing may add another record. A registration is a lead: verify the correct defendant and a permitted service address before filing.
DCA registration form and coverage instructions ↗All 23 municipal clerks in Atlantic County
| Municipality | Clerk's office | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Absecon City | Municipal Complex, 500 Mill Road, Absecon, NJ 08201 | 609-641-0663 |
| Atlantic City | City Hall, 1301 Bacharach Blvd., Room 311, Atlantic City, NJ 08401 | 609-347-5300 |
| Brigantine City | 1417 W. Brigantine Ave, Brigantine, NJ 08203 | 609-266-7600 |
| Buena Borough | 616 Central Ave., Minotola, NJ 08341 | 856-697-9393 |
| Buena Vista Township | 890 Harding Hwy. (P.O. Box 605), Buena, NJ 08310 | 856-697-2100 |
| Corbin City | 316 Route 50, Corbin City, NJ 08270 | 609-701-0200 |
| Egg Harbor City | 500 London Ave., Egg Harbor City, NJ 08215 | 609-965-0081 |
| Egg Harbor Township | 3515 Bargaintown Rd., Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234 | 609-926-4000 |
| Estell Manor City | 148 Cumberland Ave. (P.O. Box 102), Estell Manor, NJ 08319 | 609-476-2692 |
| Folsom Borough | 1700 12th St., Folsom, NJ 08037 | 609-561-3178 |
| Galloway Township | 300 E Jimmie Leeds Rd., Galloway Township, NJ 08205 | 609-652-3700 |
| Hamilton Township | 6101 13th St., Mays Landing, NJ 08330 | 609-625-1511 |
| Hammonton Town | 100 Central Ave., Hammonton, NJ 08037 | 609-567-4300 |
| Linwood City | 400 Poplar Ave., Linwood, NJ 08221 | 609-927-4108 |
| Longport Borough | 2305 Atlantic Ave., Longport, NJ 08403 | 609-823-2731 |
| Margate City | 9001 Winchester Avenue, Margate, NJ 08402 | 609-822-2605 |
| Mullica Township | 4528 White Horse Pike, Elwood, NJ 08217 | 609-561-7070 |
| Northfield City | 1600 Shore Rd., Northfield, NJ 08225 | 609-641-2832 |
| Pleasantville City | 18 N First St., Pleasantville, NJ 08232 | 609-484-3600 |
| Port Republic City | 143 Main St., Port Republic, NJ 08241 | 609-652-1501 |
| Somers Point City | 1 W. New Jersey Ave., Somers Point, NJ 08244 | 609-927-9088 |
| Ventnor City | 6201 Atlantic Ave., Ventnor, NJ 08406 | 609-823-7900 |
| Weymouth Township | 45 South Jersey Avenue, Dorothy, NJ 08317 | 609-476-2633 |
Directory checked September 4, 2026. Confirm office hours and record access before visiting.
Preparing to file yourself?
Use this optional worksheet to calculate your disputed amount, find the matching NJ court forms, and save a timeline and checklist. You can start the free analysis above without filling it out.
How much of your deposit are you disputing?
Subtract refunds and deductions you accept to see your disputed balance.
Enter 0 if nothing was returned. Accepted deductions are optional.
What counts as a deduction I accept?
Only include charges you agree the landlord may keep. Leave this blank if you are unsure; you can review individual charges in the analysis.
Accepting deductions reduces the refund you dispute. It does not waive separate statutory remedies or confirm that the landlord provided a complete statement.
Your disputed amount will appear here after you enter your deposit and refund.
Forms, timeline & checklist
Find the court forms for your entered amount, add costs and a timeline, and download or print your worksheet. These steps are optional before the free analysis.
Additional damages and court costs (optional)
Additional damages are an extra amount, not a total multiplier that already includes the refund. Use the New Jersey remedy rules to avoid counting the deposit twice. Court fees are listed separately; check which amounts your court includes in its limit.
Enter the deposit and amount returned, using non-negative dollar amounts with at most two decimal places.
See a sample calculation
Example only: $1,200 paid, $300 returned, and $100 in deductions accepted leaves $800 disputed. With no additional damages requested, the claim is $800. Example $35 filing and $10 service costs are recorded separately. These are illustrative amounts, not a fee quote. Check the current New Jersey court fee schedule.
Build your timeline (optional)
Record what happened, when, and the exhibit that supports it. Leave events that have not happened blank.
Before you submit: preparation checklist
Download or save your worksheet before leaving this page. Continuing copies these notes into your case. Use the official court forms to file.
New Jersey: security deposit court preparation
Working figures and preparation notes. File using the official court forms.
| Security deposit court preparation worksheet | New Jersey | |
| Working figures only. Use official court forms to file. | ||
| Deposit paid | ||
| Returned | ||
| Deductions accepted | ||
| Additional damages requested | ||
| Legal basis and conditions | ||
| Filing costs | ||
| Service costs | ||
| Applicable court limit | $5,000 | |
| Selected court limit | 5000 | |
| Event | Date | Evidence / notes |
| Deposit paid | ||
| Move-in condition recorded | ||
| Moved out / keys returned | ||
| Refund or deductions received | ||
| Demand or required notice delivered | ||
| Claim served | ||
| Hearing | ||
| Preparation checklist | Status | |
| Confirm the correct court, venue, and claim limit. | To do | |
| Check the filing deadline and any required demand, notice, or cure period. | To do | |
| Confirm each defendant’s legal name and an address where service is permitted. | To do | |
| Explain every disputed deduction and any additional damages separately. | To do | |
| Gather the lease, payment records, deductions, photos, correspondence, and proof of notice. | To do | |
| Use the current court forms; check filing costs and fee-waiver options. | To do | |
| Arrange proper service and file proof by the required deadline. | To do | |
| Check hearing, evidence-exchange, remote attendance, and mediation instructions. | To do |
Check the ordinary NJ return deadline
Estimate timing from your move-out date, then check the tenancy-end date and exceptions in the NJ rules. This check does not add damages or change your form selection.
One state law, local offices
Atlantic County uses New Jersey’s Rent Security Deposit Act. Municipal rent-control rules address separate questions.
- 30 days
- The ordinary return and itemization period after tenancy termination.
- 2x moneys due
- Recovery when the court finds for the tenant under N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.1.
- 1.5 months
- The deposit cap for tenancies covered by the Act.
Start with what remains due after refunds and lawful deductions. An expired deadline alone does not establish that the entire deposit must be doubled. Owner-occupied properties with no more than two rental units have a coverage exception, with a tenant notice route to invoke the Act; seasonal rentals and displacement can change the applicable rules.
Inside a sample case
Your charges. A clear argument. A prepared demand.
- Free analysis
- Check your disputed charges and the deposit rules that apply to your case.
- Case documents
$29, one time - Your demand letter, charge-by-charge analysis, damages summary, and evidence checklist in one case PDF.
- Your filing steps
- You review the documents, attach your actual evidence, and file using your court's official forms. Court fees and optional mailing are separate.
See the actual PDF pages
Open PDF to zoom ↗Sample New Jersey case. Letter and exhibit pages extracted from a generated case PDF. Filing instructions are in this guide.
Turn disputed charges into a clear argument, a damages summary, and an exhibit checklist.
Analysis free · case documents $29, one time · mailing optional
See this sample's charges and calculation
Generated sample · New Jersey case
2026-09-0801 / The disputed charge
Repainting ordinary wall scuffs$900
Ordinary wear and tear - not deductible
Supporting evidence: move-in photos and move-out photos.
N.J.S.A. 46:8-21.1 ↗02 / The calculation
- Deposit paid
- $2,000
- Already returned
- $900
- Accepted deductions
- $200
- Demanded back
- $900
No additional damages in this example. Your facts and New Jersey law determine your analysis.
03 / From the generated demand letter
I demand payment of $900.00, the amount improperly withheld from my deposit.
A landlord may still pursue an unpaid accepted charge in a separate claim or counterclaim, so net recovery can be lower. Money already paid or retained toward that charge must be credited. The $200 rent balance retained in this sample is already excluded from the demand.
File through the Atlantic County Special Civil office
First confirm venue and your requested amount. The same NJ Courts kits apply across counties.
- 1. Put your demand in writing. List the disputed charges, subtract refunds and deductions you accept, and explain any additional damages separately. Send the landlord your demand and keep proof of delivery. See a prepared example.
- 2. Complete the official complaint. Use your calculation to choose the kit below. Confirm the defendant’s legal name and service address, and follow the kit’s signing and copy instructions. Above $20,000, review the Civil Part procedure.
- 3. File and check delivery. Follow the kit through JEDS, or confirm mail and in-person intake at 1201 Bacharach Boulevard, Atlantic City, NJ 08401. The court arranges initial mail service. Check its status and contact the office if service fails.
- 4. Prepare for the hearing. Gather the lease, payment records, deductions, photos, messages and proof of your demand. Match each disputed amount to its evidence, and follow your hearing notice for submission deadlines and attendance.
Filing fees, waivers and the court’s full instructions
Small Claims: $35, plus $5 for each additional defendant and $10 mail service per defendant. Special Civil: $50 for a claim up to $5,000 or $75 above $5,000; $5 per additional defendant and $10 mail service per defendant. Ask about a fee waiver if you cannot afford filing. Check the current kits for payment and service details.
More Atlantic County records
All 2 researched rental-registration programs in Atlantic County
An inventory of the programs researched for this guide, not a complete list of all registration duties. For an unlisted town, start with its clerk.
Atlantic City: Landlord Registration and Licensing / Landlord Registration Database (City Code Chapter 41, Ordinance 63 of 1998) ↗
Division of Landlord-Tenant Affairs (registration) and Department of Licensing and Inspections (license issuance and database)
Every landlord, owner or rental agent must register within 30 days of occupancy or purchase; the city maintains a public landlord registration database searchable by address, landlord name and business entity. Online search at https://www.acnj.gov/Page/landlord-registration-property-listing (sortable table, CSV/Excel/PDF export), or call Landlord-Tenant Affairs at 609-347-5290, 1301 Bacharach Blvd Room 112.
609-347-5290Pleasantville: Rental Registration Permit and inspection (City Code Chapter 208 Rental Housing) ↗
Housing Division (Building and Zoning), City Hall Annex
Annual registration permit per rental unit with initial inspection by the Housing Inspector; the city posts a Rental Registration form and a Landlord Registration Act statement form. No public lookup shown; call the Housing Division at 609-484-3633 or visit City Hall Annex, 132 West Washington Avenue, Pleasantville, NJ 08232.
609-484-3633
Rent-control directory: 5 listed municipalities in Atlantic County
From the DCA rent-control survey. Coverage and exceptions differ by municipality; confirm the current ordinance with the listed office. These contacts address rent regulation, not a court award of your deposit.
| Municipality | Survey coverage / limit | Office |
|---|---|---|
| Atlantic | 1+ Annual growth in CPI. Hardship increase allowed w/approval from Office of Landlord - Tenant Affairs : Applies when landlord current net operating income (NOI)/gross maximized annual income ratio is less than 40%, or the current year NOI/gross maximized income ratio is less than the average of three prior years' net operating income to gross maximized annual income ratio. Landlord is allowed an increase necessary to provide a current NOI/gross maximized annual income ratio equal to the average three prior years' net operating income to gross maximized annual income ratio; or an increase necessary to provide a current net operating income/gross maximized annual income ratio of 40%. Capital improvement increase: Tenant-prorated share of the total cost of the capital improvement divided by the expected life of the capital improvement plus 5%. Exception(s) - 2 & 3 family housing owner - occupied, any federally subsidized housing, all public housing, seasonal Rentals, and 3 or more units constructed after 1987. Vacancy Decontrol | Division of Landlord Tenant Affairs |
| Hammonton | 4+ Percentage change in Philadelphia metro CPI Partial Repeal 4/28/2008 - Provisions no longer apply to any lease or rental agreement entered after this date. Vacancy Decontrol. | Rent Control Board |
| Mullica | Senior mobile home parks Increases determined by the June CPI for the Philadelphia region, with a 1% minimum and 4% maximum. Surcharge for hardship, capital improvement, utility, or governmentally-mandated expenses may be approved. Exception(s) - First-time rental and newly constructed mobile homes. Vacancy Decontrol (not to exceed highest gross monthly rent elsewhere in park) | Rent Review Board |
| Pleasantville | 1+ Lesser of CPI 12-month increase or 5% Exception(s) - Motels, hotels, and those parts of buildings or structures which primarily serve transient guests or are rented for commercial uses and purpose. Any apartment or building or complex and/or a part thereof which is a stock cooperative or a condominium where the charges to all residents are fixed by a board elected by the resident. Newly constructed units and units rented for the first time. Multiple dwellings paying an initial mortgage loan obtained for the multiple dwelling, or for thirty (30) years following completion of construction, whichever is less. Vacancy Decontrol. | Rent Control Board |
| Weymouth | Senior mobile home parks Percentage increase in Social Security payments, based on most recent SSI cost of living adjustment. If the COLA in a given year meets or exceeds 5%, the Rent Control Board can approve a COLA rental increase less than the full COLA for that given year, but not less than the 5% increase. Exception(s) - First-time rentals Resale Decontrol occasioned by the transfer of any unit by a tenant to another (except: "for tenants living on the property as of the date this article is adopted and takes effect" (3/17), "there will be no resale decontrol on the first transfer for 20 years." If a transfer occurs during those 20 years, the rent will be decontrolled on next transfer to lesser of rent +50% and market rent. Each subsequent transfer is capped at the current rent charged +25%. | Rent Control Board |
No active rent control listed in the survey: Absecon, Brigantine, Buena, Buena Vista, Corbin, Egg Harbor Township, Estell Manor, Folsom, Galloway, Hamilton, Linwood, Longport, Margate, Northfield, Port Republic, Somers Point, Ventnor.
Listed as repealed: Egg Harbor City (Repealed December 17, 2025). Ask the municipality about any transition or remaining provisions.
Atlantic rental market context (ACS 2024 5-year)
- Median monthly rent
- $1,376
- Renter households
- 34,276
- Share renting
- 31%
County estimates from ACS 2024 5-year. These describe the housing market, not typical deposit awards or court outcomes. Use your actual deposit, refund and disputed deductions in the worksheet.
Data sources →Free help in Atlantic County
South Jersey Legal Services - Atlantic County office ↗
1300 Atlantic Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
609-348-4200Call about eligibility, availability and appointments for deposit disputes.
Statewide intake: Legal Services of New Jersey, 1-888-576-5529. For court forms and procedure, use the vicinage ombudsman contact; court staff cannot give legal advice.
Volunteer Lawyers for Justice: deposit-return resource ↗Plan for the next step
What if the landlord claims I owe money?
A counterclaim, including charges you accept, can reduce your net recovery. Check response deadlines and costs.
Could filing affect me as a renter?
A deposit lawsuit differs from eviction, but records may be public. Still renting or facing threats? Ask local legal aid.
What happens after I win?
A judgment does not automatically collect the money. Follow the NJ collection steps if unpaid.
Analysis free · case documents $29, one time · mailing optional
Where the local details come from
Court and municipal directories, the DCA rent-control survey and the linked rental programs. Local records checked September 4, 2026. Confirm office details and property-specific coverage with the source.
Sources for Atlantic County
- NJ Department of Community Affairs, 2026 Rent Control Survey (all 564 municipalities)
- Superior Court of New Jersey, Vicinage 1 (Atlantic/Cape May)
- Superior Court of New Jersey, Vicinage 1 (Atlantic/Cape May) - NJ Courts Special Civil Part directory, dated 2024-11-13: ext. 47594
- NJ Courts, Atlantic/Cape/May vicinage - offices and ombudsman pages
- NJ Courts, Lawsuits $5,000 or less (Small Claims)
- South Jersey Legal Services - Atlantic County office
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year, tables B25064 and B25003 (via Census Reporter)
- Rent Security Deposit Act, N.J.S.A. 46:8-19 to 46:8-26 (official text)
Prepared by Alex Smirnof. Not reviewed by a licensed attorney. Educational information, not legal advice.