New Jersey / Camden County
Camden 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 Camden court, official NJ forms and an optional preparation worksheet below.
Analysis free · case documents $29, one time · mailing optional
Your Camden County court desk
Official court directory ↗- Deposit claims / Special Civil Part
- Camden County Hall of Justice
101 South 5th Street, Room 150
Camden, NJ 08103 - Call before visiting
- 856-650-9100 ext. 43250
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.
More court contacts, rooms and procedural help
The Camden office in practice
- Special Civil Part / Small Claims line - the courthouse number above
- 856-650-9100 ext. 43250
Court forms and procedure: Ombudsman office - Camden County Hall of Justice, 101 South 5th Street, Room 110B, Camden, NJ 08103, 856-650-9100 ext. 43090, [email protected]. 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.
Gloucester City and Gloucester Township are different municipalities.
The rent-control survey lists a board for Gloucester Township, not Gloucester City. Neither belongs on the Gloucester County page: both municipalities are in Camden County. The town selector keeps their offices separate.
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 36 municipal clerks in Camden County
| Municipality | Clerk's office | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Audubon Borough | Borough Hall, 606 W. Nicholson Road, Audubon, NJ 08106 | 856-547-0711 x122 |
| Audubon Park Borough | Audubon Park Municipal Complex, 2 Road C, Audubon Park, NJ 08106 | 856-547-5236 |
| Barrington Borough | 229 Trenton Avenue, Barrington, NJ 08007 | (856) 547-0706 |
| Bellmawr Borough | 21 E. Browning Road, Bellmawr, NJ 08031 | 856-933-1313 |
| Berlin Borough | 59 South White Horse Pike, Berlin, NJ 08009 | 856-767-7777 ext. 304 |
| Berlin Township | 135 NJ-73, West Berlin, NJ 08091 | (856) 767-1854 |
| Brooklawn Borough | 301 Christiana Street, Brooklawn, NJ 08030 | 856-456-0750 |
| Camden City | City Hall, Room 105, 520 Market Street, Camden, NJ 08102 | 856-757-7000 |
| Cherry Hill Township | 820 Mercer Street, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002 | 856-665-6500 |
| Chesilhurst Borough | 201 Grant Ave., Chesilhurst, NJ 08089 | (856) 767-4153 |
| Clementon Borough | 101 Gibbsboro Rd, Clementon, NJ 08021 | (856) 783-0284 |
| Collingswood Borough | Borough Hall, 678 Haddon Avenue, Collingswood, NJ 08108 | 856-854-0720 x2115 |
| Gibbsboro Borough | Gibbsboro Borough Hall, 49 Kirkwood Road, Gibbsboro, NJ 08026 | 856-783-6655 |
| Gloucester City | 512 Monmouth Street, Gloucester City, NJ 08030 | 856-456-0205 |
| Gloucester Township | Municipal Building, 1261 Chews Landing-Clementon Rd., Laurel Springs, NJ 08021 (mail: P.O. Box 8, Blackwood, NJ 08012) | 856-374-3534 |
| Haddon Heights Borough | 625 Station Avenue, 2nd Floor, Haddon Heights, NJ 08035 | 856-547-7164 Ext. 2 |
| Haddon Township | 135 Haddon Avenue, Haddon Township, NJ 08108 | (856) 854-1176 |
| Haddonfield Borough | 242 Kings Highway East, Haddonfield, NJ 08033 | 856-429-4700 |
| Hi-Nella Borough | 100 Wykagyl Road, Hi-Nella, NJ 08083 | (856) 784-6237 Ext. 400 |
| Laurel Springs Borough | 723 West Atlantic Avenue, Laurel Springs, NJ 08021 | (856) 784-0500 |
| Lawnside Borough | 4 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Road, Lawnside, NJ 08045 | 856-573-6200 |
| Lindenwold Borough | 15 N. White Horse Pike, Lindenwold, NJ 08021 | 856-783-2121 |
| Magnolia Borough | 438 West Evesham Ave, Magnolia, NJ 08049-1725 | (856) 783-1520 |
| Merchantville Borough | 1 W. Maple Ave, Merchantville, NJ 08109 | 856-662-2474 |
| Mount Ephraim Borough | 121 S. Black Horse Pike, Mount Ephraim, NJ | (856) 931-1546 |
| Oaklyn Borough | 500 White Horse Pike, Oaklyn, NJ 08107 | (856) 858-2457 |
| Pennsauken Township | 2400 Merchantville Ave., Pennsauken, NJ 08110 | 856-665-1000 Ext. 1200 |
| Pine Hill Borough | 45 West 7th Avenue, Pine Hill, NJ 08021 | (856) 783-7400 |
| Runnemede Borough | 24 North Black Horse Pike, Runnemede, NJ 08078 | 856-939-5161 |
| Somerdale Borough | 105 Kennedy Blvd, Somerdale, NJ 08083 | (856) 783-6320 |
| Stratford Borough | 307 Union Avenue, Stratford, NJ 08084 | (856) 783-0600 |
| Tavistock Borough | - | 856-547-0706 ext. 205 |
| Voorhees Township | 2400 Voorhees Town Center, Voorhees, NJ 08043 | (856) 429-7757 |
| Waterford Township | 2131 Auburn Avenue, Atco, NJ 08004 | (856) 768-2300 |
| Winslow Township | 125 South Route 73, Braddock, NJ 08037-9422 | (609) 567-0700 Ext. 8000 |
| Woodlynne Borough | 200 Cooper Ave, Woodlynne, NJ 08107 | (856) 962-8300 |
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
Camden 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 Camden 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 101 South 5th Street, Room 150, Camden, NJ 08103. 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 Camden County records
All 3 researched rental-registration programs in Camden 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.
Camden: Annual Rental Dwelling Unit Registration (Office of Rent Control) and Certificate of Rental Approval (Housing Bureau) ↗
Department of Code Enforcement - Bureau of Rent Control / Housing Bureau
All owners/landlords register every rental dwelling unit annually with the Office of Rent Control ($25 per unit); the owner/operator/lessor must also register the premises with Code Enforcement before a Certificate of Rental Approval is issued. No public lookup shown; call the Bureau of Rent Control at 856-757-7278 or visit City Hall, 520 Market Street, Room 101, Camden, NJ 08102.
856-757-7278Cherry Hill: Landlord Registration (Registration Statement of Landlord) and Rental Housing Certificate of Occupancy inspection ↗
Municipal Clerk (landlord registration); Department of Community Development / Property Maintenance (rental CO inspections)
Registration Statement of Landlord filed with the Municipal Clerk lists property owner name/address/phone/email, owner of rental business, corporate registered agent and officers, in-county agent for notices and service of process, managing agent, maintenance employee, 24-hour emergency contact and mortgage holders; rental CO application also records owner and agent contact details. No public lookup shown; contact the Municipal Clerk (820 Mercer Street, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002, [email protected], fax 856-488-7893) or Property Maintenance at 856-488-7870.
856-488-7870Pennsauken: Rental Registration and annual inspection / Rental Certificate of Inspection (one- and two-family dwellings) ↗
Housing / Property Maintenance Division (Code Enforcement Department)
Annual Rental Registration Application ($350) collects property owner and managing agent details, contact information, tenant information and a floor plan; a Rental Certificate of Inspection is issued for one year. No public lookup shown; call 856-665-1000 ext. 1411 (Suzanne Paul) or the Rental Properties office listed at ext. 145, 5605 N. Crescent Boulevard, Pennsauken, NJ 08110.
856-665-1000 ext. 1411
Rent-control directory: 8 listed municipalities in Camden 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Camden | 1+ Lesser of Philadelphia metro area CPI and 6% Exception(s) - Motels, hotels, commercial buildings, owner-occupied 2 family dwellings, public housing, and units receiving state or federal subsidies. Newly constructed and substantially rehabilitated multiunit dwellings also exempted for 2 years. Vacancies Decontrolled units may increase to rent levels comparable to units within same building complex, but becomes subject to same rental control provision once occupied. | Bureau of Rent Control |
| Cherry Hill | 1+ Base rent times the CPI multiplier, based on the CPI of the Philadelphia-New Jersey local area, not to exceed 5% of Gross Potential Allowable Rent. Hardship increases may be approved. Exception(s) - First-time rental, public housing, transient guest housing. Vacancy Decontrol. | Rent Review Board |
| Chesilhurst | 1+ 1% to 6% based on application to Rent Control Board. Rent surcharges permitted as a result of property tax, water, heating fuel or sewer increases, or capital improvements or hardship. Exception(s) - Motels, hotels, commercial buildings, owner-occupied 2 family dwellings, public housing, and units receiving state or federal subsidies. Newly constructed and substantially rehabilitated multiunit dwellings also exempted for 2 years. No Vacancy Decontrol. | Rent Control Board |
| Gloucester Township | 4+ and Mobile Homes If tenant pays heat 4%, if landlord pays heat 4.5%. For mobile homes If tenant pays heat 2.5%, if landlord pays heat 3%. Exception(s) - First-time rentals, qualified rehabilitation projects Vacancy Decontrol (unit vacancy stabilization granted on a per unit basis). | Rent Stabilization Attorney |
| Haddon | 1+ Average increases in CPI for urban wage earner and clerical worker Philadelphia/NJ for 12 month period beginning July of previous year and ending June of current year, not exceeding 4%. Exception(s) - Federally subsidized units, public housing, motels, hotels, similar dwellings, newly constructed multiunit first-time rentals, units rented or offered for rent for the first time or which receive initial certificate of occupancy after establishment of the rent control ordinance, and units constructed in a redevelopment area. Vacancy Decontrol (until re-rented). | Rent Control Board |
| Oaklyn | Buildings and mobile home parks of 6+ units No more than 7% increase yearly if landlord doesn't pay for heat. No more than 10% if landlord does pay for heat. Includes mobile home parks. Excludes public housing, motels, and hotels. Applies only to landlords owning 6 or more rental units within Oaklyn. Rent control limits only in effect in a "housing state of emergency," which can be declared by the Rent Control Board under certain circumstances | Rent Control Board |
| Pennsauken | 6+ Lesser of 4% and percentage change in CPI Delaware Valley Region during previous calendar year. Exception(s) - First-time rentals, health care facilities, residential health care facilities. Vacancy Decontrol (until re-rented). | Rent Stabilization Commission |
| Winslow | Rented mobile homes only 2.5% Exception(s) - Nonresidential real property, deed-restricted affordable housing, units under a rent protection emergency. Vacancy decontrol | Municipality |
No active rent control listed in the survey: Audubon, Audubon Park, Barrington, Bellmawr, Berlin Borough, Berlin Township, Brooklawn, Clementon, Collingswood, Gibbsboro, Gloucester City, Haddon Heights, Haddonfield, Hi-Nella, Laurel Springs, Lawnside, Magnolia, Merchantville, Mount Ephraim, Pine Hill, Runnemede, Stratford, Tavistock, Voorhees, Waterford, Woodlynne.
Listed as repealed: Lindenwold (Repealed); Somerdale (Repealed October 13, 2021). Ask the municipality about any transition or remaining provisions.
Camden rental market context (ACS 2024 5-year)
- Median monthly rent
- $1,402
- Renter households
- 71,508
- Share renting
- 35%
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 Camden County
South Jersey Legal Services - Camden County office ↗
745 Market Street, Camden, NJ 08102
856-964-2010Call 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 Camden County
- NJ Department of Community Affairs, 2026 Rent Control Survey (all 564 municipalities)
- Superior Court of New Jersey, Vicinage 4 (Camden) - NJ Courts Special Civil Part directory, 2024-11-13
- Superior Court of New Jersey, Vicinage 4 (Camden) - Hall of Justice address only
- NJ Courts, Camden vicinage - offices and ombudsman pages
- NJ Courts, Lawsuits $5,000 or less (Small Claims)
- South Jersey Legal Services - Camden 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.