New Jersey / Cape May County
Cape May 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 Cape May Court House court, official NJ forms and an optional preparation worksheet below.
Analysis free · case documents $29, one time · mailing optional
Your Cape May County court desk
Official court directory ↗- Deposit claims / Special Civil Part
- Cape May County Courthouse
9 North Main Street
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210 - Call before visiting
- 609-402-0100 ext. 47910
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.
Vicinage 1 (Atlantic/Cape May) shares administration with Atlantic. Use the Cape May County office when filing a case in this county.
More court contacts, rooms and procedural help
The Cape May Court House office in practice
- Special Civil Part / Small Claims line - the courthouse number above
- 609-402-0100 ext. 47910
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.
A Wildwood license is not the Cape May City rental record.
Wildwood takes rental applications through the City Clerk with other departmental approvals. Cape May City lists a licensing clerk, while Ocean City uses its licensing office. First identify the property municipality and whether your lease is seasonal.
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 16 municipal clerks in Cape May County
| Municipality | Clerk's office | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Avalon Borough | 3100 Dune Drive, Avalon, NJ 08202 | (609) 967-2990 |
| Cape May City | 643 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ 08204 | 609-884-9525 |
| Cape May Point Borough | 215 Lighthouse Avenue, Cape May Point, NJ 08212 | (609) 884-8468 |
| Dennis Township | 571 Petersburg Road (P.O. Box 204), Dennisville, NJ 08214 | 609-861-9700 |
| Lower Township | Municipal Building, 2600 Bayshore Road, Villas, NJ 08251 | (609) 886-2005 ext 100 |
| Middle Township | 33 Mechanic Street, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210 | (609) 465-8721 |
| North Wildwood City | 901 Atlantic Avenue, North Wildwood, NJ 08260 | 609-522-2030 |
| Ocean City | 861 Asbury Avenue, Ocean City, NJ 08226 | (609) 399-6111 |
| Sea Isle City | City Hall, 233 John F. Kennedy Blvd, Sea Isle City, NJ 08243 | 609-263-4461 |
| Stone Harbor Borough | 9508 Second Ave, Stone Harbor, NJ 08247 | 609-368-6800 |
| Upper Township | 2100 Tuckahoe Road, Petersburg, NJ 08270 (mail: P.O. Box 205, Tuckahoe, NJ 08250) | (609) 628-2011 |
| West Cape May Borough | 732 Broadway, West Cape May, NJ 08204 | (609) 884-1005 |
| West Wildwood Borough | 701 West Glenwood Avenue, West Wildwood, NJ 08260 | 609-522-4845 |
| Wildwood City | 4400 New Jersey Avenue, Wildwood, NJ 08260 | 609-522-2444 ext. 2209 |
| Wildwood Crest Borough | 6101 Pacific Ave., Wildwood Crest, NJ 08260 | (609) 522-5176 |
| Woodbine Borough | 501 Washington Avenue, Woodbine, NJ 08270 | 609-861-2153 |
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
Cape May 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 Cape May 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 9 North Main Street, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210. 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 Cape May County records
All 3 researched rental-registration programs in Cape May 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.
Wildwood: Rental Housing Mercantile License (annual registration, inspection and licensing of rental properties) ↗
City Clerk (application intake); approved by Code Enforcement, Fire Chief and Police Chief
Application records the property owner of record with mailing address, phone and email, property manager or agent with address/phone/email, and an emergency contact; the packet includes the state Landlord Identity Registration Form (record owners, corporate agent, Cape May County agent, managing agent, superintendent, emergency contact, mortgage holders). Call the City Clerk (Lisa A. Brown ext. 2239, Deputy Clerk ext. 2209) at 609-522-2444, or file the OPRA Request Form posted on the Clerk page.
609-522-2444 ext. 2239Cape May City: Annual Rental License (per rental unit, with Fire Prevention Bureau inspection and decal) ↗
City Licensing Clerk (City Clerk's Office); inspections by Fire Prevention Bureau
Every rental unit must hold a rental license issued on the Licensing Clerk's form, renewed annually, with a decal affixed to the unit; each property must also be registered under the Landlord Registration Act with the Municipal Clerk (1-2 units) or the State (3+ units). No public lookup shown; contact the City Clerk's Office / Licensing Clerk (capemaycity.com blocked fetches, so phone unverified; Construction Department listed at 609-884-9555).
Ocean City: Mercantile License / Annual Rental Registration (all residential and commercial rentals) ↗
Office of Licensing (Mercantile Licensing)
Annual rental registration/mercantile license per rental property, with the owner's $500,000 liability insurance certificate listing the city; the Rental Registration form is a scanned image so its fields could not be read. No public lookup shown; call 609-399-6111 ext. 9701, email [email protected], or visit 115 E. 12th Street, Ocean City, NJ 08226 (digital forms at services.ocnj.us/clerk-digital/222-certificate-registration).
609-399-6111 ext. 9701
Rent-control directory: 1 listed municipalities in Cape May 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Middle | Mobile Homes only No greater than a combination of the following: 1) any increased cost to the landlord in real estate taxes, municipal service or sewer fees; and 2) the lesser of 3.5% and the amount equal to the percentage increase in the CPI during the previous calendar year times the base rent. For these purposes, CPI defined as the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for social security benefits and SSI payments for the prior year as published by the Social Security Administration. Increases for hardship, capital improvement or governmentally-mandated expenses may be approved. Exception(s) - Newly constructed first-time rentals ((until re-rented)). Vacancy decontrol (until re-rented). | Rent Leveling Board |
No active rent control listed in the survey: Avalon, Cape May, Cape May Point, Dennis, Lower, North Wildwood, Ocean, Sea Isle, Stone Harbor, Upper, West Cape May, West Wildwood, Wildwood, Wildwood Crest, Woodbine.
Cape May rental market context (ACS 2024 5-year)
- Median monthly rent
- $1,360
- Renter households
- 8,831
- Share renting
- 20%
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 Cape May County
South Jersey Legal Services - Cape May County office ↗
1261 Route 9 South, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210
609-465-3001Call 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 Cape May County
- NJ Department of Community Affairs, 2026 Rent Control Survey (all 564 municipalities)
- Superior Court of New Jersey, Vicinage 1 (Atlantic/Cape May) - address; county switchboard 609-465-1000
- Superior Court of New Jersey, Vicinage 1 (Atlantic/Cape May) - NJ Courts Special Civil Part directory, 2024-11-13: phone
- NJ Courts, Atlantic/Cape/May vicinage - offices and ombudsman pages
- NJ Courts, Lawsuits $5,000 or less (Small Claims)
- South Jersey Legal Services - Cape May 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.