New Jersey / Hudson County
Hudson 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 Jersey City court, official NJ forms and an optional preparation worksheet below.
Analysis free · case documents $29, one time · mailing optional
Your Hudson County court desk
Official court directory ↗- Deposit claims / Special Civil Part
- Hudson County Administration Bldg
595 Newark Avenue, Room 104
Jersey City, NJ 07306 - Call before visiting
- 201-748-4400 ext. 66680
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 Jersey City office in practice
- Special Civil Part / Small Claims line - the courthouse number above
- 201-748-4400 ext. 66680
- Landlord-tenant line
- 201-748-4400 ext. 60028
- Mediation and arbitration
- 201-748-4400 ext. 60090
Court forms and procedure: Court User Resource Center - Hudson County Administration Bldg, 595 Newark Avenue, Room 102, 1st Floor, Jersey City, NJ 07306, 201-748-4400 ext. 60238, [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.
Jersey City has a clerk route and a housing route.
The City Clerk and Landlord/Tenant Relations keep different registration records. Start with the building size and record type shown below. A municipal rent-registration complaint does not itself file a deposit claim in the county 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 12 municipal clerks in Hudson County
| Municipality | Clerk's office | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Bayonne City | 630 Avenue C, Bayonne, NJ 07002 | 201-858-6029 |
| East Newark Borough | 34 Sherman Avenue, East Newark, NJ 07029 | 973-481-2902 ext. 221 |
| Guttenberg Town | 6808 Park Avenue, Guttenberg, NJ 07093 | 201-868-2315 ext. 136 |
| Harrison Town | 318 Harrison Avenue, Harrison, NJ 07029 | 973-268-2425 |
| Hoboken City | 94 Washington St., Hoboken, NJ 07030 | 201-420-2000 ext. 1030 |
| Jersey City | 280 Grove Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302 | 201-547-5150 |
| Kearny Town | 402 Kearny Ave, Kearny, NJ 07032 | 201-283-5601 |
| North Bergen Township | 4233 Kennedy Boulevard, North Bergen, NJ 07047 | 201-392-2000 |
| Secaucus Town | 1203 Paterson Plank Road, 2nd Floor, Secaucus, NJ 07094-3287 | 201-330-2017 |
| Union City | 3715 Palisade Avenue, Union City, NJ 07087 | 201-348-5731 |
| Weehawken Township | 400 Park Avenue, Weehawken, NJ 07086 | 201-319-6022 |
| West New York Town | 428-60th Street, West New York, NJ 07093 | 201-295-5093 |
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
Hudson 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 Hudson 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 595 Newark Avenue, Room 104, Jersey City, NJ 07306. 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 Hudson County records
All 6 researched rental-registration programs in Hudson 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.
Jersey City: Landlord Registration (Certificate of Registration filed with City Clerk) ↗
Office of the City Clerk, 280 Grove Street, Jersey City NJ 07302
Landlord Identity Law certificates of registration for non-owner-occupied dwellings with fewer than three rental units (record owner names and addresses); 3+ unit buildings file with DCA Bureau of Housing Inspection instead. Clerk's office is by appointment only - call 201-547-5150; landlords are also required to give tenants a copy of the registration certificate.
(201) 547-5150Jersey City: Rent Control Registration / Rental Registry (Chapter 260 Rent Control Ordinance) ↗
Office of Landlord/Tenant Relations, Division of Housing Preservation, Dept. of Housing, Economic Development & Commerce - 3 Jackson Square, 342 Martin Luther King Dr, Jersey City NJ 07305 (rent registration also listed at 30 Montgomery St, 4th Floor, Room 415)
Landlords register each rent-controlled property with their contact information, number of bedrooms, tenant names and move-in dates, base and current rent and date/amount of last increase per unit (online registration system). Call the Office of Landlord/Tenant Relations at 201-547-5127 (Mon-Fri 8:30-4:30); no public online tenant search is described.
(201) 547-5127Hoboken: Annual Rent Registration Statement (Rent Control, Chapter 155) ↗
Rent Leveling and Stabilization Office, Multi-Service Center, 124 Grand Street, Hoboken NJ
Annual registration statement per rent-controlled building listing owner's address and telephone number, superintendent's name/address/phone, tenant names, apartment numbers and rents (filed by June 30 via SDL Portal). Office keeps files on all residential properties for public inspection if owners and/or tenants have questions about a property; walk in Mon-Fri 9-4, email [email protected], or file the online Legal Rent Calculation Request form.
(201) 420-2000 x1721 or x1723Union City: Certificate of Registration of tenants (Art. IV, Ch. 334 Rent Stabilization) and Annual Registration Statement ↗
Rent Leveling Board (Rent Stabilization Board), 3715 Palisade Avenue, Union City NJ 07087; initial tenant certificates are filed with the Department of Health, Housing Division
Per-unit certificate listing the name, address and telephone number of the landlord and of the superintendent or person in charge, plus tenant names, apartment and rooms; amended certificate due within 20 days of any change. Landlord must give each new tenant a copy of the certificate; anyone can file a Legal Rent Request Form with the Rent Leveling Board ($10 per apartment, form asks for owner name/address and managing agent) by mail or walk-in, or call 201-348-5734.
(201) 348-5734 (fax 201-865-9087)West New York: Landlord Registration Statement and Annual Rent Registration Statement (Rent Control, Chapter 312) ↗
Rent Control Office, 428 60th Street, West New York NJ 07093
Owner-filed Landlord Registration Statement and Annual Rent Registration Statement for rent-controlled buildings (owner identity and rents; individual fields not shown on the page). Call or visit the Rent Control Office; the page offers tenant forms (Overcharge Application, Rental Agreement Application) but does not describe a records lookup procedure.
201-295-5290 (clerks 201-295-5291 / 201-295-5292)Bayonne: Rent Control Annual Tenant Registration ↗
City of Bayonne Rent Control (630 Avenue C, Bayonne NJ 07002)
Annual Tenant Registration forms filed by landlords under the 2023 Rent Control Ordinance (due December 1, 2025); contents not shown on the page.
Rent-control directory: 8 listed municipalities in Hudson 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bayonne | 5+ Increase permitted using the CPI formula, but not to exceed 5.5% of monthly rent; Hardship or capital improvement-related increase may be permitted by Rent Control Board Exception(s) - Dwellings containing 4 or less housing units, motels, hotels, commercial and industrial space, public housing developments, income-based housing, state or federally subsidized housing, first-time rentals. Vacancy and eviction decontrol. | Bayonne Rent Control Board |
| Guttenberg | 2+ 3% if tenant pays for utilities. 3.5% if landlord provides utilities. For qualified seniors and disabled persons, the lesser of 2.5% and the NJ CPI Exception(s) - Hospitals, nursing homes, retirement homes, asylums, public institutions, college or school dormitory, charitable, educational, or non-profit institution, hotels, motels, public housing, one-family detached houses, condominiums, cooperative housing (after initial sale), owner-occupied housing w/ 5 or fewer units, newly constructed first-time rentals (until re-rental), and substantially rehabilitated dwellings. Decontrol for occupancy of unit by landlord or his/her immediate family | Rent Control Board |
| Hoboken | 1+ Lesser of 5% and the percentage difference of the CPI 3 months prior to expiration/termination of lease and 3 months prior to lease term commencement. Exception(s) - Motels, hotels, newly constructed first-time rentals (until re-rented), industrial property, nonresidential property, commercial units, housing provided by, owned, or controlled, by an educational institution, and government agency-owned-and-operated housing. Vacancy Decontrol for bona fide condo/Co-op owner/ occupant(s) (until re-rented). Partial Vacancy Decontrol for buildings completely vacant on or before and since 1/1/84 (until re-rented). | Rent Leveling & Stabilization Office |
| Jersey | 5+ Lesser of 4% and percentage difference between CPI 3 months prior to expiration/termination of lease and 3 months prior to commencement of lease term. Exception(s) - Dwellings with 4 or less units, low rent public housing, motels, hotels, commercial and industrial space, newly constructed dwellings with 25+ units within a redevelopment area, all buildings, structures, motels, hotels, and guesthouse which are converted from nonpermanent dwelling to a dwelling on or after 10.1.83, first-time rentals (until re-rented), and any new dwelling constructed between 6/25/87 and 6/25/92 and not constructed for occupation by seniors (for the lesser of 30 years and the period of amortization of any initial mortgage loan). Vacancy Decontrol for buyers of multifamily dwellings covered by this chapter which are certified by the Division of Tenant/Landlord Relation to be vacant as of 7/1/98. | Office of Landlord Tenant Relations |
| North Bergen | 1+ No greater than the percentage difference between the CPI for the region that includes North Bergen 3 months prior to expiration of the lease and the CPI at the date that the previous lease term commenced, not to exceed 2.5%. Increases/surcharges for hardship, capital improvement, or "rental unit preservation" (Section 11) may be approved. Exception(s) - Motels, hotels, owner-occupied dwellings with 3 units or fewer; any unit accepted into a governmental affordable housing program under which the owner receives either a grant, subsidized loan, or government funds to rehabilitate the unit or subsidize the tenant's rent (Amendment 602-96). | Rent Control Office |
| Union | 4+ Lesser of 3% or the percentage increase in CPI for NY-Northern NJ Metro Area for 12-month period preceding date of notice of proposed rental increase. 2% for seniors 62+ in age, eligible to receive PAAD benefits, and whose annual income combined with that of all other occupants of the unit doesn't exceed the level to be eligible for PAAD (not including tenant's caregiver). Exception(s) - 1- 2- and 3-unit dwellings, owner-occupied 4- 5- and 6-unit dwellings, motels, hotels, similar premises, space used for commercial purposes, state-licensed rooming houses, first-time rentals (until re-rented), and new construction. | Rent Control Office |
| Weehawken | 1+ 4% Exception - 2 & 3 family owner occupied, motels, hotels, and other buildings intended for transient use, commercial buildings, newly constructed units. Maximum of 1 increase per 12 months. | Rent Control Board |
| West New York | 1+ CPI between 90 days prior to end of lease and preceding 12 month period. Maximum of 5%. Exception(s) - Motels, hotels, similar premises, owner-occupied 2- 3- and 4-family dwellings (except condos and cooperatives), owner-occupied commercial buildings containing 3 or less residential units in addition to a single commercial unit that is leased or owned or rented by the owner, newly constructed (from ground-up) units (permanently exempted), condos and cooperative units with a base rent exceeding $1000, and substantially rehabilitated units. | Rent Control Office |
No active rent control listed in the survey: East Newark, Harrison, Kearny, Secaucus.
Hudson rental market context (ACS 2024 5-year)
- Median monthly rent
- $1,894
- Renter households
- 207,608
- Share renting
- 69%
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 Hudson County
Northeast New Jersey Legal Services (Hudson County office) ↗
574 Summit Avenue, 2nd Floor, Jersey City, NJ 07306
201-792-6363Call 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 Hudson County
- NJ Department of Community Affairs, 2026 Rent Control Survey (all 564 municipalities)
- Superior Court of New Jersey, Vicinage 6 (Hudson)
- NJ Courts, Hudson vicinage - offices and ombudsman pages
- NJ Courts, Lawsuits $5,000 or less (Small Claims)
- Northeast New Jersey Legal Services (Hudson 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.