New Jersey / Ocean County
Ocean 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 Toms River court, official NJ forms and an optional preparation worksheet below.
Analysis free · case documents $29, one time · mailing optional
Your Ocean County court desk
Official court directory ↗- Deposit claims / Special Civil Part
- Ocean County Courthouse (Ocean County Superior Court, Civil Intake, Room 121)
118 Washington Street
Toms River, NJ 08754 - Call before visiting
- 732-504-0700 ext. 64340
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 Toms River office in practice
- Special Civil Part / Small Claims line - the courthouse number above
- 732-504-0700 ext. 64340
- Landlord-tenant line
- 732-504-0700 ext. 64360
- Mediation and arbitration
- 732-504-0700 ext. 64390
Court forms and procedure: Ombudsman office - 118 Washington Street, Room 101, 1st Floor, Toms River, NJ 08754, 732-504-0700 ext. 64480, [email protected]. Confirm the meeting location when booking. 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.
Brick splits landlord registration from rental inspections.
The Township Clerk holds the registered-landlord filing, while Code Enforcement handles rental occupancy inspections. A Lakewood or Toms River property uses its own local office. The county court route is a separate step.
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 33 municipal clerks in Ocean County
| Municipality | Clerk's office | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Barnegat Township | 900 West Bay Avenue, Barnegat, NJ 08005 | (609) 698-0080 |
| Barnegat Light Borough | 10 E. 7th Street, P.O. Box 576, Barnegat Light, NJ 08006-0576 | 609-494-9196 |
| Bay Head Borough | 83 Bridge Avenue, Bay Head, NJ 08742 | 732-892-0574 |
| Beach Haven Borough | 300 Engleside Ave, Beach Haven, NJ 08008 | 609-492-0111 ext. 210 |
| Beachwood Borough | 1600 Pinewald Road, Beachwood, NJ 08722 | 732-286-6000 |
| Berkeley Township | 627 Pinewald-Keswick Road, Bayville, NJ 08721 | (732) 244-7443 |
| Brick Township | 401 Chambers Bridge Road, Brick, NJ 08723 | 732-262-1001 |
| Eagleswood Township | 146 Division Street, West Creek, NJ 08092 | 609-296-3040 ext. 14 |
| Harvey Cedars Borough | 7606 Long Beach Blvd., PO Box 3185, Harvey Cedars, NJ 08008 | 609-361-6000 |
| Island Heights Borough | One Wanamaker Municipal Complex, P.O. Box 797, Island Heights, NJ 08732-0797 | (732) 270-6415 |
| Jackson Township | 95 West Veterans Highway, Jackson, NJ 08527 | (732) 928-1200 |
| Lacey Township | 818 West Lacey Road, Forked River, NJ 08731 | 609-693-1100 ext. 2221 |
| Lakehurst Borough | 5 Union Avenue, Lakehurst, NJ 08733 | 732-657-4141 |
| Lakewood Township | 231 Third Street, Lakewood, NJ 08701 | 732-364-2500 ext. 5970 |
| Lavallette Borough | 1306 Grand Central Avenue, Lavallette, NJ 08735 | 732-793-7477 option 7 |
| Little Egg Harbor Township | 665 Radio Rd, Little Egg Harbor, NJ 08087 | (609) 296-7241 |
| Long Beach Township | 6805 Long Beach Blvd., Brant Beach, NJ 08008 | 609-361-6691 |
| Manchester Township | 1 Colonial Drive, Manchester, NJ 08759 | 732-657-8121 ext. 3200 |
| Mantoloking Borough | 202 Downer Avenue, PO Box 247, Mantoloking, NJ 08738 | 732-475-6983 ext. 313 |
| Ocean Gate Borough | 801 Ocean Gate Ave, CN 100, Ocean Gate, NJ 08740 | (732) 269-3166 x121 |
| Ocean Township | 50 Railroad Avenue, Waretown, NJ 08758 | (609) 693-3302 ext. 3321 |
| Pine Beach Borough | 599 Pennsylvania Avenue, Pine Beach, NJ 08741 | (732) 349-6425 |
| Plumsted Township | 121 Evergreen Road, New Egypt, NJ 08533 | 609-758-2241 ext. 101 |
| Point Pleasant Borough | 2233 Bridge Avenue, Point Pleasant, NJ 08742 | 732-892-3434 |
| Point Pleasant Beach Borough | 416 New Jersey Avenue, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742 | 732-892-1118 |
| Seaside Heights Borough | 100 Grant Avenue, Municipal Complex Building B, Seaside Heights, NJ 08751 | 732-793-9100 |
| Seaside Park Borough | 1701 North Ocean Ave, Seaside Park, NJ 08752 | 732-793-3700 ext. 106 |
| Ship Bottom Borough | 1621 Long Beach Blvd., Ship Bottom, NJ 08008 | (609) 494-2171 ext. 116 |
| South Toms River Borough | 19 Double Trouble Road, South Toms River, NJ 08757 | (732) 349-0403 |
| Stafford Township | 260 E Bay Ave, Manahawkin, NJ 08050 | 609-597-1000 |
| Surf City Borough | 813 Long Beach Blvd., Surf City, NJ 08008 | 609-494-3064 |
| Toms River Township | 33 Washington St, Toms River, NJ 08753 | 732-341-1000 |
| Tuckerton Borough | 420 East Main St., Tuckerton, NJ 08087 | 609-296-4900 |
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
Ocean 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 Ocean 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 118 Washington Street, Toms River, NJ 08754. 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 Ocean County records
All 3 researched rental-registration programs in Ocean 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.
Toms River: Rental Certificate of Occupancy (Rental Certificate of Inspection) with Landlord Tenant Registration (Ordinance 4563-17) ↗
Division of Code Enforcement / Housing, Community Development, 33 Washington Street, Toms River, NJ 08753
Landlord Tenant Registration applications (formerly filed with the Township Clerk) are collected by Code Enforcement together with the rental CO application ($150, SDL portal); registration numbers are valid three years for year-round rentals; the owner/agent fields were not shown on the fetched pages. Not stated; call Code Enforcement or file an OPRA request with the Township Clerk.
732-341-1000Lakewood: Rental Certificate of Occupancy (Lakewood Code Chapter 15, Rental Housing) ↗
Code Enforcement Division, 212 4th Street, Lakewood, NJ 08701
The rental CO application ($65, filed with a copy of the signed lease before each new tenancy) records the owner's name, street address (no PO boxes) and phone, the agent/contact's name, address and phone, the new tenant's name and the rent; the landlord's Certification of Registration is filed with the Township Clerk. Not stated; the rental/housing window is open 8:30 AM-4 PM, and resale/rental applications run through the FastTrack portal; OPRA to the Township Clerk is the formal route.
732-364-3760; 732-905-8112Brick: Rental Certificate of Occupancy (Brick Code Article II, Maintenance; Inspections Prior to Occupancy) with landlord registration via the Township Clerk ↗
Code Enforcement Department (rental CO); Township Clerk (registered-landlord filing)
The rental CO application ($100, required for every new tenant) records the owner's name (no LLCs), phone and street address (no PO boxes), the designated agent's name, phone and address, and all occupants' names; the owner must also be a registered landlord with the Township Clerk and register tenants within 10 days. Not stated on the form; email [email protected] or file an OPRA request (an OPRAmachine request titled 'Landlord registration list' exists for Brick Township).
(732) 262-1033 ext. 1328
Rent-control directory: 5 listed municipalities in Ocean 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Barnegat | Mobile Homes only Lesser of 3.5% and CPI; Increased cost to landlord of utilities, any increase in mobile home space fee or license fee charged by Township. Capital improvement surcharge allowed with Rent Leveling Board approval Exception(s) - First time rental. Tenants are entitled to rent reduction in instances of municipal property tax, utility, space fee, or license fee decreases Vacancy Decontrol | Rent Leveling Board |
| Jackson | Apartments of 21+ and Mobile Homes only Based on CPI maximum of 4.25% Exception(s) - Motels, hotels, boardinghouses, similar dwellings, public housing, first-time rentals (for 7 years from date of occupancy), school dorms, apartment complexes with 20 units or fewer, government subsidized units, units rehabilitated pursuant to a government rehab/rent supplemental program, rehabilitated buildings which have added 50% in value, office, commercial, and similar buildings in which 1/3+ of space is commercial, newly constructed or vacated mobile homes (until re-rented), and units occupied after 3/15/16 that are a part of a newly developed affordable housing inclusionary site with a minimum 15% affordable housing units Vacancy Decontrol for single- and double-wide home. 7.5% maximum increase. | Rent Leveling Board |
| Lakewood | 4+ 6.5% if landlord pays for heat 5% if tenant pays for heat Optional 2 year rental increase: 9.75% if landlord pays for heat 7.5% if tenant pays for heat Exceptions(s) - Motels, hotels, boarding houses, public housing, newly constructed first-time rental (after 6/25/87, for 7 years), first-time rental existing units (7 years), school dorms, owner-occupied buildings with 4 units or less, non-profit corporate-owned, government subsidized units, rehabilitated units that add 50% in value | Rent Control Board |
| Manchester | Mobile homes only Lesser or 3.5% or CPI if the CPI increase is greater than zero Vacancy Decontrol (until re-rented). | Rent Leveling Board |
| Toms River | Mobile Homes only Increased cost of utilities and mobile home space and/or license fees plus the lesser of 3.5% and CPI increase during period ending 120 days prior to application for increase. Exception(s) - Newly constructed first-time rentals (until re-rented). Vacancy decontrol (until re-rented). 40% maximum increase. | Rent Leveling Board |
No active rent control listed in the survey: Barnegat Light, Bay Head, Beach Haven, Beachwood, Berkeley, Brick, Eagleswood, Harvey Cedars, Island Heights, Lacey, Lakehurst, Lavallette, Little Egg Harbor, Long Beach, Mantoloking, Ocean, Ocean Gate, Pine Beach, Plumsted, Point Pleasant, Point Pleasant Beach, Seaside Heights, Seaside Park, Ship Bottom, South Toms River, Stafford, Surf City, Tuckerton.
Ocean rental market context (ACS 2024 5-year)
- Median monthly rent
- $1,755
- Renter households
- 46,969
- Share renting
- 19%
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 Ocean County
South Jersey Legal Services (Ocean County office; formerly Ocean-Monmouth Legal Services) ↗
215 Main Street, Toms River, NJ 08753
732-608-7794Call 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 Ocean County
- NJ Department of Community Affairs, 2026 Rent Control Survey (all 564 municipalities)
- Superior Court of New Jersey, Vicinage 14 (Ocean) - CN-10150 rev. 05/22/2017
- Superior Court of New Jersey, Vicinage 14 (Ocean) - 118 Washington Street, Room 121, Toms River 08754
- NJ Courts, Ocean vicinage - offices and ombudsman pages
- NJ Courts, Lawsuits $5,000 or less (Small Claims)
- South Jersey Legal Services (Ocean County office; formerly Ocean-Monmouth Legal Services)
- 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.