Atlantic County is defined by Atlantic City, the resort and gaming destination on Absecon Island that has been the county’s dominant economic force for more than a century. The casino industry — which peaked at twelve casinos before consolidating to nine operating properties — is the county’s largest employer, generating thousands of jobs in gaming, hospitality, food service, and entertainment that support the rental market throughout the county. Beyond Atlantic City itself, the county encompasses the sprawling suburban townships of Egg Harbor Township and Galloway, the working-class communities of Pleasantville and Hammonton, the Pine Barrens in the western interior, and the resort communities of Brigantine and Ventnor City along the barrier island. The county seat is Mays Landing, a small community in Hamilton Township, though the county courthouse and Special Civil Part are located in Atlantic City.
Atlantic County’s rental market is shaped by the casino economy’s employment cycles. The industry’s workforce — dealers, hospitality workers, food service employees, hotel staff — are predominantly renters who live in Atlantic City, Pleasantville, Egg Harbor Township, and surrounding communities. Atlantic City’s rental market is affordable by New Jersey standards but has significant economic volatility tied to gaming revenues. The barrier island communities of Ventnor, Margate, and Longport have more affluent residential rental markets alongside seasonal shore activity. No Atlantic County municipality has local rent control. The Anti-Eviction Act applies countywide. LLC and corporate landlords must retain NJ counsel for all Special Civil Part proceedings.
📊 Quick Stats
County Seat
Mays Landing (Hamilton Twp.) — county administration; courthouse/Special Civil Part in Atlantic City
Major Communities
Atlantic City, Egg Harbor Township, Galloway, Pleasantville, Hammonton, Ventnor, Margate, Brigantine, Absecon, Northfield
Population
~275,000 (2023) — South Jersey shore and Pine Barrens region
Top Employers
Atlantic City casino/hotel industry; AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center; FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center; Stockton University; Atlantic County government
30 days standard; 5 days disaster; 15 days domestic violence
Courthouse
1201 Bacharach Blvd., Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Court Phone
(609) 345-6161
Filing Fee
~$50 (1 defendant) + $5/additional + $7 service
Atlantic County — Local Rules & New Jersey State Law Highlights
Topic
Rule / Notes
Anti-Eviction Act (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1)
Applies to all year-round residential tenancies in Atlantic County. No-cause evictions are prohibited. Good cause must be one of 16 enumerated grounds. Atlantic City’s casino workforce rental market generates a significant portion of the county’s eviction caseload. The court is located in Atlantic City at 1201 Bacharach Blvd. Procedural requirements are identical to those enforced in all NJ counties.
No Local Rent Control
No municipality in Atlantic County has a local rent control or rent stabilization ordinance. Landlords may raise rents to market rates at lease renewal. The Anti-Eviction Act still applies — a tenant who refuses a reasonable rent increase may only be evicted through the 30-day notice process under ground (i); unreasonable increases cannot form the basis for eviction. The absence of local rent control means state law is the exclusive framework countywide.
Landlord Registration — CRITICAL
All Atlantic County landlords must register with the applicable municipality. Buildings with 3+ units must also register with the NJ DCA. Failure to register is a complete defense to eviction. Atlantic City in particular has specific property registration and code enforcement requirements tied to its municipal oversight framework. Confirm registration for each property before filing any eviction action.
Corporate/LLC Attorney Requirement
Business entity landlords must be represented by a licensed NJ attorney in all Special Civil Part proceedings (NJ Court Rule 6:10). Non-attorney appearances result in immediate dismissal. Atlantic County’s investment property market includes significant LLC ownership, particularly in Atlantic City. Retain NJ counsel before filing any eviction involving a business entity.
Casino Economy — Tenant Income Volatility
Atlantic County’s rental market is fundamentally tied to the casino and hospitality industry. Casino workers — dealers, slot technicians, hotel staff, food and beverage employees — represent a large share of Atlantic City and Pleasantville renters. This workforce is subject to gaming revenue cycles, casino closures (which have significantly impacted Atlantic City’s economy in recent years), and shift-based income that can be irregular. Screen for verified casino or hospitality employment; verify which property the tenant works at and their employment status. Tips income is a significant component of income for many casino workers — request recent pay stubs showing both base pay and tip earnings for accurate income verification.
Stockton University — Galloway Campus
Stockton University’s main campus in Galloway Township enrolls approximately 9,000 students and has a growing presence in Atlantic City with its Atlantic City campus. Student rental demand in Galloway and portions of Egg Harbor Township near the campus is consistent. Student tenants are fully Anti-Eviction Act-covered. Screen undergraduates for parental guarantors or verifiable independent income. Define occupancy, noise, and guest rules specifically in the lease.
Flood Risk Disclosure (eff. March 2024)
Required before lease signing for properties in FEMA Special or Moderate Flood Hazard Areas (N.J.S.A. 46:8-50). Atlantic County’s barrier island communities — Atlantic City, Ventnor, Margate, Longport, Brigantine — and bay-adjacent areas have significant FEMA flood zone designations. Hurricane Sandy caused severe flooding in coastal Atlantic County. Verify flood zone status at msc.fema.gov before every lease for any coastal or bay-adjacent property. Failure to disclose creates liability for actual flood damages plus attorney’s fees.
Seasonal vs. Year-Round Tenancy
Atlantic County’s shore communities have seasonal rental activity. The Anti-Eviction Act’s seasonal exemption (transient guests at hotels/motels/guest houses under 125 days) may apply to genuine short-term shore rentals. Any tenant establishing year-round primary residence is fully protected by the Act regardless of the property’s shore character or past seasonal use. Define tenancy type clearly in all lease documents.
Security Deposit Requirements
Maximum 1.5 months’ rent. Separate interest-bearing NJ account required. Written notice of account details within 30 days. Annual interest paid or credited to tenant. Return within 30 days with itemized statement. Wrongful withholding: double damages + attorney’s fees. For coastal properties, document all pre-existing storm and moisture damage meticulously at move-in.
Source of Income Protection
N.J.S.A. 10:5-1 prohibits refusal to rent based on lawful income source including Section 8/HCV, public assistance, Social Security, and veterans benefits. Atlantic County Housing Authority administers HCV programs. Atlantic City’s large low-income population means a significant HCV presence. Source-of-income compliance is non-negotiable. Civil penalties up to $10,000 plus compensatory damages and attorney’s fees for violations.
Atlantic County Special Civil Part
Address: 1201 Bacharach Blvd., Atlantic City, NJ 08401 Phone: (609) 345-6161 Filing Fee: ~$50 (1 defendant) + $5/additional + $7 service Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–4:30 PM Atlantic County’s Special Civil Part handles a moderate caseload with Atlantic City generating the majority of volume. Legal Services of New Jersey serves qualifying Atlantic County tenants. Atlantic City’s large low-income population means legal aid is actively utilized in contested cases.
Tenant Can Cure?Yes - tenant can pay all rent due plus costs at any time before lockout to dismiss case (NJSA §2A:42-9). After warrant posted: 3 days to pay rent alone; after 4+ days: rent plus landlord costs.
Days to Hearing10-30 days
Days to Writ3-7 days
Total Estimated Timeline45-90 days
Total Estimated Cost$200-$600
⚠️ Watch Out
CRITICAL: No notice required for nonpayment - landlord can file immediately if rent is even one day late (unless landlord has habitually accepted late rent, then 30-day Notice to Pay or Quit required). Anti-Eviction Act requires just cause for ALL evictions - cannot evict without statutory grounds even at lease end. Tenant can pay and stay up until lockout. Business entities must be represented by attorney.
Serve the required notice based on the eviction reason (nonpayment or lease violation).
Wait for the notice period to expire. If tenant cures the issue (where allowed), the process stops.
File an eviction case with the Superior Court - Special Civil Part (Landlord/Tenant Section). Pay the filing fee (~$50-75).
Tenant is served with a summons and has the opportunity to respond.
Attend the court hearing and present your case.
If you prevail, obtain a writ of possession from the court.
Law enforcement executes the writ and removes the tenant if necessary.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This page provides general information about New Jersey eviction laws and does not constitute legal advice.
Eviction procedures can vary by county and may change over time. Local jurisdictions may have additional requirements or tenant protections.
For specific legal guidance, consult a qualified New Jersey attorney or local legal aid organization.
🔍 Reduce Your Risk Before Signing a Lease:
New Jersey landlords who screen tenants carefully before signing a lease significantly
reduce their risk of ending up in eviction court. Understanding
tenant screening in New Jersey —
including background checks, credit history, income verification, and rental references — is one of the most
cost-effective steps you can take to protect your rental property. Before you ever need New Jersey's
eviction process, proper tenant screening can help
you identify red flags early and avoid problem tenancies altogether.
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⚠️ Disclaimer: These calculations are estimates based on state statutes and typical court timelines. Actual results vary by county, court backlog, and case specifics. Always verify current requirements with your local courthouse. This is not legal advice.
Underground Landlord
🏘️ Communities & Screening Tips
Atlantic City (casino economy; affordable; income volatility): Atlantic City’s rental market is affordable but economically volatile. Screen for verified casino or hospitality employment; request pay stubs showing base pay and tip income. Verify which casino property the tenant works at — casino closures have displaced tenants abruptly in the past. HCV is prevalent; source-of-income compliance is mandatory. Flood risk disclosure required for barrier island properties.
Pleasantville (working-class; casino workforce residential): Pleasantville is a primary residential community for Atlantic City casino and hospitality workers. Affordable rents; stable working-class demand. Screen for verified hospitality employment. No rent control. Legal aid is accessible — document everything at move-in and follow all notice procedures precisely.
Egg Harbor Township & Galloway (suburban growth; Stockton University): These growing townships attract families, Stockton University students and staff, and suburban commuters. Stable demand with consistent growth. No rent control. Screen for verified employment or academic affiliation. Stockton student rentals near campus benefit from consistent academic-year demand.
Ventnor, Margate, Longport (barrier island; affluent shore): These communities south of Atlantic City attract more affluent year-round and seasonal residents. Year-round tenants are fully Anti-Eviction Act-protected. Seasonal rentals may qualify for the short-term exemption if under 125 days — document tenancy type clearly. Flood risk disclosure is mandatory for all barrier island properties.
Hammonton (inland agricultural town; stable): Hammonton, the self-proclaimed Blueberry Capital of the World, is a stable inland agricultural and small business community. Affordable rents; working-class and agricultural worker tenant base. No rent control. Screen for verified employment; seasonal agricultural workers may have irregular income cycles.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
Atlantic County New Jersey Landlord-Tenant Law: Atlantic City, the Casino Economy, and Renting in South Jersey’s Shore County
Atlantic County’s rental market is unlike any other in New Jersey. The casino industry that has defined Atlantic City for nearly five decades has created a rental market shaped by the rhythms, economics, and demographics of gaming and hospitality employment in ways that landlords need to understand before they can screen effectively, set rents appropriately, or manage their properties to the standards New Jersey law requires. The Anti-Eviction Act applies here with the same force it does in Bergen County or Hudson County. The procedural requirements are identical. But the tenant population, their income structure, and the economic forces that affect their ability to pay rent are distinctly Atlantic County’s own.
Atlantic City’s casino workforce — tens of thousands of dealers, slot technicians, hotel employees, food and beverage staff, valet attendants, and entertainment workers — represents the primary tenant demographic for rental housing in Atlantic City, Pleasantville, and much of Egg Harbor Township. This workforce earns a combination of base wages and tips income that makes standard income verification more complex than it is in most markets. A casino dealer’s W-2 may not fully reflect total compensation; tip declarations and recent pay stubs showing total earnings are essential for accurate income-to-rent ratio calculations. The industry’s shift-based scheduling also means that month-to-month income can vary in ways that salaried workers’ income does not.
Casino Closures and Economic Disruption
Atlantic City’s casino industry has experienced significant consolidation and contraction over the past fifteen years. The closure of multiple casino properties between 2014 and 2016 displaced thousands of gaming employees simultaneously and created a wave of nonpayment evictions that strained the county’s Special Civil Part and generated hardship across Atlantic City’s residential neighborhoods. While the industry has stabilized with the remaining operating casinos, Atlantic County landlords should factor the gaming industry’s cyclical nature into their risk assessment. A tenant employed at a casino that faces financial difficulty or potential closure is a tenant whose income security is tied to outcomes outside their individual control.
The practical risk management response is not to avoid casino workers as tenants — they are a stable and often long-tenured tenant segment when their employer is financially healthy — but to verify current employment status, the financial health of the specific casino property, and the tenant’s employment seniority and union status. Casino workers represented by UNITE HERE Local 54 have union protections that provide greater employment stability than non-union gaming employees. A senior union dealer at a well-capitalized casino property is a meaningfully different risk profile from a recently hired non-union food service employee at a marginal property.
This page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. All residential evictions in Atlantic County are filed at Atlantic County Superior Court — Special Civil Part, 1201 Bacharach Boulevard, Atlantic City, NJ 08401 — (609) 345-6161. New Jersey’s Anti-Eviction Act (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1) prohibits no-cause evictions. LLC and corporate landlords must be represented by a licensed NJ attorney (NJ Court Rule 6:10). Failure to register under the Landlord Registration Act is a complete defense to eviction. No municipality in Atlantic County has local rent control. Flood risk disclosure required for FEMA flood zone properties (N.J.S.A. 46:8-50, eff. March 2024). Source of income discrimination is prohibited under N.J.S.A. 10:5-1. New mandatory court forms required as of September 2025. Consult a licensed New Jersey attorney for specific guidance. Last updated: March 2026.
⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: This page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. All residential evictions in Atlantic County are filed at Atlantic County Superior Court — Special Civil Part, 1201 Bacharach Boulevard, Atlantic City, NJ 08401 — (609) 345-6161. New Jersey’s Anti-Eviction Act prohibits no-cause evictions. LLC and corporate landlords must be represented by a licensed NJ attorney (NJ Court Rule 6:10). Failure to register under the Landlord Registration Act is a complete defense to eviction. No local rent control in Atlantic County. Flood risk disclosure required for FEMA flood zone properties (N.J.S.A. 46:8-50, eff. March 2024). Source of income discrimination is prohibited under N.J.S.A. 10:5-1. New mandatory court forms required as of September 2025. Consult a licensed New Jersey attorney for specific guidance. Last updated: March 2026.
