New Jersey landlord guide — Anti-Eviction Act, Special Civil Part, Camden rent control & the Philadelphia suburban rental market
📍 County Seat: Camden (~73,000) • Delaware River • Philadelphia across the bridge 👥 Pop. ~530,000 — Philadelphia metro overflow — Cherry Hill commuter suburb ⚖️ Special Civil Part • 101 S. Fifth St., Camden 🏙️ Camden rent control • Cherry Hill • Pennsauken • Gloucester Township • Voorhees
Camden County sits on the eastern bank of the Delaware River directly across from Philadelphia, making it South Jersey’s primary Philadelphia commuter county. The county encompasses an extraordinary range of communities: Camden city itself — one of the most economically challenged cities in the United States, currently undergoing significant redevelopment efforts anchored by Subaru of America’s new headquarters, Cooper University Hospital, and Rutgers University’s Camden campus — alongside the affluent Philadelphia suburb of Cherry Hill, the growing suburban township of Gloucester Township, the business corridor of Pennsauken, and desirable communities like Voorhees, Moorestown (just over the Burlington County line), and Haddonfield. The Benjamin Franklin and Walt Whitman Bridges connect the county to Philadelphia, and NJ Transit’s PATCO Speedline rapid transit runs from Lindenwold through Cherry Hill and Camden to Center City Philadelphia in under 20 minutes.
Camden County’s rental market reflects its geographic and economic diversity. Camden city has an active rent control ordinance and represents one of the most affordable rental markets in New Jersey alongside some of the highest eviction rates. Cherry Hill and Voorhees are middle-to-upper-middle-class Philadelphia commuter communities with no rent control and consistently strong rental demand. Pennsauken has a working-class rental market serving logistics and light industrial workers. The Anti-Eviction Act applies countywide. LLC and corporate landlords must retain NJ counsel for all Special Civil Part proceedings. The mandatory landlord registration requirement is enforced in every municipality.
📊 Quick Stats
County Seat
Camden (~73,000) — Delaware River waterfront; Cooper University Hospital; Rutgers-Camden; Subaru HQ
Major Communities
Cherry Hill, Gloucester Township, Pennsauken, Voorhees, Winslow, Collingswood, Haddon Township, Lindenwold, Bellmawr
Population
~530,000 (2023) — Philadelphia metro anchor county in South Jersey
Top Employers
Cooper University Hospital; Virtua Health; Subaru of America; Rutgers University-Camden; Camden County government; Philadelphia commuter economy
Median Rent
~$1,100–$2,000/mo 2BR — Camden city lowest; Cherry Hill/Voorhees higher
Rent Control
Active in: Camden city — verify other municipalities individually
LLC/Corp Landlord
Licensed NJ attorney required in ALL Special Civil Part proceedings
30 days standard; 5 days disaster; 15 days domestic violence
Courthouse
101 S. Fifth St., Camden, NJ 08103
Court Phone
(856) 379-2200
Filing Fee
~$50 (1 defendant) + $5/additional + $7 service
Camden 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 residential tenancies in Camden County. No-cause evictions are prohibited. Good cause must be one of 16 enumerated grounds. Camden County’s Special Civil Part at 101 S. Fifth Street handles a substantial caseload — Camden city generates significant volume. The court enforces procedural requirements consistently. Legal aid through Legal Services of New Jersey is accessible to qualifying Camden County tenants.
Landlord Registration — CRITICAL
All Camden County landlords must register with the municipality where the property is located. Buildings with 3+ units must also register with the NJ DCA. Failure to register is a complete defense to eviction. Camden city has specific landlord registration requirements tied to its code enforcement and rent control framework — verify compliance with Camden’s registration program separately from state DCA registration. Confirm registration status for every 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). Camden County has significant LLC-held investment property in Camden city. Non-attorney appearances result in immediate dismissal. Retain NJ counsel before filing any eviction involving a business entity landlord.
Camden City Rent Control
Camden city has an active Rent Control Ordinance covering most residential rental units. Landlords must register with Camden’s rent control authority and comply with annual increase limitations. Camden city’s ongoing redevelopment and rising property values are creating tension between the rent control framework and landlord market-rate aspirations. Any landlord with Camden city rental properties must verify current rent control registration status and allowable increase formula before taking any rent action. The city’s legal aid ecosystem is active and rent control violations are aggressively defended.
Cherry Hill & Voorhees (Philadelphia suburbs; no rent control)
Cherry Hill and Voorhees are Camden County’s most desirable suburban communities for Philadelphia commuters, offering good school districts, suburban amenities, and PATCO Speedline or car access to Center City Philadelphia. No rent control in either municipality. Tenants are predominantly healthcare workers (Cooper University Hospital, Virtua Health system), corporate professionals, and families. Screen for verified professional employment and strong rental history. These are stable markets with consistent demand and low eviction rates.
PATCO Speedline Access
The PATCO Speedline rapid transit line runs from Lindenwold through Voorhees, Cherry Hill, Collingswood, and Camden to 15th/16th Street in Center City Philadelphia. Properties within walking distance of PATCO stations command rent premiums and attract Philadelphia commuter tenants. The Speedline makes Camden County competitive with Philadelphia’s own suburban neighborhoods for commuters who prefer NJ taxes and housing costs. Screen PATCO-corridor tenants for verified Philadelphia employment; this commuter segment is stable and long-tenured.
Two-Notice System
For most lease violation grounds, NJ law requires a Notice to Cease followed by a Notice to Quit. Both must specifically describe the violation. Nonpayment of rent requires no pre-filing notice. Defective notices result in dismissal without prejudice in Camden County’s courts. Camden city cases in particular require meticulous procedural compliance given the active legal aid presence.
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.
Source of Income Protection
N.J.S.A. 10:5-1 prohibits refusal to rent based on lawful income source. Camden City Housing Authority and Camden County Housing Authority administer HCV programs. Camden city’s large Section 8 population makes source-of-income compliance particularly important in the urban market. Civil penalties up to $10,000 plus compensatory damages and attorney’s fees for violations.
Camden County Special Civil Part
Address: 101 S. Fifth St., Camden, NJ 08103 Phone: (856) 379-2200 Filing Fee: ~$50 (1 defendant) + $5/additional + $7 service Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–4:30 PM Camden County’s Special Civil Part handles a substantial landlord-tenant caseload. Camden city generates the majority of the volume. Legal Services of New Jersey serves qualifying Camden County tenants. Contested cases are common in Camden city; the suburban communities generate fewer contested matters.
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
Camden city (rent control; urban; redevelopment): Camden’s rental market is affordable but legally complex — active rent control, high eviction volume, significant legal aid presence. Register with the Rent Control Board before any rent increase. Retain NJ counsel for all eviction proceedings. Redevelopment is bringing new institutional employers to the waterfront; screen for Cooper University Hospital, Rutgers-Camden, and Subaru employment. Section 8 is prevalent; source-of-income compliance is non-negotiable.
Cherry Hill (Philadelphia suburb; no rent control): Cherry Hill is Camden County’s most established Philadelphia commuter community with strong schools, retail infrastructure, and PATCO access. No rent control. Screen for verified Philadelphia-area corporate, healthcare, or professional employment. Stable market with consistent demand and low eviction rates.
Gloucester Township (growing suburb; working/middle class): One of South Jersey’s fastest-growing townships. Working- and middle-class families, healthcare workers, and logistics employees. No rent control. Screen for stable employment in healthcare, retail, and logistics sectors. Consistent demand; affordable rents relative to northern NJ.
Collingswood & Haddon Township (walkable inner suburbs; creative class): These PATCO-connected inner suburbs attract young professionals, artists, and creatives priced out of Philadelphia’s neighborhoods. No rent control. Vibrant local restaurant and arts scenes drive demand. Screen for verified employment; income is often from creative industries or Philadelphia office employment. Long-tenured tenants are common in these desirable small communities.
Background checks, eviction history, credit reports — get the full picture before handing over the keys.
Camden County New Jersey Landlord-Tenant Law: Camden City, Cherry Hill, and South Jersey’s Philadelphia Commuter Market
Camden County’s rental market tells two very different stories. In Camden city, landlords operate in one of New Jersey’s most challenging environments: active rent control, high eviction volume, significant legal aid penetration, and a population that has experienced decades of economic distress that has produced a tenant base with strong motivation to exercise every available legal protection. Across the county in Cherry Hill, Voorhees, and the PATCO-connected inner suburbs, landlords face an entirely different market: Philadelphia commuter professionals and families competing for well-maintained units in communities with excellent schools, no rent control, and very low eviction rates. Both markets operate under the same New Jersey Anti-Eviction Act and the same statewide landlord registration and LLC attorney requirements. Understanding which market you are operating in — and applying the same procedural discipline in both — is the foundation of successful Camden County landlording.
Camden city’s ongoing redevelopment represents one of the most significant urban transformation efforts in New Jersey. The arrival of Subaru of America’s headquarters on the Delaware River waterfront, the expansion of Cooper University Hospital and the Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, and the continued growth of Rutgers University-Camden are bringing institutional employment anchors to a city that previously lacked them. This institutional investment is beginning to reshape the rental market — professionals employed by these institutions need housing near Camden, and the waterfront neighborhoods closest to the development activity are seeing demand that simply did not exist a decade ago. For landlords with well-maintained properties in Camden’s revitalizing corridors, the combination of the city’s still-low entry prices, strong rental demand from institutional employees, and Section 8 voucher availability creates investment opportunities that are increasingly difficult to find in North Jersey’s priced-up markets.
This page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. All residential evictions in Camden County are filed at Camden County Superior Court — Special Civil Part, 101 S. Fifth Street, Camden, NJ 08103 — (856) 379-2200. 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. Camden city has an active Rent Control Ordinance. 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 Camden County are filed at Camden County Superior Court — Special Civil Part, 101 S. Fifth Street, Camden, NJ 08103 — (856) 379-2200. 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. Camden city has an active Rent Control Ordinance. 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.
