Security deposit rules sd-2026.11.19
Published interest rates and the cleaning rule are now written as dated values, one value from each date. No rule changed and no answer moved.
- Changed: Deductions.
New Jersey rule history
Every change we have made to the rules we apply in New Jersey, newest first. Each entry gives the ruleset version, the day we made the change and the rules it touched.
Changes, newest first
Dates are the days we made each change. A change reaches tektolo.com with the next release of the site. Changes that apply in every state are in the rules changelog. Rules changelog.
Security deposit rules sd-2026.10.28
Applies exemptions the inputs decide (Georgia, Arkansas, Maine) and keeps the statute's date as an alternative where an exception is not ruled out (New Jersey, New Hampshire).
- Changed: Who the law covers.
Security deposit rules sd-2026.10.27
Unpaid required interest counts in the penalty base where the statute says so: New Hampshire, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
- Changed: Penalties.
Security deposit rules sd-2026.10.23
Adds trash and abandoned items as a deduction, Maine's bar on a fee for ending the tenancy, cap variants for small landlords and older tenants, and owner-occupancy exemptions.
- Changed: Who the law covers.
Security deposit rules sd-2026.10.18
The penalty base follows each statute's words (what was wrongfully withheld, the balance owed, or more than the actual damages) in 24 states; Maryland's remedy for a deposit over the cap.
- Changed: Penalties.
Security deposit rules sd-2026.10.9
Where the statute is silent on depreciation (49 states), an aged item is limited to its remaining value as an estimate; Colorado carpet over ten years old is barred.
- Changed: Deductions.
Security deposit rules sd-2026.10.8
Cleaning is typed per state, as named in the statute or recoverable only as damage beyond normal wear; a cleaning line of unknown kind is 'depends', never refused outright.
- Changed: Deductions.
Security deposit rules sd-2026.10.1
Review fixes: inclusive tenancy thresholds, state holiday sets, Los Angeles and Maryland interest per rate year, Florida's notice of claim, Colorado's carpet and paint limits.
- Changed: Notes.
The rules we apply now
Each rule we apply in New Jersey, with the day it took its current form.
| Rule | In this form since | Version |
|---|---|---|
| Deductions | October 15, 2026 | sd-2026.11.19 |
| Deposit cap | October 9, 2026 | sd-2026.10.0 |
| Interest | October 9, 2026 | sd-2026.10.0 |
| Itemized statement and records | October 9, 2026 | sd-2026.10.0 |
| Notes | October 9, 2026 | sd-2026.10.1 |
| Penalties | October 10, 2026 | sd-2026.10.27 |
| Recent amendments | October 9, 2026 | sd-2026.10.0 |
| Return deadline | October 9, 2026 | sd-2026.10.0 |
| Statute | October 9, 2026 | sd-2026.10.0 |
| Statute text | October 9, 2026 | sd-2026.10.0 |
| Who the law covers | October 10, 2026 | sd-2026.10.28 |
Get this as data
The same history is available as JSON. The API is free and needs no key.
- Changes this year:
/v1/rules/changes?state=NJ&since=2026-01-01 - Every value of one rule:
/v1/rules/history?rule=deposit-settlement/states/NJ%23return - What we said on a date about the law on another:
/v1/rules/as-of?rule=deposit-settlement/states/NJ&known=2026-10-01&valid=2025-12-01