Uncontested: 30–60 days ·
Contested: 90–180 days · Under N.J.S.A. § 46:8 & N.J.S.A. § 2A:18 (Landlord and Tenant; Anti-Eviction Act)
The New Jersey eviction process requires a court-ordered judgment before a landlord can remove a tenant. Timeline figures below begin after the pre-filing notice period expires and the landlord files the complaint with the court. Add 3–60+ days for the applicable pre-filing notice period (pay-or-quit, cure-or-quit, or no-fault) depending on the eviction reason.
Each row's day-label is the cumulative start of that stage on the worst-case clock.
Pre-filingNoticeFileCourtLockout
Same day
1
Stage 1 · Gate
Confirm Anti-Eviction Act coverage
Day 1
Most NJ residential rentals are covered. Exemptions: owner-occupied with 3 or fewer rental units, hotels/motels, transient accommodations, dorms.
0–60d
2
Stage 2 · Serve
Identify ground and serve notice
Day 1
One of 18 enumerated grounds under 2A:18-61.1. Two-step notice (Cease then Quit) for most non-monetary grounds. No statutory pre-suit notice for nonpayment.
1–3d
3
Stage 3 · File
File Complaint in Special Civil Part
Day 61
Superior Court Special Civil Part, Landlord/Tenant section. $50 per defendant filing fee. Complaint must specifically plead the Anti-Eviction Act ground.
10–14d
4
Stage 4 · Court
Service and 10-day answer window
Day 64
Special Civil Part Officer serves the summons. Tenant has 10 days to answer or appear at the case-management conference.
14–30d
5
Stage 5 · Court
Case management conference and trial
Day 78
Conference 2-4 weeks after service. About 60% of cases resolve here. Trial within 2-4 weeks if needed.
3–180d
6
Stage 6 · Lockout
Judgment and Warrant of Removal
Day 108
After judgment, court issues Warrant of Removal. Special Civil Part Officer serves with 3 business days notice before lockout. Tenant may request hardship stay up to 6 months.
Day 288
✓
Possession recovered
Worst case · Day 288
Timelines begin at court filing, not notice service.
The New Jersey timelines above start when the landlord files the eviction complaint with the court.
Add pre-filing notice periods (3–60 days depending on eviction reason) to get the full end-to-end timeline.
Self-help eviction, changing locks, removing belongings, or shutting off utilities, is illegal in New Jersey and exposes the landlord to significant damages.
About this page. Researched and written by the NextGen Properties research team — the underwriters, asset managers, and acquisitions staff who have priced, bought, and operated rental property for more than two decades. Reviewed before publication by the NextGen Properties editorial desk. How we work: editorial guidelines · scoring methodology.
