N.J. Stat. Ann. § 10:5-1 et seq. § 10:5-29.2
Housing accommodations
Operative Text
4. A person with a disability is entitled to rent, lease or purchase, as other members of the general public, all housing accommodations offered for rent, lease, or compensation in this State, subject to the rights, conditions and limitations established by law. Nothing in this section shall require any person renting, leasing or providing for compensation real property, to modify such property in any way to provide a higher degree of care for a person with a disability than for any other person. A person with a disability who has a service or guide dog, or who obtains a service or guide dog, or who retains their former service or guide dog as a pet after its retirement from service, shall be entitled to full and equal access to all housing accommodations and shall not be required to pay extra compensation for such service or guide dog or retired pet, but shall be liable for any damages done to the premises by such dog. Any provision in any lease or rental agreement prohibiting maintenance of a pet or pets on or in the premises shall not be applicable to a working service or guide dog, or a retired service or guide dog, owned by a tenant who is a person with a disability. L.1977, c.456, s.4; amended 1980, c.46, s.7; 1983, c.485, s.6; 2003, c.180, s.20; 2017, c.187.
Under N.J.S.A. 10:5-1 et seq. § 10:5-29.2, people with disabilities have the same right as any other member of the public to rent, lease, or purchase housing accommodations offered for compensation in New Jersey. The law specifically protects the right of a person with a disability to keep a service or guide dog—or a retired service or guide dog kept as a pet—in any housing unit without being charged extra compensation for the animal. However, the person with the disability remains financially responsible for any damage the dog causes to the premises, and landlords are not required to provide a higher level of physical care or property modification than they would for any other tenant.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under N.J.S.A. 10:5-1 et seq. § 10:5-29.2 generally ensure that applicants and tenants with disabilities are evaluated on the same terms as all other prospective or current tenants. A compliant operator does not apply a no-pets clause to block a tenant with a disability from keeping a working service or guide dog, or a retired service or guide dog kept as a pet, and does not charge additional fees or deposits solely because of such an animal. At the same time, the provision preserves the operator's ability to seek compensation from the tenant for any actual damage the dog causes to the property.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.J.S.A. 10:5-1 et seq. § 10:5-29.2 establishes that tenants with disabilities have a protected right to equal access to housing and to keep a service or guide dog—or a retired service or guide dog as a pet—without paying extra fees, even if a lease contains a general no-pets clause. If a landlord attempts to enforce a no-pets provision against such an animal or charges an additional fee for it, that conduct may constitute a violation of the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination. Tenants who believe their rights under this provision have been violated may consider filing a complaint with the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights or consulting a tenant-rights organization for guidance on available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 6, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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