N.J. Stat. Ann. § 55:13B-1 et seq. § 55:13B-19

Rights of resident of boarding facility

In Force
Verified 10/6/2026 · Next check 11/5/2026
effective 10/6/2026New JerseyRent Regulation

Operative Text

N.J. Stat. Ann. § 55:13B-1 et seq. § 55:13B-19
Every resident of a boarding facility shall have the right:

a. To manage his own financial affairs;

b. To wear his own clothing;

c. To determine his own dress, hair style, or other personal effects according to individual preference;

d. To retain and use his personal property in his immediate living quarters, so as to maintain individuality and personal dignity, except where the boarding facility can demonstrate that such would be unsafe, impractical to do so, infringes upon the rights of others and that mere convenience is not the facility's motive to restrict this right;

e. To receive and send unopened correspondence;

f. To unaccompanied access to a telephone at a reasonable hour and to a private phone at the resident's expense;

g. To privacy;

h. To retain the services of his own personal physician at his own expense or under a health care plan and to confidentiality and privacy concerning his medical condition and treatment;

i. To unrestricted communication, including personal visitation with any person of his choice, at any reasonable hour;

j. To make contacts with the community and to achieve the highest level of independence, autonomy, and interaction with the community of which he is capable;

k. To present grievances on behalf of himself or others to the operator, State governmental agencies or other persons without threat of reprisal in any form or manner whatsoever;

l . To a safe and decent living environment and considerate and respectful care that recognizes the dignity and individuality of the resident;

m. To refuse to perform services for the boarding facility, except as contracted for by the resident and the operator;

n. To practice the religion of his or her choice, or to abstain from religious practice; and

o . To not be deprived of any constitutional, civil or legal right solely by reason of residence in a boarding facility.

L.1979, c. 500, s. 3.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Section 55:13B-19 of New Jersey's Boarding Facility Act establishes a broad set of personal rights that every resident of a licensed boarding facility retains upon moving in. These rights cover areas such as financial self-management, personal appearance, private communications, medical privacy, religious practice, community interaction, and the ability to raise grievances without fear of retaliation. Importantly, the provision makes clear that residing in a boarding facility does not strip a person of any constitutional, civil, or legal right they would otherwise hold.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 14, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Operators of boarding facilities in New Jersey must structure their policies and day-to-day practices to affirmatively preserve the rights enumerated in N.J.S.A. 55:13B-19. Compliant operators generally avoid restricting residents' personal property, communications, visitors, or religious practices unless they can demonstrate a genuine safety or practicality concern—not mere convenience. Facility rules, staff training, and grievance procedures are typically designed so that residents can raise complaints to state agencies or other parties without any form of retaliation.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

As a resident of a New Jersey boarding facility, N.J.S.A. 55:13B-19 guarantees you a wide range of personal rights—from managing your own finances and choosing your own clothing to receiving private mail, having unaccompanied phone access, and practicing your religion freely. If you believe a facility is violating any of these rights, the provision explicitly protects your ability to present grievances to the operator, to state governmental agencies, or to other persons without threat of reprisal. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid services familiar with New Jersey boarding facility law can help you understand the options available for raising a concern or filing a complaint.

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 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

Effective Timeline

Current
Oct 6, 2026
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