New Jersey laws by category

A New Jersey Permit to Carry a Handgun is required. Exceptions may apply — read the full rule.

New Jersey is a license state, not a control state, but it has a strict population-based quota and a two-license cap per company, so chain grocery and convenience store sales are rare. Beer, wine and spirits are sold mainly at licensed liquor stores, and some supermarkets hold limited licenses.

Radar detectors are legal in private passenger vehicles — New Jersey has no ban for passenger cars. Federal law does ban them in commercial motor vehicles (49 CFR 392.71).

In New Jersey, no one may set fire to any forest, brush, grassland or tidal marsh without written permission from a Forest Firewarden, or start a fire anywhere and let it spread to a forest (N.J.S.A. 13:9-19). Exceptions may apply — read the full rule.

In New Jersey, you need a freshwater fishing license from age 16 (residents 16–69; 70+ none). Licenses are issued by the NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife (NJDEP).

6.625% statewide sales tax on most goods and certain services; New Jersey has no general local sales taxes. In designated Urban Enterprise Zones, certified sellers may charge half the rate (3.3125%) on qualified in-person sales.

Recreational cannabis is legal in New Jersey for adults 21 and older under the Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act (P.L.2021, c.16, approved February 22, 2021); possessing more than 6 ounces is a crime (N.J.S. 2C:35-10). Exceptions may apply — read the full rule.

New Jersey sports betting is legal, retail and statewide online/mobile, and you must be 21+. Regulated by the NJ Division of Gaming Enforcement. Numerous licensed apps and Atlantic City/racetrack retail books.

New Jersey requires completion of an NJSP-approved boating safety course and a New Jersey Boating Safety Certificate to operate any power vessel or personal watercraft. On non-tidal (fresh) waters the operator also needs an MVC motorboat or jet ski license, which requires age 16 or older.

Possessing a switchblade, gravity or ballistic knife (or dagger, dirk, stiletto) 'without any explainable lawful purpose' is a fourth-degree crime; self-defense is not a lawful purpose (N.J.S.A. 2C:39-3(e)).

New Jersey (P.L. 2017 c.315) makes it an offense for a person subject to a restraining/no-contact order to fly a drone near the protected person or location.