YOUR LATEST NEWS & RESOURCES

We have compiled the latest news and resources related to the self storage industry in your state.

COVID-19 Updates

COVID-19

The national SSA has many resources and webinars available focused on COVID-19 and our industry. Click here to access news about COVID-19 and self storage. Invitations to register for the webinars are being sent to state and national members, specifically, the primary contact's email address.

For the latest information from New Jersey on the COVID-19 pandemic, visit the governor’s office website and your state’s department of health here. Be sure to carefully monitor the situation and check on updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) www.cdc.gov, regulatory agencies as well as local health officials.

Please also read the letter from Tim Dietz, SSA President and CEO, that provides resources and information related to states of emergency and pricing restrictions here.

March 23, 2020 - NJ Governor Allows Storage Businesses to Remain Open During State of Emergency

By this time, you have probably heard of Governor Murphy’s order requiring all non-essential retail businesses to close. This order does not apply to self storage.

Self storage is not a retail business under either of the prevailing industry classification systems, NAICS and SIC. Self storage is a commercial business that rents real property. A separate explanation accompanying the Governor’s order states that commercial businesses are allowed to remain open.

Importantly, paragraphs 10 and 11 of the Governor’s order apply to all businesses. All businesses must accommodate their workforce, wherever practicable, for telework or work-from-home arrangements. Also, all businesses should make best efforts to reduce staff on site to the minimal number necessary to ensure that essential operations can continue.

The Governor issued a separate order prohibiting local governments from imposing additional or stricter requirements on any business. For example, the stricter order from the Bergen County Executive is unenforceable.

Please email Joe Doherty, jdoherty@selfstorage.org, with any questions.

Legislative Efforts

Update 2.14.18: NJ Standard Late Fee Bill Signed. Clink here for a link to the bill.

January, 2018: NJ Standard Late Fee Likely to Become Law in January 2018

Operators in New Jersey will likely need to comply with a new late fee in statute beginning this month. The amendment to the Self-Service Storage Facilities Act (A3253/S403) was passed earlier this week by the Assembly, and is on the Governor’s desk. Once he signs the bill, the law will be take effect immediately. The new regulation specifies that self storage operators can assess “up to $20 or 18 percent of the monthly rent, whichever is greater.” Operators already assessing this amount or less as a late fee are already in compliance. Others will need to adjust their late fee practices upon enactment. The bill also clarifies that self storage operators may conduct lien sales online. Although there is no certain date that the bill will be signed into law, based on the legislature’s schedule it likely will be before January 15^th and become effective immediately, according to the bill: which is available here: Please click here for details.

The New Jersey Self Storage Association, together with the national Self Storage Association, is working on a number of issues to protect and improve your regulatory arena. The NJSSA lien laws were updated in 2013, however efforts are currently underway to allow for late fees and online auctions. These changes represent consistent storage industry statutes across the US.

A change has been implemented in the sales tax rate for 2017. Please click here for details.