Reporting an Arrest or Conviction to the NJ Real Estate Commission

The short answer: If you hold a New Jersey real estate license, you must notify the Real Estate Commission within 30 days of being convicted of a crime, misdemeanor or disorderly persons offense, being indicted, or having formal criminal charges filed against you. The same 30-day rule covers another state suspending or revoking your real estate license or starting formal disciplinary proceedings against it (N.J.S.A. 45:15-17(s)). NJREC's FAQ describes it as notifying the Commission "of any arrest, indictment or conviction within 30 days," in writing (NJREC FAQ, Compliance Q3).

This page is for people who are already licensed. If you're asking whether a past record will stop you from getting a license, see Can You Get a NJ Real Estate License With a Criminal Record?

What exactly has to be reported?

Subsection (s) of the statute lists the events. Failing to report any of them within 30 days is a ground for discipline (N.J.S.A. 45:15-17(s)):

Event	Report within
Conviction of any crime, including a sex offense that would require registration under N.J.S.A. 2C:7-2 (or an equivalent law elsewhere)	30 days
Conviction of a misdemeanor or disorderly persons offense	30 days
Being indicted	30 days
The filing of any formal criminal charges	30 days
Suspension or revocation of a real estate license issued by another state	30 days
Formal disciplinary proceedings started in another state against a real estate license you hold	30 days

The same subsection also makes it a violation to fail to supply any documents you have that the Commission asks for about the matter.

Read literally, the statute ties the 30 days to each event. So one case could call for more than one notice, for example once when charges are filed and again if there's a conviction. If you're unsure whether something counts, call NJREC at (609) 292-7272 before the 30 days run out.

Is it "arrest" or "formal charges"?

The two official sources use slightly different words:

The statute says conviction, indictment, or "the filing of any formal criminal charges" (N.J.S.A. 45:15-17(s)).
NJREC's FAQ says "any arrest, indictment or conviction" (NJREC FAQ, Compliance Q3).

The FAQ's wording is broader. Reporting an arrest in writing costs you little, and the Commission's own guidance tells licensees to report arrests, so the cautious approach is to follow the FAQ. A lawyer can tell you how the rule applies to your specific case.

How do you notify the Commission?

NJREC says the notice "should be made in writing" (NJREC FAQ, Compliance Q3). The FAQ doesn't name a form or a specific unit. The Commission's general contact details are (NJREC, About the Commission):

Mail: New Jersey Real Estate Commission, PO Box 328, Trenton, NJ 08625-0328
Email: realestate@dobi.nj.gov
Phone: (609) 292-7272

Call first to confirm where your notice should go. Then a practical way to handle it:

Write down the dates (arrest, charge, indictment, court dates) and count 30 days from each event.
Put the basics in your letter: your name, license reference number, what happened, the date, and the court or agency involved.
Attach what you have, such as the complaint or court paperwork, and send anything else the Commission later requests.
Keep a copy and proof of when you sent it.

Will the Commission find out anyway?

Often, yes. When you applied, you were fingerprinted for a State Police and FBI check. The statute requires the State Police to notify the Commission if someone who went through that check is later arrested in New Jersey (N.J.S.A. 45:15-9). Fingerprinting is covered step by step in our NJ fingerprinting guide.

So silence doesn't usually keep a matter private. It just adds a second problem: failing to notify is its own ground for discipline under subsection (s).

What can happen after you report?

It depends on the offense. NJREC says that "whether or not any additional action is taken will depend on the type of crime at issue" (NJREC FAQ, Compliance Q3). Three statutes set the range:

Mandatory revocation for certain convictions. If a licensee is convicted, in any state or federal court, of forgery, burglary, robbery, any theft or related offense other than shoplifting, criminal conspiracy to defraud, a similar offense, or any crime connected to their real estate activities, the Commission "shall revoke" the license once it obtains a certified copy of the judgment. It also must revoke for a conviction of a sex offense that requires registration (N.J.S.A. 45:15-19.1).
Possible suspension after certain indictments. For an indictment on listed charges, including murder, kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault, robbery, burglary, arson, any theft offense, bribery, racketeering, drug distribution, forgery and criminal conspiracy to defraud, the Commission may, at its discretion, suspend the license until trial (N.J.S.A. 45:15-19.2).
General discipline. Under 45:15-17, the Commission can place a licensee on probation, suspend or revoke a license, and impose penalties of up to $5,000 for a first violation and up to $10,000 for a later one. A conviction for a crime the Commission didn't know about when it last issued your license is a separate ground under subsection (h) (N.J.S.A. 45:15-17).

The Commission investigates and holds hearings on discipline. Our page on what the NJ Real Estate Commission does explains that process.

Does this apply to licenses in other states?

Yes, in two ways. A conviction in another state's courts or a federal court can trigger revocation under 45:15-19.1. Discipline against a real estate license you hold in another state, either a suspension or revocation or the start of formal proceedings, must be reported within 30 days under 45:15-17(s).

Make it part of your compliance calendar

The 30-day notice belongs on the same list as your license renewal and CE deadlines. If you're new, our guide to your first year as a new NJ agent covers the other recurring rules.

This page is general information, not legal advice. If you're facing charges, talk to a lawyer, and contact NJREC at (609) 292-7272 with questions about reporting. If you're thinking about a real estate career, Business Elementary's 75-hour pre-licensing course is the first step.

Sources

N.J.S.A. 45:15-17, Investigation of actions of licensees; suspension or revocation (via Justia): https://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/title-45/section-45-15-17/
N.J.S.A. 45:15-19.1, License revoked upon conviction (via Justia): https://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/title-45/section-45-15-19-1/
N.J.S.A. 45:15-19.2, License suspended when licensee is indicted (via Justia): https://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/title-45/section-45-15-19-2/
N.J.S.A. 45:15-9 (via Justia): https://law.justia.com/codes/new-jersey/title-45/section-45-15-9/
NJREC, Real Estate FAQs (Compliance Q3): https://www.nj.gov/dobi/division_rec/recfaqs.htm
NJREC, About the Commission (contact information): https://www.nj.gov/dobi/division_rec/reabout.html

Last reviewed: October 27, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to report a conviction to the NJ Real Estate Commission?

30 days. The same deadline applies to an indictment, formal criminal charges, and out-of-state license discipline (N.J.S.A. 45:15-17(s)).

Do I have to report a disorderly persons offense?

Yes. The statute lists convictions for a crime, misdemeanor or disorderly persons offense (N.J.S.A. 45:15-17(s)).

Does a conviction automatically cost me my NJ real estate license?

Not always. Convictions for the offenses listed in N.J.S.A. 45:15-19.1, such as theft offenses other than shoplifting, forgery and registrable sex offenses, require revocation. Other matters are handled case by case (NJREC FAQ, Compliance Q3).

Can my license be suspended before a trial?

For certain indictments, yes. The Commission has discretion to suspend a license pending trial on the charges listed in N.J.S.A. 45:15-19.2.

What happens if I don't report?

Failing to notify the Commission within 30 days is itself a ground for discipline, with penalties of up to $5,000 for a first violation (N.J.S.A. 45:15-17).