New Jersey Statutes Title 40A. Municipalities and Counties 40A § 9-1.6

(1) Other residents of the county in which the municipality is situate.

(2) Other residents of counties contiguous to the county in which the municipality is situate.

(3) Other residents of the State.

(4) All other applicants.

(1) Other residents of contiguous counties.

(2) Other residents of the State.

(3) All other qualified applicants.

The hiring authority shall first appoint all those in class 1 and then those in each succeeding class in the order above listed and shall appoint a person or persons in any such class only to a position or positions, or employment or employments, remaining after all qualified applicants in the preceding class or classes have been appointed or have declined an offer of appointment. The preference established by this section shall in no way diminish, reduce or affect the preferences granted pursuant to any other provisions of the law. A local unit which has recruited and hired officers and employees under the provisions of this section may require such officers and employees, as a condition of their continued employment, to become bona fide residents thereof. Such a requirement shall be specified at the time of appointment and a reasonable amount of time granted for such officers and employees to become bona fide residents of the local unit. The Civil Service Commission shall, upon any subsequent notice of the determination of the governing body or the hiring authority of any such local unit wherein Title 11 (Civil Service)  2 of the Revised Statutes is operative that such preference schedule shall be applicable for any specific position or employment, classify all applicants for such position or employment accordingly.