Bergenfield, NJ

Bergenfield defines retaining walls and requires a Construction Official permit, plus an NJDEP permit, for any retaining wall within 20 feet of a stream, brook, or watercourse centerline.

Bergenfield Chapter 277 requires every swimming or bathing pool to be enclosed by a fence meeting Borough minimum standards, with permit applications describing materials, height, and gates.

Bergenfield restricts fence height across residential lots and limits hedges, fences, or walls in corner sight triangles to 2.5 feet above curb level for traffic safety.

Bergenfield prohibits barbed wire, spines, chipped glass, and similar devices on any fence or retaining wall, and bans canvas or cloth fence materials within the Borough.

Bergenfield requires a fence permit from the Construction Official, with Zoning Officer approval, for any fence taller than 2 feet 6 inches above grade, plus a property survey sketch.

Bergenfield requires all fences be erected within the owner's property lines, never encroach on public right-of-way, and remain in safe, sound, upright condition at all times.

Bergenfield Chapter 277 mandates pool barriers prevent unauthorized access using fencing, gates, and dwelling walls so children and bystanders cannot reach the water.

Bergenfield regulates public whirlpools and hot tubs through the Health Department, requiring formal licensing before any operation begins on the premises.

Bergenfield Chapter 277 covers above-ground pools 30 inches or deeper, requiring permits and four-foot enclosures with gates matching the fence height.

Bergenfield requires every pool 18 inches or deeper (or above-ground pools 30+ inches) to be surrounded by a fence at least four feet tall with no openings larger than two inches.

Bergenfield Chapter 277 requires a Borough permit before constructing any permanent or stationary swimming or bathing pool, with plans, plot plan, and specifications submitted in duplicate.

Bergenfield allows a single identification sign for a permitted home occupation in residential zones, but prohibits any other exterior advertising or display indicating commercial activity.

Bergenfield permits home occupations as accessory uses customarily conducted within a dwelling, secondary to residential use, and not changing the dwelling's residential character or exterior appearance.

Bergenfield restricts home-occupation activity to a single client at a time for instructional uses and caps professional offices at no more than two persons employed total.

Family daycare homes in Bergen County are regulated by New Jersey under the Family Day Care Provider Registration Act. Providers caring for 3-5 children must register with NJ DCF; municipal zoning may also apply.

Bergen County follows New Jersey's statewide Cottage Food Operator Permit program administered by the NJ Department of Health. Permits allow up to $50,000 annual sales of approved baked goods from home kitchens.

Bergenfield Chapter 291 prohibits cutting, trimming, breaking, or otherwise injuring any living tree or shrub on public highways, parks, or public places without prior written permit from the Shade Tree Committee.

Bergenfield Chapter 291 forbids removing or injuring any living tree on public property without a written Shade Tree Committee permit, and lets the Committee order removal of dangerous trees.

Bergenfield Chapter 116 lets the Borough order property owners to cut weeds, brush, and hedges within 10 days of written notice, and bill removal costs back if owners fail to comply.

Bergenfield Chapter 116 requires owners to keep brush, hedges, and plant life cut below 2.5 feet within 10 feet of any roadway and 25 feet of intersections when needed for public safety, within 10 days after notice.

Bergenfield Chapter 306 authorizes the Borough Administrator to declare water emergencies imposing odd/even sprinkler schedules in Stage I and a complete irrigation ban in Stage II.

Bergenfield's mandatory recycling code requires leaves, grass clippings, and brush to be set out only on schedule, with loose yard waste limited to seven days before announced collection.

Bergen County does not regulate artificial turf on private residential property. Synthetic turf installations are governed by municipal zoning, impervious-coverage limits, and stormwater rules. Bergen County athletic fields require county park approval.

Rainwater harvesting is legal throughout Bergen County and New Jersey. There is no state or county prohibition on residential rain barrels. NJDEP encourages capture as a stormwater best management practice under NJAC 7:8.

Bergen County does not require native plantings on private lots but actively promotes them through the Open Space Trust Fund, county parks restoration projects, and the Bergen County Audubon Society partnership for pollinator habitats and invasive species removal.

Bergenfield prohibits keeping native New Jersey wildlife and imposes special caging and fencing requirements on permitted exotic pets.

Bergenfield prohibits keeping chickens, roosters, hoofed animals, pigs, and other farm animals on any premises within the borough.

Bergenfield prohibits feeding any domestic or wild animal on any property when the feeding attracts rats, mice, flies, or other vermin.

Bergenfield requires dogs in public or on unfenced private property to be controlled by a person over 12 with a leash no longer than six feet.

Bergen County does not impose breed-specific dog restrictions. New Jersey state law (N.J.S.A. 4:19-36) preempts municipalities and counties from enacting breed-discriminatory ordinances against pit bulls or other specific breeds.

Bergen County enforces animal hoarding cases under New Jersey's animal cruelty statutes (N.J.S.A. 4:22). Local police, county prosecutors, and the Bergen County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals investigate hoarding complaints.

Bergen County does not regulate beekeeping countywide. New Jersey's Beekeeping Industry Act (N.J.S.A. 4:7-41 et seq.) governs hive registration with the state, while individual municipalities may impose lot-size and setback rules.

Bergenfield Chapter 116 requires property owners to cut brush, hedges, and other plant life near roadways to maintain visibility, with enforcement by the Department of Public Works after written notice.

Consumer fireworks are illegal in Bergenfield under New Jersey state law (N.J.S.A. 21:3-1 et seq.). Only ground-based, non-aerial sparklers, snakes/glow worms, smoke devices, and party poppers are permitted under P.L. 2017, c. 92. Aerial fireworks, firecrackers, Roman candles, and bottle rockets remain banned.

Propane storage in Bergen County is regulated by the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code (NFPA 58). Residential cylinders, exchange cages, and bulk tanks must meet setback, capacity, and permit requirements enforced by local fire officials.

Open burning of leaves, yard waste, and refuse is broadly prohibited in Bergen County under New Jersey air pollution rules. Limited exceptions exist for recreational fires and agricultural or prescribed burns with permits.

Recreational fires in Bergen County are regulated under the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code. Small recreational fires using clean wood are permitted with restrictions; municipalities within Bergen County may impose stricter local rules.

Bergen County has limited high-risk wildfire zones compared to southern New Jersey, but wooded areas in the northwest border the Ramapo Mountains and follow NJ Forest Fire Service wildland-urban interface guidelines.

Bergenfield prohibits short-term rentals of 30 days or less for consideration under Borough Code Chapter 239, Article III (Ordinance 18-2533, adopted September 4, 2018), so the Borough does not issue STR permits and charges no STR-specific local registration or occupancy fee. Because such rentals are unlawful at the local level, the New Jersey state tax framework for transient accommodations under N.J.S.A. 54:32D and the Sales and Use Tax Act has no lawful application to a Bergenfield short-term rental, and any operator collecting consideration is in violation of the Borough Code regardless of state-tax registration.

Because Bergenfield bans short-term rentals of 30 days or less under Chapter 239, Article III (Ordinance 18-2533), there are no STR-specific noise standards or quiet hours. If a rental is being operated unlawfully, any noise complaint is enforced under Bergenfield Code Chapter 215 (Noise), originally adopted March 13, 2001 by Ordinance 2275, which prohibits excessive or unusually loud noise and noise disturbances within the Borough, and the underlying use itself remains unlawful regardless of how quiet the occupants are.

Bergenfield does not have STR-specific parking standards because Chapter 239, Article III (Ordinance 18-2533) bars short-term rentals of 30 days or less for consideration. Any vehicles associated with an unlawful rental remain subject to the Borough's standard residential parking rules in Chapter 299 (Vehicles and Traffic) and the residential off-street parking requirements in the Borough's land use ordinance, with no carve-out and no extra guest-parking allowance for paid transient occupants.

Bergenfield prohibits short-term rentals of 30 days or less under Chapter 239, Article III. No permit pathway exists for Airbnb-style transient lodging in the Borough.

Bergenfield law forbids paid occupancy of any dwelling for 30 days or less. The Borough effectively sets a 31-day minimum tenancy through its STR prohibition.

Bergen County does not mandate short-term rental insurance at the county level. Some municipalities require liability coverage of $300,000 to $1,000,000 as a condition of rental certificate issuance, and standard homeowners policies typically exclude transient rental activity.

Bergenfield permits residents to park recreational vehicles, boats, and trailers at their primary residence only after registering them with the Borough Code Enforcement Department.

Bergenfield bars oversize commercial vehicles from residential properties and requires registration with Code Enforcement for any commercial vehicle parked at a residence.

Bergenfield prohibits parking on any borough street between 2:00 AM and 6:00 AM under Ordinance 16-2488 unless the vehicle is registered through the overnight permit system.

Bergenfield restricts driveway width, surface materials, and curb cuts on residential lots, and prohibits parking on lawns or any non-driveway areas.

Bergenfield Chapter 295 makes it unlawful to abandon motor vehicles on public or private property and gives police authority to tow unregistered or inoperable vehicles.

New Jersey's 2021 Electric Vehicle Charging law (P.L.2021 c.171) and N.J.A.C. 5:23-7 require EV-ready spaces in new development. Bergen County sites and most municipalities reserve EV stalls for active charging only.

Street parking in Bergen County is governed mainly by each municipality and by NJ Title 39 motor vehicle law. On county roads, Bergen County may post no-parking zones and bus stops with NJDOT-approved traffic regulations.

Bergenfield requires zoning permits for sheds, with a minimum three-foot setback from rear and side property lines. A property survey must accompany the permit application.

Bergenfield defines accessory apartments as self-contained residential units with kitchen, bathroom, sleeping space, and private entrance, regulated under Chapter 186 Land Development zoning provisions.

Carports in Bergen County are regulated by municipal zoning ordinances. The county does not set carport standards, but the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code applies to structural and footing requirements.

Tiny homes in Bergen County must comply with the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code and local minimum dwelling size requirements. Most Bergen municipalities effectively prohibit traditional tiny homes through minimum square footage standards.

Garage conversions in Bergen County require municipal zoning approval and a building permit under the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code. The county itself does not regulate residential garage conversions.

Bergenfield prohibits operating radios, musical instruments, televisions, phonographs, drums, or other sound-reproduction devices at volumes creating a noise disturbance.

Bergenfield Chapter 215 prohibits excessive or unusually loud noise that creates a disturbance anywhere within the Borough at any hour of the day or night.

Aircraft noise in Bergen County, including operations at Teterboro Airport (TEB), is regulated exclusively by the Federal Aviation Administration. Neither the county nor its municipalities may set flight path, altitude, or in-flight noise rules. Local complaints are routed through the Port Authority noise office.

Construction hours are not set at the Bergen County level. Each of the county's 70 municipalities adopts its own permissible construction time window under New Jersey's Noise Control Act, typically restricting weekday work to 7 a.m.-6 p.m. and limiting weekend hours.

Bergen County does not regulate leaf blower use countywide. Each municipality independently restricts seasonal use, decibel limits, and gas-powered equipment under New Jersey's Noise Control Act. Several Bergen County towns including Maywood, Glen Rock, and Englewood have adopted strict seasonal bans.

Industrial and commercial noise in Bergen County is enforced under New Jersey's statewide Noise Control Code, N.J.A.C. 7:29, which sets dBA limits at receiving property lines. Municipalities may adopt stricter rules; the county itself does not run an industrial noise enforcement program.

Bergen County Animal Control investigates barking and nuisance dog reports referred by local police, but the underlying barking dog ordinance is set by each municipality. State law makes habitual unreasonable barking a public nuisance under New Jersey municipal authority.

Bergenfield site plan rules forbid lighting that produces glare at lot lines and cap commercial light fixture height at 18 feet.

Bergen County has no countywide dark-sky ordinance. Outdoor lighting is regulated through municipal zoning codes, with most Bergen County towns requiring shielded fixtures and limiting glare in residential and commercial site plans.

Bergenfield measures building height from average finished grade to the highest roof point, with zone-specific maximums set in Schedule A and certified survey heights required for additions.

Bergenfield Schedule B caps total impervious coverage on any developed lot, requiring surveys to show lot coverage, improved coverage, and any pervious paver areas proposed.

Bergenfield Chapter 186 establishes minimum front, side, and rear yard setbacks by zone in Schedule A, with sheds required at least 3 feet from rear and side property lines.

Bergenfield regulates construction in special flood hazard areas through Chapter 161, requiring elevation of new and substantially improved structures above the base flood elevation plus one foot.

Bergenfield requires all premises to be graded and maintained to prevent soil erosion and the accumulation of stagnant water, under property maintenance code section 302.2 adopted by Ordinance 05-2360.

Bergenfield's Chapter 268 sets minimum stormwater management requirements for major development, requiring green infrastructure best management practices and nonstructural strategies to maintain natural hydrology.

The Bergen County Soil Conservation District enforces New Jersey's Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Act for projects disturbing 5,000 square feet or more. A certified plan is required before any earthwork.

Bergen County is not regulated under New Jersey's Coastal Area Facility Review Act, but Hudson River and Hackensack River waterfront projects may require Waterfront Development Permits and tidal wetlands approvals from NJDEP.

Bergenfield requires conveniently located refuse receptacles maintained to prevent health nuisances, with rules governing landlord versus tenant responsibility for two-unit dwellings.

Bergenfield requires owners of vacant property to file a registration statement within 30 days, and to keep grass, weeds, and growth under eight inches.

Bergenfield requires a $5 garage sale permit good for two consecutive days, with a maximum of two permits per year and strict sign placement rules.

Bergenfield adopted the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code, requiring exterior properties to be clean, safe, and sanitary with grass kept under eight inches.

Bergenfield requires owners and tenants of property abutting paved sidewalks to remove snow and ice within 24 hours after precipitation ceases.

Bergenfield Chapter 291 requires a written Shade Tree Committee permit before cutting, trimming, climbing, or removing any tree on a public right-of-way or public property.

Bergenfield Chapter 291 requires property owners and contractors to replace shade trees that fail to thrive within one year of completing construction or improvements.

Bergen County does not maintain a formal heritage tree registry, but historic and specimen trees on county park land are protected under the Parks System Rules. Many municipalities, including Bergenfield and Woodcliff Lake, designate landmark trees with stricter removal rules and replacement formulas.

Bergenfield Chapter 239 requires annual registration and inspection of nonowner-occupied single-family and two-family rentals by February 15 with a $50 minimum fee.

Bergenfield Chapter 240 caps rent increases at no more than 4% per year and requires landlords to file proposed increases with the Rent Leveling Board for review.

All Bergen County rentals are governed by the New Jersey Anti-Eviction Act, which requires landlords to demonstrate one of 18 statutory good causes before evicting a tenant. The county has no separate eviction ordinance.

Bergenfield bans cannabis retailers, wholesalers, and distributors anywhere in the borough, allowing only delivery services to operate.

Home cannabis cultivation is illegal throughout Bergen County and all of New Jersey. The Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act (CREAMMA) prohibits personal grow operations, even for adults 21 and over.

Bergenfield requires all mobile food vendors to obtain an annual Department of Health license at $150 plus comply with Fire Department permit requirements before selling food.

Bergen County does not designate countywide vending zones. Mobile food vendors must comply with each municipality's zoning, setback, and time restrictions, which vary widely from outright bans to designated truck districts.

Bergenfield limits each residential property to two garage sale permits per calendar year, with each permit covering two consecutive sale days.

Bergenfield requires residents to obtain a Building Department permit costing five dollars before holding a garage or yard sale at their property.

Garage sale hours in Bergen County are set by each municipality. Typical limits run 8:00 a.m. or 9:00 a.m. to dusk, often capped at one to three consecutive days, with no overnight setup or signage.

Bergenfield requires owners, lessees, and occupants to separate paper, glass, plastic, metals, e-waste, batteries, yard waste, and other recyclables from trash under its mandatory recycling ordinance.

Bergenfield requires garbage, recycling, bulk, and vegetative waste be placed curbside after 6:00 p.m. the night before pickup or before 6:00 a.m. on the scheduled collection day.

Bergenfield requires receptacles be conveniently located on premises and maintained to prevent health nuisances, with landlords or tenants responsible based on dwelling type and lease terms.

Bergenfield bulk pickup allows up to four pieces of household furniture, two appliances, and one carpet per scheduled bulk day. Contractor debris, electronics, and chemicals are excluded.

Bergenfield Chapter 227 requires written permits and identification cards from the Chief of Police for door-to-door canvassing, with a $100 fee per 30-day period and charity exemptions.

Bergenfield maintains a No-Knock List letting residents opt out of unsolicited door-to-door sales, with registration through the Municipal Clerk's Department and enforcement against permitted solicitors.

Bergenfield treats solar arrays as active solar systems under Chapter 136, charging an $80 construction permit fee and requiring a zoning permit for installation in addition to standard NJ Uniform Construction Code approvals.

New Jersey's Solar Easement Act (NJSA 46:3-24) and Planned Real Estate Development Full Disclosure Act (NJSA 45:22A-48.2) limit homeowner association power to bar rooftop solar in Bergen County. Reasonable aesthetic conditions are allowed but outright bans are not.

Bergen County does not regulate residential holiday displays or decorations on private property. Municipalities may apply nuisance, lighting glare, and noise ordinances, and seasonal displays generally fall outside permanent sign regulation.

Bergen County does not regulate political signs on private property. New Jersey law and the First Amendment protect political speech, and municipalities may impose only content-neutral time, place, and manner restrictions on size, setback, and removal after elections.

Bergen County does not regulate garage sale signs on private property. Individual municipalities limit sign size, posting duration, and location, generally prohibiting placement on utility poles, public trees, and county or state roadway rights-of-way.

Bergen County does not have a countywide juvenile curfew. Several Bergen municipalities have adopted local curfew ordinances under N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.52, typically restricting minors under 18 from public places overnight.

Bergen County parks are closed daily from dusk to dawn under the Bergen County Park Commission's rules. Entry into county parks after closing hours is prohibited unless specifically permitted for events.

Bergen County prohibits recreational drone takeoff and landing in county parks without permission. Federal FAA Part 107 and recreational rules apply countywide, including registration of drones over 0.55 pounds and altitude limits of 400 feet AGL.

Commercial drone operators in Bergen County must hold FAA Part 107 certification and comply with N.J.S.A. 2C:40-27. The county Parks Department requires special permits for commercial operations on county property, and Teterboro Class D airspace requires LAANC authorization.

New Jersey sets a uniform statewide minimum wage under NJSA 34:11-56a, scheduled to reach $15 per hour, with limited authority for municipalities to enact higher local wage floors.

The New Jersey Earned Sick Leave Law at NJSA 34:11D provides up to 40 hours of paid sick time and preempts local sick leave ordinances, creating a single statewide standard.

New Jersey has not enacted statewide predictive scheduling, but NJSA 34:11 wage and hour rules govern overtime and reporting time, leaving narrow scope for municipal scheduling ordinances.

New Jersey issues concealed carry permits under NJSA 2C:58-4 with strict justifiable need replaced by shall-issue standards post-Bruen, while sensitive-place restrictions limit where permitted carry is lawful.

New Jersey reserves firearm regulation to the state under NJSA 2C:39, broadly preempting local ordinances on possession, registration, transport, and most aspects of gun control across all municipalities.

New Jersey effectively prohibits open carry of handguns without a Permit to Carry under NJSA 2C:39-5, and long-gun open carry is restricted in most public contexts.

New Jersey strictly regulates firearm transport in vehicles under NJSA 2C:39-5 and 2C:39-6, requiring unloaded firearms in locked containers absent a valid Permit to Carry, with serious penalties for noncompliance.

New Jersey does not mandate E-Verify for private employers, leaving participation voluntary statewide while federal contractors must comply with federal Executive Order 12989 requirements.

Attorney General Directive 2018-6, the Immigrant Trust Directive, limits state, county, and municipal law enforcement cooperation with federal civil immigration enforcement across all New Jersey jurisdictions.

NJSA 4:1C-26 limits municipal zoning power over commercial farms, preempting unreasonably restrictive agricultural zoning when farms follow recommended practices and meet eligibility criteria.

The New Jersey Right to Farm Act at NJSA 4:1C-26 protects commercial farms from nuisance lawsuits and preempts inconsistent municipal ordinances when farms follow agricultural management practices.

Under NJSA 13:1E-99.126, New Jersey banned single-use plastic carryout bags and single-use paper bags at large grocery stores effective May 2022, the strongest such law nationally.

New Jersey prohibits polystyrene foam food service products under NJSA 13:1E-99.126, banning foam clamshells, cups, trays, and similar items statewide effective May 2022.

Under NJSA 13:1E-99.126, New Jersey food service businesses may provide single-use plastic straws only upon customer request, effective November 2021 statewide.

Under NJSA 26:3D-55, New Jersey prohibits the sale, gift, or distribution of tobacco and electronic smoking products to anyone under 21, with retailer civil penalties for violations.

New Jersey prohibits retail sale of flavored electronic smoking devices and liquid nicotine under P.L. 2019, c.487, restricting most non-tobacco flavors statewide with limited vapor lounge exceptions.

New Jersey regulates vape retailers under NJSA 54:40B and NJSA 26:3D, requiring licensing, prohibiting flavored vape sales, and applying age-21 minimum purchase rules statewide.