What Garfield Regulates: A Complete Ordinance Overview

Garfield, New Jersey may not be the biggest city in the state, but it has its own set of local rules that residents need to follow. With 64 tracked ordinances across 22 categories, there is more here than you might expect.

Landscaping Rules

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees: Garfield requires a permit before removing street trees of 2.5-inch DBH or larger, or non-street trees of six-inch DBH or larger, with replacement obligations..

Also covered: Grass Height Limits (permissive), Composting (permissive), Weed Ordinances (permissive). See the full landscaping rules guide for Garfield for details.

Garage & Yard Sales

Frequency Limits: Garfield limits garage sales to four per calendar year per person and four per calendar year at any single address, regardless of who is hosting the sale..

Also covered: Garage Sale Permits (permissive). See the full garage & yard sales guide for Garfield for details.

Parking Rules

RV & Boat Parking: Garfield prohibits parking any vehicle, including RVs, exceeding 22 feet in length or 8 feet in width on city streets between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m..

Also covered: Abandoned Vehicles (moderate), Driveway Rules (permissive), Overnight Parking (moderate). See the full parking rules guide for Garfield for details.

Rental Property Rules

Rental Registration: Garfield requires landlords to register rental units with a Dwelling Certificate and obtain Certificates of Continued Occupancy upon any change of tenant, ownership, or use..

Property Maintenance

Property Blight: Garfield prohibits weeds or plant growth taller than eight inches and bans noxious weeds, with city contractors authorized to cut overgrowth and bill the owner if a notice of violation is ignored..

Also covered: Garage Sale Rules (permissive), Snow & Sidewalk Clearing (permissive), Vacant Lot Maintenance (moderate). See the full property maintenance guide for Garfield for details.

Soliciting & Door-to-Door

Solicitor Permits: Garfield requires peddlers, canvassers, and door-to-door solicitors to obtain a city-issued permit before selling, soliciting orders, or canvassing residences within city limits..

Also covered: No-Knock Registry (moderate). See the full soliciting & door-to-door guide for Garfield for details.

Curfew Laws

Juvenile Curfew: Garfield's Chapter 119 curfew, adopted by Ordinance 3015 in 2023, prohibits minors from being in public places between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Also covered: Park Curfew (permissive). See the full curfew laws guide for Garfield for details.

Home Business

Signage Rules: Garfield permits one small nameplate identifying a professional office within a residential dwelling, with strict size, illumination, and projection limits under Chapter 341 Article X sign regulations..

Also covered: Zoning Restrictions (moderate). See the full home business guide for Garfield for details.

Swimming Pools & Spas

Fencing Requirements: Garfield requires swimming pools to be at least six feet from any side or rear lot line, and pool enclosure fences must comply with the city's accessory structure and fence regulations under Zoning Chapter 341..

Also covered: Above-Ground Pools (moderate). See the full swimming pools & spas guide for Garfield for details.

Noise Ordinances

Industrial Noise: Garfield enforces decibel-based sound level tables for industrial and commercial sources crossing into residential zones, in line with NJDEP model rules..

Also covered: Barking Dogs (permissive), Leaf Blower Rules (permissive), Amplified Music & Events (moderate). See the full noise ordinances guide for Garfield for details.

Fire Regulations

Fireworks: All consumer fireworks that explode or leave the ground are illegal in Garfield under N.J.S.A. 21:3-1 et seq., the NJ Explosives and Fireworks Act.

Also covered: Propane Storage (moderate). See the full fire regulations guide for Garfield for details.

Fence Regulations

Pool Barriers: Garfield requires permanent swimming pools to sit at least six feet from any rear or side lot line, supplementing New Jersey's state pool barrier code..

Also covered: Neighbor Fence Rules (permissive), Material Restrictions (moderate), Height Limits (moderate). See the full fence regulations guide for Garfield for details.

Trash & Recycling

Pickup Rules & Schedules: Garfield Chapter 164 governs garbage and refuse collection, requiring all waste to be deposited in covered, upright containers, kept disinfected, and presented for curbside pickup according to the city's published collection map..

Also covered: Bulk Item Disposal (moderate), Recycling Requirements (permissive), Bin Placement Rules (moderate). See the full trash & recycling guide for Garfield for details.

Accessory Structures

ADU Rules: Garfield's Zoning Code (Chapter 320, codified on eCode360) regulates accessory buildings under Article IX, but does not contain a dedicated accessory dwelling unit (ADU) ordinance. Two-family conversions and accessory apartments are governed by Chapter 131 (Dwelling and Rooming Units, originally adopted Sept.

Also covered: Shed Rules (moderate). See the full accessory structures guide for Garfield for details.

Short-Term Rentals

Taxes & Fees: Garfield does not impose its own city-level short-term rental occupancy tax. STR stays of fewer than 90 consecutive days that are booked through a marketplace (Airbnb, Vrbo) or operated as a professionally managed unit are subject to NJ State Sales Tax (6.625%, N.J.S.A.

Also covered: Noise Rules (moderate), Parking Rules (moderate), Permit Requirements (moderate). See the full short-term rentals guide for Garfield for details.

Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors

Vending Zones: Garfield permits fixed-location food trucks only in the B-1 Central Business District, with one truck per lot, a 40-foot length limit, and an annual licensing process..

Also covered: Food Truck Permits (moderate). See the full food trucks & mobile vendors guide for Garfield for details.

Animal Ordinances

Chickens & Livestock: Garfield requires a permit from the Health Officer to keep small animals such as chickens, rabbits, or poultry on any premises within the city..

Also covered: Dog Leash Laws (permissive), Wildlife Feeding (permissive). See the full animal ordinances guide for Garfield for details.

Tree Protection

Heritage & Protected Trees: Garfield's tree code designates trees of significance and removes the standard fine cap when one is unlawfully removed..

Also covered: Tree Removal Permits (moderate), Tree Replacement Requirements (moderate). See the full tree protection guide for Garfield for details.

Building Setbacks & Zoning

Setback Rules: Garfield requires every building to comply with district-specific yard, lot width, and area regulations, with extra setbacks for properties along railroad rights-of-way..

Also covered: Lot Coverage Limits (moderate), Structure Height Limits (strict). See the full building setbacks & zoning guide for Garfield for details.

Environmental Rules

Flood Zones: Garfield Chapter 146 Flood Damage Prevention regulates construction in special flood hazard areas, requiring anchoring, Uniform Construction Code compliance, and variance review with penalties up to $2,000 per violation..

Also covered: Stormwater Management (strict). See the full environmental rules guide for Garfield for details.

Cannabis Regulations

Dispensary Zoning: Garfield permits cannabis establishments only as conditional uses with site plan review, and bars Class 5 retailers within 750 feet of schools or parks..

Sign Regulations

Garage Sale Signs: Garfield Chapter 161 requires a permit before holding any garage sale, limits each address to four sales per calendar year, and requires the issued permit to be visibly displayed on the premises during the sale..

What to Do With This Information

Whether you are renting, buying, or renovating in Garfield, knowing the local rules upfront saves headaches later. Dig into the individual ordinance pages linked above for the complete picture, including fines and exemptions.