What Paramus Regulates: A Complete Ordinance Overview

Paramus, 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 70 tracked ordinances across 24 categories, there is more here than you might expect.

Garage & Yard Sales

Garage Sale Permits: Paramus requires a license from the Borough Clerk for every garage, yard, tag, porch, or rummage sale, with applications filed at least 10 days before the sale and a maximum three-day duration..

Also covered: Frequency Limits (permissive), Time Restrictions (permissive). See the full garage & yard sales guide for Paramus for details.

Animal Ordinances

Dog Leash Laws: Paramus requires every dog in public to be on a leash no longer than six feet and prohibits dogs entirely from Borough-owned parks, playgrounds, and play areas..

Also covered: Chickens & Livestock (moderate), Wildlife Feeding (moderate). See the full animal ordinances guide for Paramus for details.

Swimming Pools & Spas

Fencing Requirements: Paramus requires pool barriers at least four feet high with self-closing, self-latching gates that swing outward away from the pool to prevent unauthorized access..

Also covered: Hot Tub Rules (moderate), Above-Ground Pools (strict), Safety Rules (strict). See the full swimming pools & spas guide for Paramus for details.

Curfew Laws

Park Curfew: Paramus public parks, playgrounds, and the band shell are closed from sunset until sunrise, with the Sports-Plex closing at 11:00 p.m. under Borough rules..

Landscaping Rules

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees: Paramus requires Shade Tree and Parks Commission approval before removing any street tree or any tree on undeveloped land or in a required planted buffer, and homeowners must pay replacement value for approved removals of public trees..

Also covered: Tree Trimming (moderate), Weed Ordinances (moderate), Grass Height Limits (moderate). See the full landscaping rules guide for Paramus for details.

Noise Ordinances

Quiet Hours: Paramus prohibits loud, disturbing, or unnecessary noises between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

Also covered: Amplified Music & Events (moderate), Barking Dogs (moderate), Construction Hours (moderate). See the full noise ordinances guide for Paramus for details.

Tree Protection

Tree Replacement Requirements: Under Chapter 453, Paramus may require violators to pay a replacement assessment equal to the appraised value of any unlawfully removed tree, calculated up to $27 per square inch of trunk cross section..

Also covered: Tree Removal Permits (strict). See the full tree protection guide for Paramus for details.

Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors

Vending Zones: Paramus regulates mobile vending and street solicitation through Chapter 327, requiring licenses for peddlers and hawkers and restricting noisy sales activity after 7:00 p.m..

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

Property Maintenance

Property Blight: Paramus Chapter 339 prohibits exterior conditions that constitute blighting factors and requires owners to repair properties within 45 days of Borough notice..

Also covered: Garage Sale Rules (permissive), Trash Bin Storage (permissive), Snow & Sidewalk Clearing (moderate). See the full property maintenance guide for Paramus for details.

Soliciting & Door-to-Door

Solicitor Permits: Paramus requires a license before any solicitor, canvasser, peddler, or hawker may do business in the borough. Applications are filed with the Borough Clerk and include identification and goods or services offered..

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

Home Business

Zoning Restrictions: Paramus permits home occupations in residential zones only when limited to 15% of habitable floor space, with a maximum of two non-family employees on premises..

Also covered: Home Daycare (moderate), Customer Traffic Restrictions (moderate), Signage Rules (permissive). See the full home business guide for Paramus for details.

Trash & Recycling

Bin Placement Rules: Paramus Chapter 379 sets requirements for where residents must place garbage containers and how containers must be covered, drained, and accessible to DPW crews..

Also covered: Recycling Requirements (permissive), Pickup Rules & Schedules (permissive), Bulk Item Disposal (permissive). See the full trash & recycling guide for Paramus for details.

Accessory Structures

ADU Rules: Paramus does not authorize stand-alone accessory dwelling units in its residential zones. Chapter 429 (Zoning) of the Borough Code, governing the R-50, R-75, R-100, R-150 and R-2F residential districts, allows accessory buildings only as uses subordinate and customarily incidental to a permitted principal use, and expressly prohibits living quarters in any accessory building.

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

Fire Regulations

Fireworks: Fireworks in Paramus are governed primarily by New Jersey state law: N.J.S.A. 21:3-1 et seq.

Short-Term Rentals

Taxes & Fees: Paramus does not impose its own STR licensing fee or local occupancy tax because short-term rentals of 30 days or less are prohibited entirely under Chapter 322, Article II of the Borough Code (Ord. No.

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

Parking Rules

EV Charging: Paramus adopts the New Jersey model EV ordinance, requiring make-ready spaces in new parking lots, EVSE bollard protection, 24-hour reporting contacts, and treating chargers as permitted accessory uses borough-wide..

Also covered: Street Parking Limits (permissive), Overnight Parking (moderate), Abandoned Vehicles (moderate). See the full parking rules guide for Paramus for details.

Fence Regulations

Pool Barriers: Paramus requires in-ground pool barriers at least 4 feet high with self-closing, self-latching gates that swing outward away from the pool and prevent access beneath, through, or over the fence..

Also covered: Height Limits (moderate), Permit Requirements (moderate), Retaining Walls (moderate). See the full fence regulations guide for Paramus for details.

Building Setbacks & Zoning

Setback Rules: Paramus residential setbacks vary by zone. The R-75 zone requires a combined 20 feet of side yards (10 feet minimum on one side) and a 30-foot rear yard.

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

Cannabis Regulations

Dispensary Zoning: Paramus prohibits both recreational and medicinal cannabis dispensaries throughout the Borough, except within the Highway Corridor Commercial (HCC) Zone District..

Environmental Rules

Flood Zones: Paramus regulates construction in flood-prone areas through Chapter 253, requiring permits, elevation standards, and variance review for development in mapped flood zones..

Also covered: Stormwater Management (strict), Grading & Drainage (moderate), Erosion Control (strict). See the full environmental rules guide for Paramus for details.

Outdoor Lighting

Light Trespass: Paramus caps light trespass onto adjacent properties at 0.2 footcandle for general site lighting and 0.1 footcandle for sign illumination..

Also covered: Dark Sky Rules (moderate). See the full outdoor lighting guide for Paramus for details.

Sign Regulations

Garage Sale Signs: Paramus permits temporary garage sale signs only with a borough permit, limits sign size to six square feet and five feet tall, and restricts where and when signs may appear before and after the sale..

Also covered: Political Signs (permissive). See the full sign regulations guide for Paramus for details.

Rental Property Rules

Rental Registration: Paramus Chapter 322 prohibits short-term residential rentals and requires landlords to comply with registration, occupancy inspection, and certificate of occupancy requirements before any new tenancy..

Solar Energy

Panel Permits: Paramus regulates solar panel installations through Chapter 429 Zoning, recognizing rooftop solar arrays and solar canopies as permitted rooftop equipment in commercial zones while requiring standard construction and electrical permits for residential systems..

What to Do With This Information

This overview covers the big picture, but the details matter. Each ordinance page for Paramus includes the full text, violation penalties, and frequently asked questions. Use those pages when you need specifics.