Lakewood's Property Maintenance: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles property maintenance a little differently. In Lakewood, New Jersey, there are 2 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Snow & Sidewalk Clearing

Lakewood Township, Ocean County, gives property owners 12 daylight hours to clear sidewalk snow and ice. Miss the deadline and Public Works removes it for you and puts the bill on your tax lien, on top of any separate fine.

Key details: Deadline: 12 hours after snow stops or ice forms. Excluded hours: 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.. City remedy: Public Works removes it, cost becomes a tax lien. Fallback penalty: Up to $1,000 fine or 90 days jail, § 1-5.1. Thin-ice rule: Must sand or salt if too bonded to shovel.

No sidewalk-specific fine is set in Chapter 20, so an uncleared walk exposes the owner to the Revision's general penalty under § 1-5.1: a fine up to $1,000, up to 90 days in the County Jail, or up to 90 days of community service, plus the lien Public Works places on the property for its own removal costs. Section 1-5.5 makes each day of an uncleared sidewalk a separate violation.

Property Blight

Lakewood Township can order the repair, vacating or demolition of any building declared dangerous, unsafe or a nuisance, following a Township Committee hearing, and can place a municipal lien on the property for the cost if the owner does not comply.

Key details: Petition threshold: 5 residents or Township motion. Hearing scheduled: 7-10 days after complaint. Enforcement outcome: Repair, vacate or demolish order. Cost recovery: Municipal lien on property. Appeal window: 60 days for injunctive relief.

Failure to comply with a Township Committee order to repair, vacate or demolish a dangerous building under § 13-2.5 lets the Committee complete the work itself and lien the property for the full cost, and general noncompliance with Township ordinances also falls under the general penalty in § 1-5.1, up to a $1,000 fine, 90 days of detention, or 90 days of community service.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Lakewood actively enforces its property blight requirements.

The Bottom Line

Lakewood's property maintenance rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Lakewood is broadly strict or permissive.

This guide is based on Lakewood's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.