Lakewood's Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles sidewalk & pedestrian rules a little differently. In Lakewood, New Jersey, there are 3 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.

Obstruction Rules

Lakewood Township, Ocean County, bans blocking any street, sidewalk or crosswalk, and caps unpermitted building-material storage in the street at 24 hours. A permit costs $1, tops out at one-third of the street width, and expires after 20 days.

Key details: Core prohibition: No obstructing streets, sidewalks or crosswalks. Material storage limit: 24 hours without a written permit. Permit fee: $1.00 from the Township Clerk. Street coverage cap: No more than one-third of the street. Permit expiration: 20 days after issuance.

Blocking a sidewalk, street or crosswalk, or leaving building materials in the street beyond 24 hours without a Township Clerk permit, defaults to the Revision's general penalty under § 1-5.1: up to $1,000, up to 90 days in the County Jail, or up to 90 days of community service. Section 1-5.5 treats each day of the obstruction as a separate violation.

Encroachment Permits

Opening, tunneling under, or otherwise disturbing any Lakewood Township street requires a permit from the Township Engineer under Code § 20-1.2. Fees run $100 to $300 by opening length plus a $25 administrative fee, and no permit issues between December 1 and March 1 except for emergencies.

Key details: Permitting office: Township Engineer. Permit fee range: $100 to $300+, by opening length. Admin fee: $25 flat, added to permit fee. Seasonal ban: No permits Dec. 1 to Mar. 1. Insurance minimum: $500,000 per person, $1M per accident.

Section 20-1.14 makes any violation of the excavation and right-of-way permit requirements punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment for up to 90 days, or both, with each day a violation continues treated as a separate offense. The Township Engineer can also deny or revoke a permit under §§ 20-1.3 and 20-1.11d for safety violations, unpermitted work, or conditions that endanger life or property.

Sidewalk Repair

Lakewood Township places sidewalk, driveway apron and curb upkeep on the abutting property owner under Code § 20-2.1. If the Township ends up repairing a sidewalk itself, the owner is billed for the cost, and any new construction or removal needs an Engineer's permit first.

Key details: Who maintains: Abutting property owner (§ 20-2.1). Township repair cost: Billed back to the owner. Permit needed for: New construction or removal of sidewalk. Small-repair exception: Under 8 lineal feet, no permit. Township-ordered work cost share: 98% owner, 2% Township.

Constructing, removing or replacing a sidewalk, driveway apron, curb or gutter in the public right-of-way without the § 20-2.1 permit is unlawful, and work done out of compliance with the Township Engineer's approved forms and grades under § 20-2.3c can be ordered removed and redone at the owner's expense. An owner who ignores a Municipal Manager repair notice under § 20-2.6a also faces Township-performed repair billed back to the property.

The Bottom Line

Lakewood's sidewalk & pedestrian rules 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.

Keep in mind that Lakewood can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.