Bloomfield Township Code Chapter 508 requires every in-ground private swimming pool to be enclosed by a fence at least four feet in height, with substantial gates kept securely locked when the pool is not in use. Above-ground pools are exempt from the fence requirement, but access ladders or steps must be removed when the pool is not in use. The state Uniform Construction Code adopts the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (N.J.A.C. 5:23-3.14), which adds barrier standards including self-closing, self-latching gates opening outward away from the pool for any pool capable of holding more than 24 inches of water.
Above-ground pools in New Jersey are regulated statewide under the Uniform Construction Code, with the same permit and barrier rules as in-ground pools.
Bloomfield Township Code Chapter 134 (Animals) prohibits any dog or cat - whether licensed or not - from running at large within the Township. A dog is deemed at large whenever it is off the owner's premises and not on a leash, tether, chain, or rope no longer than six feet (including the hand grip), held by a person able to control the animal. Tethering an unattended dog to a stationary object is generally prohibited, with a narrow exception capped at four hours per interval and seven hours total in any 24-hour period. New Jersey state law at N.J.S.A. 4:19-15.1 et seq. governs licensing for dogs of licensing age (seven months or with a permanent set of teeth).
Bloomfield Ch. 586 prohibits livestock and fowl. Other exotic animals are regulated by NJ state law (N.J.S.A. 23:4-61.1 et seq.) — no statewide exotic pet preemption; local rules and NJDEP apply.
No specific beekeeping ordinance found for Bloomfield. Given the township's broad prohibition on fowl and livestock, beekeeping status should be verified with Code Enforcement. NJ bee inspection law (N.J.S.A. 4:10-1) applies statewide.
New Jersey's animal cruelty laws apply statewide, prohibiting neglect and overcrowding that constitute hoarding, with enforcement by humane officers and police.
New Jersey's Right to Farm Act protects commercial farms from local restrictions, while the Department of Agriculture sets statewide livestock standards.
New Jersey statute bans the intentional feeding of black bears statewide and authorizes wildlife regulators to address other species attracting nuisance behavior.
Bloomfield Township bans residential rentals under 30 days (Ch. 433), so there is no STR parking allocation. Lawful longer-term rentals must meet Residential Site Improvement Standards (RSIS) on-site parking based on unit count and bedroom mix.
Bloomfield Township bans residential rentals under 30 days (Ch. 433), so no STR occupancy cap applies because no STRs are lawful. Permitted longer-term rentals are limited by the NJ Uniform Construction Code and Property Maintenance Code (NJAC 5:23) bedroom and floor-area standards.
Bloomfield Township prohibits residential rentals under 30 days, so true STRs are banned. Where lawful longer-term rentals exist, occupants must comply with all Township noise rules and NJDEP standards (65 dBA day / 50 dBA night residential, 10pm-7am quiet hours).
Bloomfield Township requires an annual STR permit from the Fire Department (Ordinance 653, codified 2019, as amended). STRs are defined as rentals ≤30 consecutive days. Property must be owner-occupied and the STR must be a one-unit of an owner-occupied 2–5 family dwelling.
STR permit renewal fee: $250/year. Fire inspection fee: $60/unit (3-year cycle). NJ state hotel/motel tax (N.J.S.A. 54:32D) applies to all STR stays under 30 days.
Bloomfield's zoning code restricts storage of mobile dwellings, trailers, and recreational equipment on residential property. No mobile dwelling, trailer, or recreational equipment shall be stored so as to create a dangerous or unsafe condition.
Bloomfield regulates street parking through Ch. 460 (Parking, Off-Street and Permit). Overnight parking permits required for some streets. Standard NJ traffic laws (N.J.S.A. 39:4) apply.
Heavy commercial vehicles are restricted from parking in Bloomfield residential zones overnight. Zoning and general parking ordinances (Ch. 460) govern commercial vehicle storage.
Abandoned vehicles in Bloomfield are addressed under general municipal ordinance and state law (N.J.S.A. 39:10A). Vehicles parked without movement on public streets for 72 hours are subject to tow.
Recreational fires in elevated non-combustible containers are permitted under NJ Uniform Fire Code §307.2. UCC-approved containers need 15-foot clearance; others need 25 feet. Propane grills are prohibited on terraces and balconies. Permanent fire pits require a construction permit.
Open burning in Bloomfield is prohibited in developed residential areas under NJ DEP air quality rules (N.J.A.C. 7:27). No recreational open burning permitted in this dense suburban municipality.
All consumer fireworks are banned in New Jersey under N.J.S.A. 21:3-1. Only licensed professional displays are permitted. Bloomfield enforces state law — no consumer fireworks, including sparklers.
Propane and other liquefied petroleum gas storage is regulated uniformly by the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code, which applies in every municipality and supersedes conflicting local rules.
The New Jersey Forest Fire Service has statewide jurisdiction over wildland fire prevention, declares burn bans, and enforces forest fire districts that supersede conflicting municipal practices.
Bloomfield Ch. 380 and Ch. 586 prohibit keeping any animal that makes frequent, long, continued, or disturbing noises. Animal containment fences require ZBA approval plus permit.
Heavy construction equipment (pile drivers, pneumatic hammers, hoists) prohibited 6 p.m.–8 a.m. and on Sundays and legal holidays under Ch. 380.
Bloomfield Township Ch. 380 prohibits loud sounds plainly audible at 100 feet between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. Yelling, shouting, and singing in public streets prohibited 11 p.m.–7 a.m.
No local aircraft noise ordinance in Bloomfield. Aircraft operations near Newark Liberty International Airport are federally preempted under FAA authority. No local remedy available.
New Jersey's Noise Control Act sets uniform statewide decibel limits for stationary commercial and industrial sources, preempting conflicting local rules.
Fences up to 4 ft in side and rear yards require only a permit. Fences over 4 ft or in front yards require Zoning Board of Appeals approval plus a permit. Barbed wire and metal spikes prohibited.
New Jersey common law and statute apply uniformly statewide to spite fences, boundary fences, and shared maintenance disputes between adjoining landowners.
New Jersey's Uniform Construction Code mandates statewide pool barrier specifications, preempting local variations on fence height, gates, and alarms around pools.
The New Jersey Uniform Construction Code applies statewide to retaining walls over four feet, preempting local engineering or material requirements that conflict.
Bloomfield Township may require permits for removal of significant trees, particularly street trees and trees in public rights-of-way. Private property tree removal rules should be verified with the Township.
The NJ Department of Environmental Protection may impose statewide or regional water use restrictions during drought warnings or emergencies under the Water Supply Management Act.
ADUs are mandated by NJ state law (N.J.S.A. 52:27D-123.16, effective 2025). Bloomfield must permit ADUs by right on lots with single- or two-family homes. No owner-occupancy requirement allowed.
All sheds and accessory structures in Bloomfield require ZBA approval regardless of size or location, plus a building permit. Setback requirements apply per zoning code.
Garage conversions to habitable space require ZBA approval and building permits in Bloomfield. Must meet NJ UCC (N.J.A.C. 5:23) habitable space standards. Parking replacement may be required by zoning.
Tiny homes built on permanent foundations must meet the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code, including IRC Appendix Q for dwellings under 400 square feet.
New Jersey operates a statewide Home Baker Permit program through the Department of Health that uniformly governs cottage food sales, preempting differing local food licensing schemes for permitted home bakers.
The New Jersey Family Day Care Provider Registration Act creates a uniform statewide registration system for home daycares serving up to five children, with the state preempting most local licensing of these providers.
Bloomfield participates in FEMA's NFIP. Portions of the township along the Second River and its tributaries are in FEMA flood zones. Floodplain development permits required for construction in SFHAs.
The Coastal Area Facility Review Act gives the New Jersey DEP exclusive permit jurisdiction over development in the coastal zone, applying uniform statewide standards regardless of local zoning.
The New Jersey Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Act gives Soil Conservation Districts uniform statewide authority to certify erosion plans for projects disturbing 5,000 square feet or more of land.
New Jersey Stormwater Management Rules at N.J.A.C. 7:8 set uniform statewide design and water-quality standards that municipalities must adopt by ordinance, preventing cities from weakening these baseline requirements.
Commercial drone operations in New Jersey are governed by federal FAA Part 107 plus the uniform state criminal restrictions in N.J.S.A. 2C:40-27, leaving little room for conflicting local commercial drone rules.
New Jersey state law (N.J.S.A. 2C:40-27) sets uniform criminal restrictions on drone operations statewide, including bans on flying impaired, near critical infrastructure, or near correctional facilities.
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.
The New Jersey Anti-Eviction Act preempts local landlord-tenant law and limits residential evictions to specifically enumerated good-cause grounds statewide.
All New Jersey residential rental property owners must file a Landlord Identity Registration with the municipality and the Bureau of Housing Inspection under state law.
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.
New Jersey limits homeowner association rules that would prohibit or unreasonably restrict the installation of solar collectors on owner-occupied units.
New Jersey law prohibits municipalities from banning solar installations on residential property and standardizes permitting under the Uniform Construction Code.
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.