Landscaping Rules in Paterson, NJ (2026)
5 verified landscaping rules for Paterson, New Jersey, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Removing a Paterson street tree of 2.5 inches DBH or larger, or a private tree above the threshold, triggers a sliding-scale replacement duty or a $500-per-tree fee to the city's tree fund.
Paterson Tree Replacement Requirement
Some RestrictionsPaterson City Code § 433-21B, C
Any person who removes one or more street tree(s) with a DBH of 2.5 inches or more, unless exempt under § 433-22, shall be subject to the requirements of the Tree Replacement Requirements Table below. ... Replacement tree(s) shall: (1) Be replaced in kind with a tree that has an equal or greater DBH than tree removed or meet the tree replacement criteria in the table below; (2) Be planted withi...
Weed Ordinances
Paterson can order any lot, yard or land cleared of brush, weeds or debris a municipal officer finds inimical to public health, safety or fire safety, with city cleanup and a lien if you don't comply.
Paterson Brush, Weeds and Debris Removal Ordinance
Some RestrictionsPaterson City Code § 149-3A
Whenever a municipal officer shall find upon any such lot, yard, land or premises any brush, weeds or debris to such an extent as, in his opinion, is inimical to the public health, safety or general welfare of the city or to such an extent as to constitute a fire hazard, he shall give or cause to be given written notice to the owner, lessee, tenant or occupant of said premises to remove therefr...
Rainwater Harvesting
Paterson's stormwater code lists cisterns as an approved green infrastructure practice for major development, crediting them for runoff-quantity control but not for groundwater recharge or pollutant removal.
Paterson Recognizes Cisterns For Stormwater
Few RestrictionsPaterson City Code § 433-4E, Table 1
Table 1 Green Infrastructure BMPs for Groundwater Recharge, Stormwater Runoff Quality, and/or Stormwater Runoff Quantity Best Management Practice Stormwater Runoff Quality TSS Removal Rate Stormwater Runoff Quantity Groundwater Recharge Minimum Separation From Seasonal High Water Table (Feet) Cistern 0% Yes No — Dry well(a) 0% No Yes 2 Grass swale 50% or less No No 2(e) 1...
Artificial Turf
Paterson's code names artificial turf/sod as acceptable yard ground cover, but only inside the maintenance duty owners and creditors owe on vacant or foreclosure-registered properties, not a citywide landscaping rule.
Paterson Turf Rule for Vacant Properties
Light RestrictionsPaterson City Code § 157-49.B(3)
Front yards, rear yards, and side yards of properties subject to the requirements of this article shall be landscaped and maintained to neighborhood standards. Landscaping and maintenance shall include, but is not limited to, care of grass, mulch, decorative rock, artificial turf/sod specifically designed for residential or commercial installation, or other ground cover, bushes, shrubs, hedges,...
Composting
Paterson lets residents compost leaves, grass clippings, brush and tree limbs on their own property instead of setting them out for curbside collection, with no city bin or size requirement.
Paterson Backyard Composting Allowed
Few RestrictionsPaterson City Code § 427-21A(1)
Leaves, grass clippings, brush and tree limbs shall be recycled by composting on the property of the owner, lessee or occupant or by placing them at the curbside in accordance with the provisions of Articles V and VI of this chapter. [Amended 2-24-2004 by Ord. No. 04-016; 11-9-2005 by Ord. No. 05-077] (a) Leaves, grass clippings and minimal brush placed at curbside shall be contained in eit...
Looking for Passaic County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Paterson city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Passaic County →