Plainfield, NJ Code Violation Reporting: Common Violations (2026)

Section 6:2-6 amends Sec 4.17 of the Property Maintenance Code in Chapter 6, Article 2 of the Plainfield Municipal Code. The five priced violations are Sec 2.01 (failure to remove trash and debris), Sec 2.02 (failure to cut and maintain lawn), Sec 2.03 (failure to remove abandoned or disabled vehicle), Sec 2.13 (improper garbage storage) and Sec 2.14 (failure to provide garbage removal no less than twice weekly). First-offense fines run from the listed amount up to $500. A second offense costs not less than $250 and not more than $750 and can add up to three days imprisonment or the equivalent in community service. A third and each later offense costs $500 to $1,000 with a term of five to 10 days imprisonment, community service, or both.

Notice for these five sections comes as a summons and complaint served on the person responsible for the correction (Sec 4.06(a)). It is mailed to the owner of record and gives not less than five working days to fix the problem (Sec 4.07(a)). A property owner or agent can contest the charge at Plainfield Municipal Court, 325 Watchung Avenue, but must tell the Municipal Court Administrator within five days of the hearing date that they intend to appear (Sec 4.09(a)). Fines are paid to the Division of Community Development, 515 Watchung Avenue, upon expiration of the violation notice, and failure to pay the fine and correct the violation leads to further Court action.

The general penalty in Sec 4.17 is a fine not to exceed $2,000 for each violation, and each section violated is a separate offense. The heat rule in Sec 2.22 is one example: from October 1 to May 1, dwelling units must hold at least 68 degrees Fahrenheit between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. whenever the outside temperature falls below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.