5 rules for unincorporated Somerset County, New Jersey.
Verified from official government sources
How you store trash containers is a municipal matter in Somerset County. Bridgewater issues carts and directs where they sit on collection day; local property-maintenance codes bar overflowing or uncovered refuse. No single county rule governs bin storage or screening.
Blighted property is aggressively policed across Somerset County. Towns enforce property-maintenance codes, and under New Jersey's Abandoned Properties Rehabilitation Act, N.J.S.A. 55:19-82, a public officer can declare a vacant property unfit for habitation or a fire risk a legal nuisance and force its repair.
N.J.S.A. 55:19-82
The property has been found to be unfit for human habitation, occupancy or use pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1942, c.112 (C.40:48-2.3)... The condition and vacancy of the property materially increases the risk of fire to the property and adjacent properties.
Vacant and abandoned parcels are reachable countywide through New Jersey's Abandoned Properties Rehabilitation Act. N.J.S.A. 55:19-81 lets a town deem a property abandoned once it sits unoccupied six months and taxes go delinquent or it needs rehabilitation, opening it to the abandoned-property list and forced action.
N.J.S.A. 55:19-81
any property that has not been legally occupied for a period of six months... At least one installment of property tax remains unpaid and delinquent on that property.
Somerset County towns require owners to clear their sidewalks. N.J.S.A. 40:65-12 lets every municipality compel removal of snow and ice from abutting sidewalks within twelve daylight hours after it falls. Somerville, Bound Brook, and Bridgewater all enforce this by ordinance.
N.J.S.A. 40:65-12
The governing body may make, amend, repeal and enforce ordinances to compel the owner or tenant of any lands abutting upon the public highways of the municipality, to remove all snow and ice from the abutting sidewalks and gutters of such highways within twelve hours of daylight after the same shall fall or be formed thereon.
Garage sale rules split sharply across Somerset County. Franklin Township requires a permit from the municipal committee, capped at four per household a year. Hillsborough requires no permit or fee at all, only sign rules. Each town sets its own regime.
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