Lakewood, NJ Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger
- Repaving, resurfacing or reconstructing near an inlet
- Grate opening limit
- 7.0 sq in or 0.5 in smallest dimension
- Curb inlet limit
- 7.0 sq in or 2.0 in smallest dimension
- Exemption
- Single-family residential lots excluded
- Penalty
- Up to $500 per unretrofitted inlet
- Ordinance
- Adopted 2010 by Ord. No. 2010-42
Summary
Lakewood Township requires storm drain inlets on private property to be retrofitted with debris-blocking grates whenever the surrounding surface is repaved, resurfaced or reconstructed, under Code § 32-3.3. The Municipal Engineer applies a design standard limiting grate openings, and violators face fines up to $500 per inlet.
No person in control of private property (except a residential lot with one single-family house) shall authorize the repaving, repairing (excluding the repair of individual potholes), resurfacing (including top coating or chip sealing with asphalt emulsion or a thin base of hot bitumen), reconstructing or altering any surface that is in direct contact with an existing storm drain inlet on that property unless the storm drain inlet either: a. Already meets the design standard below to control passage of solid and floatable materials; or b. Is retrofitted or replaced to meet the standard in subsection 32-3.4 below prior to the completion of the project.
Full Breakdown
Township of Lakewood Code § 32-3, adopted by Ordinance No. 2010-42, targets solids and floatables such as plastic bottles, cans, food wrappers and litter that would otherwise wash into the township's municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4). 3 requires any owner of property other than a single-family residential lot to retrofit or replace a storm drain inlet before completing any repaving, repairing, resurfacing, reconstructing or altering of a surface that touches that inlet, unless the inlet already meets the design standard. 0 inches across the smallest dimension.
5-inch bar screen, where a trash rack uses one-inch bar spacing, or where the NJDEP finds the retrofit would damage a State Register-listed historic property. The rule sits alongside § 32-2's ban on illicit connections dumping domestic sewage, process wastewater or industrial waste into the MS4, and § 32-5's requirement that privately stored road salt and de-icing material stay covered between October 15 and April 15.
Violations & Fines
Section 32-3.6 fines anyone who fails to retrofit a covered storm drain inlet up to $500 per offense for each unretrofitted inlet, enforced by Lakewood Township under § 32-3.5. The illicit-connection ban in § 32-2.5 and the improper-disposal ban in § 32-1.6 carry separate exposure of up to $1,000 and up to 90 days in the county jail per violation, enforced by the Code Enforcement Officer or Police Department.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Lakewood require a storm drain inlet to be retrofitted?
What size grate openings does Lakewood's stormwater code allow?
Can the retrofit requirement be waived?
What is the fine for not retrofitting a covered storm drain inlet?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lakewood
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Stormwater Management in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle stormwater management.