Bergen County property owners must maintain vegetation to prevent fire and pest hazards. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service and local municipalities enforce brush clearance, particularly near structures and along roadways.
Although Bergen County is largely suburban, parts of Mahwah, Oakland, and Ramsey border wooded state lands managed under the New Jersey Forest Fire Service (N.J.S.A. 13:9-1 et seq.). Property owners are required to keep brush, dead trees, and combustible vegetation cleared from around dwellings, fences, and propane tanks. Most Bergen County municipalities also enforce nuisance ordinances requiring tall grass to be cut (typically over 10 inches) and dead vegetation removed. The county prosecutor's office and local code enforcement may cite owners whose unmanaged growth threatens neighbors. Defensible space of 30 feet around structures is recommended in higher-risk wooded areas.
Failure to clear brush may result in municipal fines of $100 to $2,000, plus the cost of forced abatement billed against the property as a lien.
See how other cities in Bergen County handle brush clearance.
See how Garfield's brush clearance rules stack up against other locations.
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