Bayonne, NJ Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code § 17-14.8, Grass and Other Plant Growth
- Maximum height
- 12 inches
- First-offense fine
- Not less than $100
- Subsequent-offense fine
- Not less than $200, up to $1,250
- Continuing violation
- Each day is a separate offense
Summary
Bayonne caps grass, weeds and other plant growth on all premises and exterior property at 12 inches under City Code Section 17-14.8. Overgrowth that becomes a blighting influence or impairs the appearance of nearby properties violates the rule, and the general Chapter 17 penalty runs from $100 for a first offense up to $1,250 per day of continued violation.
§ 17-14.8. Grass and Other Plant Growth. ... All premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from grass growth, weeds or other plant growth in excess of 12 inches in height, which are detrimental to the public health and welfare, or excessively overgrown as compared to the character and condition of the surrounding properties and where the same could constitute a blighting influence, and impair the appearance of nearby properties. § 17- ... 21.1. ... Violations and Penalties. ... Any person who shall fail to correct a notice of violation within the time required or violates a final order under the provisions of this Code, or refuses to comply with a certificate of necessity, shall be served a summons for violation of this Code, and shall, upon conviction in municipal court, be punished by a fine not less than $100 for a first offense and not less than $200 for a subsequent offense, not to exceed $1,250. Each day that such violation continues shall be considered a separate offense.
Full Breakdown
Section 17-14.8 of Bayonne's Commercial Property Maintenance Code sets a specific numeric height limit: all premises and exterior property must be kept free from grass growth, weeds or other plant growth taller than 12 inches. The rule targets growth that is detrimental to public health and welfare, or that is excessively overgrown compared with the character and condition of the surrounding properties, so that it becomes a blighting influence and impairs the appearance of nearby properties. This section sits within Article II, the Commercial Property Maintenance Code, which the City enforces through an enforcement officer designated by the Mayor, and applies alongside the separate Article I duty in Section 17-1 requiring every owner or tenant of land in the City, improved or not, to keep it free of grass, brush, weeds, dead trees, stumps and debris that threaten public health, safety or create a fire hazard, including the strip of land bordering a public street.
If the Health Officer or Director of Public Works finds an overgrown lot after a complaint or inspection, Section 17-1.3 requires written notice giving the owner between 72 hours and 10 days to cut back the growth, after which the City can perform the work itself and place the cost as a lien on the property under Section 17-1.4.
Violations & Fines
A violation of the 12-inch height limit under Section 17-14.8, once cited and not corrected within the notice period, exposes the owner to a summons under Section 17-21.1: a fine of not less than $100 for a first offense and not less than $200 for a subsequent offense, capped at $1,250, with each day the overgrowth continues counted as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can grass or weeds get before it's a violation in Bayonne?
What is the fine for overgrown weeds in Bayonne?
Does Bayonne's weed law apply to vacant land too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bayonne
How Bayonne compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Bayonne to another location·View the New Jersey landscaping rules overview
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Weed Ordinances in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle weed ordinances.