Lakewood, NJ Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- any lands, owner or tenant
- Order to remove
- 10 days to comply
- Cure before Township acts
- 7 days after notice
- Right-of-way cure period
- 48 hours
- Penalty
- $250 per violation
- Alternate penalty
- 30 days community service
- Cleanup cost
- becomes a tax lien
Summary
Every owner, tenant, or person in possession of land in Lakewood Township, whether built on or not, must keep it free of brush, weeds, dead trees, and debris that threaten public health, safety, or fire safety, and must clear grass and weeds from the street frontage abutting their land, under § 16-1.2 of the Code.
It shall be the duty of any owner or tenant or person in possession of any lands in the Township: a. To keep such lands free of brush, weeds, dead and dying trees, stumps, roots, obnoxious growths, filth, garbage, trash and debris, where the same are inimical to the preservation of public health, safety or general welfare of the Township, or which may constitute a fire hazard. b. Where the lands abut or border upon any public street in the Township, to remove all grass, weeds, brush and other debris from that part of the street bordering on their respective lands.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 16, § 16-1 of the Township Code imposes a general duty on any owner, tenant, or person in possession of any lands in the Township to keep the property clear of brush, weeds, dead and dying trees, stumps, roots, obnoxious growths, filth, garbage, trash, and debris wherever those conditions threaten public health, safety, or general welfare, or create a fire hazard, and to clear grass, weeds, brush, and debris from the strip of land bordering a public street. 3 to remove the offending growth or debris within 10 days.
A. 5 lets a Township Inspector, Code Enforcement Officer, or Police Officer have the property cleared at Township expense, with the cost certified to the Tax Collector and added to the property's taxes as a lien bearing interest at the tax rate. A shorter 48-hour cure period applies where the trash or debris sits on the Township right-of-way rather than private land. 6.
Violations & Fines
Section 16-1.5a makes every violator of the removal duty subject to a $250 penalty per violation, 30 days of community service, or both, and each day the condition continues is a separate violation. Beyond the fine, the Township can perform the cleanup itself and place a tax lien on the property for the cost, plus interest at the tax rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Lakewood Township have a weed and brush ordinance?
How long does a Lakewood property owner have to clear weeds after a notice?
What is the fine for a weed violation in Lakewood, NJ?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lakewood
How Lakewood compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Lakewood 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.