Piscataway, NJ Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Maximum weed/grass height
- 8 inches, § PM-303.4
- Noxious weeds
- prohibited outright at any height
- Fine range
- $250 to $2,000, § PM-106.2
- Abatement notice period
- 10 days under N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.13
- Lien fee if Township abates
- cost plus 25% (min $100)
- Exempt vegetation
- cultivated flowers, gardens, trees, shrubs, perennials
Summary
Piscataway's Property Maintenance Code, adopted at Township Code § 17-1, caps weeds and grass on any exterior property at eight inches under § PM-303.4. Noxious weeds are banned outright, though cultivated flowers, gardens, trees, shrubs and perennials are exempt. A violation carries a fine of $250 to $2,000 under § PM-106.2, with each day a separate offense.
PM-303.4 Weeds: All premises of an exterior property shall be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of eight inches. All noxious weeds shall be prohibited. Weeds shall be defined as all grasses, annual plants and vegetation, other than trees, shrubs or perennials, provided, however, this term shall not include cultivated flowers and gardens. ... PM-106.2 Penalty: Any person, firm, or corporation who shall violate any provisions of this code shall be subject to the fine of not less than $250 nor more than $2,000, or imprisonment for a term not to exceed 90 days, or both, at the discretion of the court. Each day that a violation continues after due notice has been served, in accordance with the terms and provisions hereof, shall be deemed a separate offense.
Full Breakdown
Section PM-303.4 of the adopted Property Maintenance Code of Piscataway Township defines weeds broadly, as all grasses, annual plants and vegetation other than trees, shrubs or perennials, and it requires every exterior property to stay free of that growth once it exceeds eight inches. All noxious weeds are prohibited outright regardless of height. The Code carves out cultivated flowers and gardens from the eight-inch cap, and a separate exception lets grasses, annual plants or vegetation grow taller, or an existing ecosystem continue naturally, or a native vegetation corridor be re-established, if the owner or tenant is pursuing LEED certification with the U.S.
Green Building Council and has filed a site plan identifying the affected area and obtained sign-off from the Director of Community Development, or has won Planning Board approval after a public hearing. A parallel rule for vacant or unoccupied buildings, § PM-308.5.b, applies the same eight-inch ceiling to the yards around an empty structure. Enforcement runs through the code official under Chapter PM-1; a code official who finds a violation issues a notice to abate under § PM-107.1 before any summons follows, and the Township can also act under N.J.S.A.
40:48-2.13 to remove overgrown brush, weeds and debris itself after 10 days' notice and place the cost as a lien on the property, plus a 25% administrative fee or a $100 minimum fee, under § PM-106.2.c.
Violations & Fines
A violation of the eight-inch weed limit is punishable under § PM-106.2 by a fine of not less than $250 nor more than $2,000, imprisonment for up to 90 days, or both, at the municipal court's discretion, and each day the overgrowth continues after notice counts as a separate offense. The Township may instead abate the condition itself and place the cost, plus a 25% fee, as a lien on the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can grass or weeds legally grow in Piscataway?
Can I let my lawn grow taller than eight inches for a native garden in Piscataway?
What happens if I ignore a weed violation notice in Piscataway?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Piscataway
How Piscataway compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Piscataway to another location·View the New Jersey landscaping rules overview
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