Woodbridge, NJ Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Removal deadline
- 10 days after written notice
- Repeat offenders
- No grace period, immediate summons
- Max fine
- $1,000 plus up to 90 days jail
- Enforcing agency
- Division of Health
- Unpaid cleanup cost
- Becomes a tax lien on the property
Summary
Woodbridge property owners and tenants must remove brush, weeds and debris once it becomes a health, safety or fire hazard. Code § 35-7.3 puts the removal duty on the owner or tenant after the Division of Health issues written notice, and repeat offenders can be summonsed immediately without the standard 10-day grace period.
Whenever brush, weeds and debris, as defined in Subsection 35-7.1, are present or have accumulated on any land in the Township in such a manner as to constitute a menace or be detrimental to public health, safety and general welfare or constitute or be likely to present a fire hazard, then the owner or tenant of the land shall remove or destroy or cause to be removed or destroyed any such materials, within the time and in the manner prescribed in the notice referred to and served as provided in subsections 35-7.5 and 35-7.6.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 35's § 35-7.1 defines 'brush, weeds and debris' broadly: brush, ragweed or weeds, dead or dying trees, stumps, roots, obnoxious growths, filth, garbage, trash or other debris. Section 35-7.3 requires the owner or tenant to remove or destroy any such material once it accumulates on land in a manner that constitutes a menace to public health, safety or general welfare, or is likely to present a fire hazard.
The Division of Health inspects land under § 35-7.4 and, on finding a violation, serves written notice under § 35-7.5 giving the owner or tenant 10 days to clear the property. The notice warns that if the work isn't done, the Township will remove the material and charge the cost to the owner, payable within 30 days, and that unpaid charges become a lien on the property collected like unpaid taxes under N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.14. Section 35-7.5(c) strips repeat offenders of the 10-day grace period: an owner or tenant previously convicted under this section can be summonsed immediately by the Township's Enforcement Officer. If the Township ends up doing the work itself under § 35-7.7, the Health Officer tracks the cost and certifies it to the Council, which can add the full amount to the property's tax lien under § 35-7.8.
Enforcement of the removal duty rests with the Division of Health under § 35-7.9.
Violations & Fines
Section 35-7.10 makes any violation punishable by a fine up to $1,000, imprisonment up to 90 days, community service up to 90 days, or a combination, with each day of the violation a separate offense. That penalty stacks on top of, not instead of, the Township's right under §§ 35-7.7 and 35-7.8 to clear the lot itself and lien the cost to the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can weeds or brush get on my Woodbridge property before it's a violation?
How much notice does Woodbridge give before enforcing weed removal?
What happens if I've been cited for this before?
Who enforces Woodbridge's brush and weed removal rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Woodbridge
How Woodbridge compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Woodbridge 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.